Senior Manager - Public Relations and Communications

What You’ll Do

This is not a traditional PR role — and if that excites you, keep reading.

Tekmetric is at an inflection point. We've built the leading platform for independent auto repair shops, and now we're investing in the stories, voices, and credibility that will define our position in the industry for years to come. We're looking for a Sr. Manager of Public Relations who thinks well beyond press releases and clip reports — someone who understands that PR in 2026 is as much about AI citation and "share of model" as it is about front-page features, and who knows how to build earned authority that shapes how journalists, industry voices, and AI engines understand and talk about Tekmetric.This is a newly created role and the first dedicated PR leader at Tekmetric, with the chance to define how the company is seen by the press, the industry, and the market. You will build the function from the ground up, with real resources behind you. You'll own our external communications strategy end-to-end: from building our executive thought leadership program, to managing high-value media partnerships, driving our founder-led content engine, and translating product milestones and community impact into compelling stories that land. 

This is a high-visibility, high-impact individual contributor role that sits at the intersection of earned media, executive positioning, and brand credibility — and it requires someone with both the strategic range to architect long-term programs and the polish to represent Tekmetric at the highest levels.

As our Sr. Manager of Public Relations, you'll be the architect of Tekmetric's earned media presence and the steward of how our leaders, our company, and our community are seen by the world.

• Executive visibility, built from zero. Develop the platform for our founder CEO, President/COO, CPO, and the next tier of leaders. That means a voice guide for each, a clear view of who speaks on what, media training, ghostwriting across LinkedIn, Facebook, and short-form video, speaking and awards, and a sharp filter for which opportunities earn an executive’s time.
• Own the earned media strategy — and evolve it for the AI era. Develop and execute a media relations strategy rooted in data-driven storytelling and deep relationships with the trade and business press covering our space. You understand that the goal today isn't just earning a click — it's earning a citation. You'll build a sustainable earned media engine that positions Tekmetric as the defining voice in the auto repair technology category, with an eye on GEO and AI visibility as a core strategic lever.
• Flagship moments, covered like a campaign. Own media strategy for Tektonic, SEMA, and the moments that come next. Think beyond press invitations: live recordings, broadcast and podcast partners, customer visits, press-friendly content hubs, and a clear plan for before, during, and after.
• Product and partner news that earns attention. Our product ships constantly. You will bundle releases into narratives worth covering, set the tiers for what gets announced and how, and run a repeatable launch cadence that does not burn the team out. You will also co-announce with strategic partners such as parts providers, coaching groups, and integrations to borrow credibility and reach.
• Lead Tektonic media partnerships and conference PR. Tektonic is Tekmetric's flagship annual industry event — and one of our highest-profile brand moments. You'll own the media partnership strategy for Tektonic, developing and managing relationships with trade publications, journalists, and content partners to maximize coverage, credibility, and industry reach before, during, and after the event.
• Position our leaders as subject matter experts. Identify, develop, and amplify the expertise of Tekmetric's leaders across marketing, sales, product, finance, operations, customer success, and beyond — matching the right internal voices to the right audiences to build authority across the conversations that matter most to our business.
• Package Tekmetric's philanthropic and community impact. Find and tell the human stories behind Tekmetric's investment in the auto repair community. You'll shape the narrative around our broader industry impact in a way that resonates with our audience and reinforces Tekmetric's reputation as a company that genuinely cares.
• Own our media sponsorships. Manage and maximize Tekmetric's portfolio of media and trade sponsorships, ensuring each delivers real strategic value — not just logo placements. You'll evaluate opportunities, negotiate agreements, and build the partnerships that extend our reach in the right places.
• Apply a GEO-forward lens to everything. You understand that earned media is the primary driver of AI citation, and that brands winning "share of model" today are those who've systematically built external authority over time. You'll embed GEO thinking into media strategy, content structure, and narrative architecture — treating AI visibility as a core PR metric alongside traditional share of voice and earned impressions.
• Measure what actually matters. Define and track the right signals: earned media reach, placement quality, executive visibility, share of voice trends, and brand mention sentiment inside AI-generated answers. You'll build reporting that connects PR activity to business outcomes and communicate progress clearly to senior stakeholders.

What You’ll Bring

• 8+ years in PR, communications, or a closely related field, including time spent owning a program or function, not just contributing to one.
• A track record of building an executive visibility or thought leadership program end to end: choosing the platform, setting the cadence, training the leader, and showing what changed over time.
• Deep experience in executive communications, thought leadership development, or executive visibility programs
• Experience in B2B, SaaS, or technology communications — ideally in a vertical or industry-specific context with a non-desk or field-based end audience
• Hands-on AI fluency. You have built or run AI workflows, measured visibility in LLMs, and can show us what you learned.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and messaging skills — you can write a crisp media pitch, a polished op-ed, a sharp press release, and a tight set of talking points with equal confidence
• Executive presence and direct communication. You can coach a founder, give blunt feedback kindly, and build trust with C-suite leaders quickly.
• Appetite to lead. You have managed or mentored people, or you are ready to, and you want to grow a team as the function expands.
• A builder’s instinct. You are comfortable without a roadmap and arrive with a point of view on what to build first and why.
• Proven track record of working cross-functionally, especially with Product, Sales, and executive stakeholders
• Experience managing media sponsorships, event media partnerships, or conference PR strategy

Nice to have

• Experience marketing to field-based, non-desk, or trade audiences (or anything adjacent to the skilled trades / local service economy)
• Familiarity with PR tools like Meltwater, Muck Rack or Cision, and emerging AI visibility tracking tools
• Familiarity with how AI search is changing discovery—and curiosity to test how content earns visibility and trust in that environment