Account Director, Automotive

About the role

The PR industry hasn't really changed in fifty years. Relationships, lunches, luck, and a clip report at the end of the month. Interdependence is rebuilding it from the ground up. Interviewed, our proprietary platform, analyzes 300,000+ stories every day across a network of 250,000 journalists. We turn earned media into something measurable, repeatable, and worth paying for - and apply the same data and discipline across paid, social, content, and brand. Integrated marketing run by one team, on one system, accountable to one result. Forbes named us one of America's Best PR Agencies. Our 100+ person team works with brands, CMOs, founders, and entrepreneurs across consumer, healthcare, tech, B2B, travel and entertainment. We move fast. The best argument wins. We hire for sharp thinking, real craft, and ownership from day one. If you want comfortable, this isn't the place. If you want to win, build with us. Interdependence is seeking a strategic, well-connected, and entrepreneurial PR Account Director - Automotive (Contractor) to lead high-profile client programs across the automotive sector, with a strong emphasis on luxury and high-end automotive brands . The ideal candidate has deep agency experience, an established network across automotive media, events, influencers, and celebrity talent, and a passion for storytelling that drives cultural relevance and brand desirability. This is a contract role combining hands-on client leadership, strategic planning, experiential activation, and influencer/celebrity engagement. The Account Director will serve as the senior day-to-day client contact, responsible for delivering measurable outcomes, orchestrating premium events and product launches, and shaping narratives that elevate our clients' presence in competitive automotive and luxury lifestyle markets.

Responsibilities

• Client Leadership & Strategic Counsel
• Serve as senior lead for automotive account - 20 to 30 hours per week - providing high-level strategy, vision, and counsel to brand, marketing, and executive stakeholders.
• Build trusted partnerships with client executives, aligning PR and integrated programs to drive measurable business and brand impact.
• Oversee integrated communications programs, including product launches, executive visibility, lifestyle storytelling, and brand positioning within the luxury and performance automotive landscape.
• Anticipate challenges and provide proactive solutions to ensure long-term client success.
• Events & Experiential Activation
• Lead the strategy, planning, and flawless execution of high-touch automotive events, including vehicle launches, ride-and-drive programs, auto shows, concours events, press previews, and VIP experiences.
• Manage event logistics, vendor partners, talent coordination, and on-site execution to deliver brand-defining moments.
• Develop experiential concepts that connect automotive clients with luxury, lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment audiences.
• Influencer & Celebrity Engagement
• Leverage existing relationships with top-tier influencers, tastemakers, and celebrity talent to drive brand visibility and cultural cachet.
• Lead influencer and celebrity seeding, partnerships, and integrations across product launches and tentpole moments.
• Oversee talent vetting, contracting, and on-site management at events, drives, and brand experiences.
• Identify culturally relevant moments and personalities that align with each client's positioning.
• Media Strategy & Thought Leadership
• Lead development of integrated media relations programs that secure meaningful, business-impacting coverage across automotive, lifestyle, luxury, and business outlets.
• Shape executive narratives and messaging frameworks for complex automotive stories - including design, performance, innovation, heritage, and lifestyle angles.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with top automotive journalists (Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Robb Report, duPont REGISTRY, etc.) as well as luxury lifestyle and consumer media.
• Oversee production of strategic content including press releases, bylines, and feature pitches.
• Team & Project Management
• Direct cross-functional internal teams and external partners to deliver high-quality work with efficiency and precision.
• Provide direction and feedback to account staff and contractors supporting the business.
• Manage program budgets, timelines, and staffing allocations across concurrent initiatives.

Requirements

• 10+ years of PR or communications experience, with significant agency experience supporting automotive clients ; experience with luxury or high-end automotive brands is a strong plus .
• Proven track record leading integrated PR programs that include large-scale events, influencer partnerships, and celebrity engagement.
• Established relationships with automotive and lifestyle media, as well as influencer and talent networks.
• Deep understanding of the automotive land

Benefits

Additional Information

*This is a contractor role*

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