Account Director, Automotive

📋 Description

• Act as the senior lead for the automotive account, dedicating 20 to 30 hours each week to provide strategic vision, guidance, and advice to brand, marketing, and executive stakeholders.

• Establish trusted relationships with client executives to align PR initiatives and integrated programs that drive measurable business outcomes and enhance brand impact.

• Supervise integrated communication strategies, including product launches, executive visibility, lifestyle storytelling, and brand positioning within the luxury and performance automotive sectors.

• Proactively identify challenges and offer solutions to secure long-term success for clients.

• Direct the strategy, planning, and seamless execution of high-profile automotive events, such as vehicle launches, ride-and-drive programs, auto shows, concours events, press previews, and VIP experiences.

• Manage logistics for events, coordinate with vendor partners, talent, and ensure on-site execution to create brand-defining experiences.

• Create experiential concepts that connect automotive clients with luxury, lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment audiences.

• Utilize established relationships with top-tier influencers, tastemakers, and celebrity talent to enhance brand visibility and cultural relevance.

• Oversee influencer and celebrity seeding, partnerships, and integrations during product launches and major events.

• Handle talent vetting, contracting, and on-site management at various events, drives, and brand experiences.

• Identify culturally significant moments and personalities that resonate with each client's branding.

• Lead the development of integrated media relations programs that achieve meaningful, business-impacting coverage across automotive, lifestyle, luxury, and business media outlets.

• Craft executive narratives and messaging frameworks for complex automotive stories, covering design, performance, innovation, heritage, and lifestyle perspectives.

• Build and sustain relationships with leading automotive journalists (such as those from Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Robb Report, duPont REGISTRY, etc.) as well as luxury lifestyle and consumer media.

• Oversee the production of strategic content, including press releases, bylines, and feature pitches.

• Guide cross-functional internal teams and external partners to deliver high-quality results efficiently and accurately.

• Provide direction and constructive feedback to account staff and contractors who support the business.

• Manage program budgets, timelines, and staffing allocations across multiple concurrent initiatives.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 10 years of PR or communications experience, with substantial agency experience supporting automotive clients; prior experience with luxury or high-end automotive brands is highly advantageous.

• Proven success in leading integrated PR programs featuring large-scale events, influencer collaborations, and celebrity engagements.

• Established connections with automotive and lifestyle media, as well as influencer and talent networks.

• In-depth understanding of the automotive landscape, including key trends in luxury, performance, EV, and emerging mobility sectors.

• Exceptional skills in writing, pitching, and storytelling.

• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing teams, budgets, and client portfolios.

• Strong presentation, negotiation, and client relationship-building abilities.

• Comfortable working cross-functionally in a fast-paced, fully remote environment, with regular travel to events and on-site activations.

• Available for contract work—20 to 30 hours per week—with flexibility to adjust hours according to client programs and event schedules.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible remote work opportunities.

• Chance to collaborate with a top-tier agency team on premier automotive and luxury brand initiatives.