Director, Organic Acquisition

About the role

Power confident decisions at Cars.com

Cars.com is the marketplace millions of people trust to buy and sell cars with confidence.

More than 25 years ago, we started as a simple idea, connect buyers and sellers, and today we do a lot more: trusted reviews, transparent pricing, and real-time, proprietary data that cut through the noise of one of life's biggest purchases. Our scaled marketplace, paired with interconnected technology, data, and media, gives dealers and OEMs everything they need to sell more cars.

At Cars.com, we debate openly, decide fast, and deliver what we say we will. We solve real problems for car shoppers and dealers, simplify for speed, and focus on what matters most. We win together or not at all. Here, your work counts, your ideas can help shape what's next, and you'll build alongside people who have your back.

We're in the middle of a real transformation, modernizing the company and investing in AI and data to move faster. You're joining the No. 1 brand people think of first when shopping for a car, at the exact moment it's being rebuilt for what's next. You help decide what that becomes. That kind of influence is rare, and it's exactly why this is a place worth building your career.

Don't just take our word for it, we're proud to be named one of Built In's 2026 Best Places to Work in Chicago and across the U.S.

Ready to help build the most trusted place to buy and sell a car? Join us.

We are looking for a strategic and innovative Director of Organic Acquisition to lead organic search growth efforts for Cars.com. This is a highly visible role focused on driving growth via high-quality, scalable traffic and leads using forward-thinking SEO and AEO techniques, innovative content development, and data-led recommendations and experimentation - all while navigating the fast-paced and ever-changing search landscape.

The ideal candidate will bring deep SEO expertise, creative and innovative thinking, and strong leadership to help us improve discoverability, amplify brand presence, and convert organic visibility into measurable business results. We are seeking a leader who can guide the organization through the search transformation - from a traditional SEO organization to one that is positioning our brand at the forefront of user search discovery within LLMs, generative AI outputs and agentic solutions.

This role will work cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Editorial, Analytics, and more - crafting a modern SEO and AEO program that's consumer-centric and results-oriented. You will report to the Sr. Director of Brand and Content. This role has two direct reports and is focused on the B2C website Cars.com while also advising on the B2B site and our investor relations site, as well as partnering with our dealer SEO Services team on best practices and thought leadership.

Key Responsibilities

SEO Strategy & Execution

• Own and lead organic acquisition strategy for Cars.com including all aspects of SEO from technical, to content to LLM optimization and innovation to drive transformative growth in website traffic and leads
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and UX teams to refine and execute strategy against an aligned roadmap and PM SEO engineers against dedicated roadmap
• Regularly audit competitors, site health and organic performance using best-in-class tools
• Partner with Editorial teams to identify new content opportunities that align with consumer search intent and business goals.
• Build innovative frameworks for content testing (e.g., modular SEO content, FAQ schemas, AI-assisted copywriting).
• Champion thought leadership and act as organization SME on the ever changing landscape around AI, LLM search and consumer search behavior to ensure SEO strategy remains relevant and impactful
• Own SEO analytics - Make decisions on vendors and tooling and report on rankings, traffic, CTR, conversions and other relevant metrics
• Lead and manage a high performing team with two direct reports to achieve SEO objectives
• Work closely with Paid Media to align organic and paid strategies for full-funnel success
• Advise on the B2B site and our investor relations site, and partner with our dealer SEO Services team on best practices and industry thought leadership
• Advocate and evangelize for SEO across the organization and educate stakeholders on its role in long-term growth and brand health
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience total with a majority in SEO or related field with 5+ years of people management experience
• Deep expertise in SEO strategy, technical and content SEO
• Deep technical understanding of how LLMs parse content while still able to clearly explain these concepts to someone with less technical fluency.
• Preferred experience at a site with 2M+ monthly organic visits
• Experience in a media company a plus
• Proven track record of driving organic growth through innovation, experimentation, and cross-functional influence
• Highly proficient in tools like Google Search Console, GA4, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, Lumar, and related platforms
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and experience with external thought leadership speaking or writing a plus

Compensation

We share compensation up front so you have the information you need to make a confident decision. This range reflects target base compensation. Where you land depends on skills and experience. If this range works for you, we encourage you to apply.

Salary Range

$154,200.00-192,750.00

Benefits

Confidence, built in. The same confidence we build for car buyers and sellers, we build into how we treat our own:

• Medical, dental & vision from day one - no waiting period
• 401(k) with company match, immediate vesting
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan - buy Cars.com stock at a discount
• Unlimited Flex Time Off, 11 paid holidays, 1 volunteer day
• Paid parental and caregiver leave
• $350 one-time home office stipend + $70/month for virtual-first work
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year

-...and more - see our full Benefits, Perks & Culture here

Legal

• For US-based positions: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. We're unable to sponsor employment visas at this time.
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