Senior Director, Content & Search

Company Cox Automotive - USA Job Family Group Marketing Job Profile Sr Director, Search Engine Optimization Management Level Sr Director Flexible Work Option Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week Travel % Yes, 25% of the time Work Shift Day Compensation Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $163,400.00 - $272,300.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program. Job Description Position Overview Cox Automotive is seeking a Senior Director, Content & SEO to lead the content, SEO, and audience growth strategy for Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, two of the most trusted consumer brands in the automotive industry. Reporting to the AVP, Product & Engineering, this leader will oversee a team of approximately 50 professionals across Content Strategy, SEO, Editorial, Creative Production, Content Operations, and Social Media. This highly visible leadership role partners closely with executives across Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Advertising, and Business Operations to drive audience growth, content innovation, and business performance. The ideal candidate brings a blend of digital publishing expertise, SEO leadership, operational excellence, and experience leading organizations through transformation in an AI-powered landscape. Key Responsibilities Strategic & Executive Leadership Serve as the senior content and SEO leader for Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. Partner with executive stakeholders to align content strategy with audience, revenue, and business goals. Lead organizational change initiatives, including AI adoption, workflow modernization, and team evolution. Represent Cox Automotive as an industry thought leader and trusted advisor across internal and external forums. Content, SEO & Audience Growth Define and execute content and SEO strategies that drive traffic, engagement, and business impact. Optimize content performance across search, AI-powered discovery, social platforms, and owned channels. Lead enterprise SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies to maximize visibility across evolving search ecosystems. Establish editorial standards, governance, and performance frameworks across both brands. Content Operations & Innovation Lead large-scale content operations supporting more than 2,000 content assets annually. Drive content technology strategy across CMS, SEO, analytics, workflow, and AI platforms. Build scalable processes that improve efficiency while maintaining editorial quality and integrity. Manage key vendor relationships, contracts, and technology investments. Cross-Functional & Business Leadership Partner with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Advertising teams to support growth, monetization, and innovation initiatives. Own key performance metrics across traffic, engagement, audience growth, and revenue contribution. Manage budgets, workforce planning, and resource allocation to maximize business outcomes. Qualifications Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of experience in digital publishing, content strategy, SEO, or related fields (or equivalent combination of education and experience). 6+ years leading large, multi-functional teams. Proven experience leading content strategy across multiple brands or digital platforms. Expertise in SEO, technical SEO, content optimization, AI-driven search, and GEO. Experience leading organizations of 40+ employees and influencing executive-level stakeholders. Track record of leading organizational transformation and driving business results. Experience managing large-scale content operations, technology ecosystems, and vendor relationships. Strong analytical, operational, financial, and leadership skills. Preferred Experience optimizing content for AI-generated search experiences. Background spanning both content leadership and SEO product management. Experience with content monetization, sponsored content, or digital media business models. Automotive, media, consumer finance, or other high-consideration consumer category experience. Established industry presence through speaking engagements, thought leadership, or professional recognition. Drug Testing To be employed in this role, you’ll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited. Benefits The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave. About Us Through groundbreaking technology and a commitment to stellar experiences for drivers and dealers alike, Cox Automotive employees are transforming the way the world buys, owns, sells – or simply uses – cars. Cox Automotive employees get to work on iconic consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book and industry-leading dealer-facing companies like vAuto and Manheim, all while enjoying the people-centered atmosphere that is central to our life at Cox. Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page. Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer – All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship. EOE, including disability/vets Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future. Application Deadline: 09/27/2026 Cox brings together the world’s greatest minds to help breathe life into new possibilities – and drive innovation for a better future. That’s why we look for individuals who share our pioneering spirit, have imaginative ideas and are fearless when it comes to tackling the world’s biggest challenges. Our people love technology – and they love making a difference. They have a passion for finding new solutions and working with brilliant colleagues. Every day they dedicate themselves to a huge range of exciting projects, contributing to the Cox vision around the globe. From engineering new sustainability solutions that conserve water and energy to creating the infrastructure for the smart cities of tomorrow, there’s no challenge too great for our pioneers. And there’s no shortage of opportunities for you to make a difference. Come and experience the dynamic, collaborative and creative environments where your ideas are welcome and new discoveries are waiting. To help you grow to your full potential, we strive to support our employees in their career aspirations and promote the freedom to explore new horizons. #J-18808-Ljbffr CAI Cox Automotive Corp Svcs., LLC