Director, Competitive Intelligence

Company

Cox Automotive - USA

Marketing

Director, Market & Customer Research

DirectorHybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week

Yes, 25% of the time

Day

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary of $142,100.00 - $236,800.00. 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.

The Director, Competitive Intelligence is responsible for the management, control and delivery of key competitive intelligence initiatives, partnering with Cox Automotive corporate leaders to drive strategic alignment and guide critical/strategic business decisions. The role is critical in connecting the external context in which Cox Automotive operates, to internal decision making across strategy, marketing, product, and sales functions, as well as within Cox Automotive’s Retail Software businesses.

In addition to keeping a pulse on key competitive activity, product evolution and landscape evolution, the Director, Competitive Intelligence and his/her team are responsible for delivering competitive/strategic analyses and actionable insights that help direct Cox Automotive’s short and long-term strategic roadmap. Additionally, he/she will lead and provide ongoing expertise and execution in proactively identifying market risks and opportunities, serving as expert counsel to advise on competitive dynamics.

The Director, Competitive Intelligence, will serve as a trusted advisor, having demonstrated experience in program design and structure that aligns to the top priorities of Cox Automotive. The Director will have demonstrated experience in successfully leading, motivating and developing a team of professionals. As a member of the Competitive Intelligence leadership team, the Director is also expected to contribute to team-wide planning and ongoing management efforts, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. The Director will also be responsible for leading a team of 2-3 direct reports.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, motivate, influence and develop a team of competitive intelligence professionals responsible for ongoing competitive monitoring, insight development and communication pertaining to competitors’ M&A strategy, financial performance, product and pricing development, go-to-market strategy, etc.

  • Develop team members to become subject matter experts and strategic advisors to Cox Automotive.

  • Provides and sources cross-functional coaching and mentoring capabilities.

  • Provides current, direct, complete and actionable positive and corrective feedback to direct reports.

  • Develop and drive change across the organization.

  • Acts as inspiring role model, ensuring that team members exhibit intended behaviors.

• Direct processes and operational best practices, adapting to organizational requirements as needs change.

• Develop deep/wide subject matter expertise, serving as a trusted advisor to enterprise-wide Strategy, Sales, Product and Marketing partners

• Building alignment on strategic opportunities and interpretation of competitive threats and making recommendations that help influence and drive the direction of Cox Automotive.

• Develop a competitive universe view including (but not limited to) which competitors to monitor, key factors, and strategy compilation

• Lead the business leaders through Competitive Game Theory sessions; guiding executives through a thought development process to identify courses action based upon changing market and competitive conditions.

• Lead all cross-BU deliverables across the team, including but not limited to: quarterly competitive updates, industry event recognizance, quarterly earnings calls analysis, etc.

• Consult Strategy & Enterprise Groups with deep understanding of competitive and marketplace trends; conveying key insights, current and potential capabilities, strategic implications and recommended courses of action

  • Maintain competitive landscape to support likely M&A activities, due diligence, market sizing/share and LRP risks/opportunities

  • Drive development of competitive inputs for long-range strategic, annual operating, and business development planning.

• Support Cox Automotive with deep understanding of competitive and marketplace trends and provide ongoing analysis of competitor financials and automotive market, including:

  •  Drive efforts to capture, analyze, and synthesize competitive insights from various channels (earnings calls, analyst’s reports, press releases, team members, etc.), maintaining competitor profiles including drivers, current strategy, management assumptions, and capabilities.

  • Define competitive intelligence data strategy and lead the development of analytics capabilities (Dashboards, Intelligence portal(s), etc.). Strategically evaluates data to extract key business implications.

• Develop and implement a structured competitive intelligence program which:

  • Effectively coordinate, capture, synthesize and analyze competitive insights from various channels, maintaining robust competitor profiles that synthesize key insights.

  • Communicate and inform targeted business information to key audiences in a structured, effective and timely manner.

  • Effectively conveys strategic implications and recommended course of action.

• Establish a strong network, including key industry groups, clients and experts (internal and external).

• Keep abreast of developments and best practices in the Competitive Intelligence field and maintain the knowledge necessary to retain professional competence (including participation in competitive intelligence-related events).

• Help develop Cox Automotive Competitive Intelligence long-range strategies (including contributions to team strategy sessions, budget planning efforts, team dynamics & engagement, etc.), fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.

• Support ad hoc research requests and assume other responsibilities as they arise.

What’s In It for You?

Here’s a sneak peek at the benefits you could experience as a Cox employee:

• A competitive salary and top-notch bonus/incentive plans. 

• Exceptional work-life balance, flexible time-off policies and accommodating work schedules. 

• Comprehensive healthcare, with multiple options for individuals and families. 

• Generous 401(k) retirement plans with company match. 

• Professional development and continuing education opportunities. 

• Inclusive parental leave policies, plus comprehensive fertility coverage and adoption assistance. 

• Extra perks like pet insurance, employee discounts and much more.

Who You Are/Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline and 10 years of professional experience, predominantly in business consulting, competitive intelligence, corporate strategy, finance, marketing, or analytics capacity. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master’s degree and 8 years of experience; a Ph.D. and 5 years of experience in a related field; or 14 years’ experience in a related field with no degree.

• 5+ years’ experience in a management/leadership role

• Passionate and driven to win.

• Self-starter mentality that possesses critical thinking capabilities, intellectual curiosity, and creative problem-solving skills.

• Exceptional people leadership skills, fostering an environment of trust and long-term individual growth.

• Strong executive presence with ability to influence in a professional manner.

• Demonstrated ability to be collaborative in a highly matrixed environment, influence without authority, stand out as a successful, objective and strategic thought partner.

• Proactive, strategic thinker who possesses the ability to anticipate needs. 

• Must have natural curiosity and comfort with ambiguous information and limited direction. 

• Ability to collect, analyze and integrate information/data from a variety of sources, into concise, compelling and actionable deliverables with clear insights and implications. 

• Ability to understand, interpret, communicate and react to client needs. 

• Experience communicating complex ideas/topics clearly and concisely in prose and PowerPoint. 

• Ability to maintain efficient time management while prioritizing and delivering against multiple deadlines.

• Energetic and positive team player who is flexible and personable with a service-oriented attitude.

• Must have natural curiosity and comfort with ambiguous information and limited direction.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-task environment in which attention to detail is expected.

• Strong analytical, organizational and project management skills.

• Approaches change with a positive mindset.

• Embraces responsibility for outcomes and impact.

• Fosters a healthy and positive work environment.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to deliver concise reporting, presentations, and materials that are executive-friendly.

• Delivers consistently on time, on budget and in scope.

• Travel: 25%

Preferred:

• Degree in Business, Finance or Marketing

• MBA preferred

Join the Cox family of businesses and make your mark today! 

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.

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, parental leave, and COVID-19 vaccination leave.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.

Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.