Communications Specialist

AFC (Automotive Finance Corporation) fuels the entrepreneurial dream in our community. For more than 35 years, we’ve been committed to making dreams come true for independent car dealers. AFC’s finance solutions work with more than 12,000 independent dealerships across North America, freeing up cash flow to give them more time to focus on building their business. Our solutions amplify purchasing power so dealers can stock their dealership lot with vehicles their customers seek.

AFC is proud to be a subsidiary of OPENLANE. AFC's core business complements the other business units within the OPENLANE group of companies.

About the role

We’re seeking a Communications Specialist who will join our in-house Marketing & Communications (MarComm) team to support content marketing for our finance business (AFC) as well as our US and Canadian marketplaces. You’ll be part of a team responsible for driving growth and visibility of our brands. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about writing, content creation, and simplifying the complex into clear, engaging language — and whose analytical mind craves the magic that emerges when exceptional writing is grounded in data-driven analytics.

Core Values

• Elevating Relationships. We connect deeply with our customers - celebrating their wins and supporting their struggles as if they were our own.
• Powered by Passion. We believe that “passion is our superpower” and that every success is built upon the commitment and perseverance of our employees.
• Vision-driven. We look ahead to the bigger picture so our customers can be prepared; after all, their success is our destination.
• Dedicated to You. We demonstrate value and appreciation by recognizing and validating each other’s efforts. We stand committed to the success of our customers.

Responsibilities

• Brainstorm, write, proofread, and continuously improve high-quality, highly-effective, and targeted externally-facing content assets (blog articles, long-form “freemium” content, web page copy, and more) that empower our customers to understand and use our products and services with confidence and ease.
• Build a dynamic editorial calendar to ensure timely and continuous creation and publication of content, adapting as needed to evolving business needs and market conditions.
• Apply SEO best practices and data-driven insights to shape content creation in ways that increase content reach and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with team members to measure effectiveness and help ensure content drives business goals and customer engagement.
• Help efficiently manage a multi-stakeholder review process to ensure all content is accurate and aligns with brand standards, legal, and compliance requirements.
• Analyze industry and competitor content strategies, and identify opportunities for differentiation and innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field.
• 0-3 years of experience in marketing, communications, or advertising.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Strong multitasking and prioritization skills, with the ability to adapt to changing deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to analyze data and apply it to business challenges and content strategy.
• Understanding of SEO best practices.

Skills

• Curious. You are a lifelong learner, eager to seek out and consume new information. You listen carefully, have a natural curiosity, and the confidence to offer your informed opinion. You know when to be bold, when to be diplomatic, and when to question, “Why?”.
• Analytical. You possess strong critical thinking skills to evaluate new information and data, key performance metrics, identify opportunities, and make recommendations for improvement.
• Strategic. You bring a keen eye and a critical mind with an ability to see the big picture. You understand our audiences’ needs and our purpose, and you work tirelessly to bring them together to achieve impact and business results.
• Detail-oriented. You ensure high-quality communication and help maintain brand and style guidelines across all content and materials.
• Collaborative. You’re a partner to team members across the MarComm team and a conduit between our team and key stakeholders across our business lines.
• Proactive. You are solutions-oriented and adept at acting on your own initiative while seeking guidance and direction when necessary.
• Relationship-driven. You nurture strong relationships and advocate for others. You’re an ambassador for the MarComm team, OPENLANE, and AFC.
• Digitally savvy. You understand digital tools and channels such as social media, search, and content marketing. You monitor and seek out new digital innovations with a thoughtful eye toward practical applications and how they may disrupt existing tools and technologies.

Nice to Haves

• Experience in the automotive industry.
• Experience in graphic design applications such as Canva.

Who You Will Work With

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Communications, this role will collaborate with the broader MarComm team as well as different business units and leadership on a regular basis.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits with employer HSA contributions (US) and FSA options (US)
• Immediately vested 401K (US) or RRSP (Canada) with company match
• Paid Vacation, Personal, and Sick Time
• Paid maternity and paternity leave (US)
• Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D (US)
• Robust Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-paid Leap into Service Day to volunteer
• Tuition Reimbursement for eligible programs
• Opportunities to expand your skill set and share your knowledge across a publicly traded, global organization
• Company culture of internal promotions, diverse career paths, and meaningful advancement