Job Description
Who we are
At CarGurus (NASDAQ: CARG), our mission is to give people the power to reach their destination. We started as a small team of developers determined to bring trust and transparency to car shopping. Since then, our history of innovation and go-to-market acceleration has driven industry-leading growth. In fact, we’re the largest and fastest-growing automotive marketplace, and we’ve been profitable for over 15 years.
What we do
The market is evolving, and we are too, moving the entire automotive journey online and guiding our customers through every step. That includes everything from the sale of an old car to the financing, purchase, and delivery of a new one. Today, tens of millions of consumers visit CarGurus.com each month, and ~30,000 dealerships use our products. But they’re not the only ones who love CarGurus—our employees do, too. We have a people-first culture that fosters kindness, collaboration, and innovation, and empowers our Gurus with tools to fuel their career growth. Disrupting a trillion-dollar industry requires fresh and diverse perspectives. Come join us for the ride!
Role overview
CarGurus is seeking a Vice President of Corporate Strategy to drive the company’s next phase of growth and transformation. This leader will oversee Corporate Strategy, Strategic Program & Project Execution (SPPE), Strategic Partnerships, and Leadership Operations, acting as both strategist and operator, shaping long-term vision, unlocking growth opportunities, and ensuring disciplined execution.
As a member of the senior management team, you’ll partner closely with the executive team to evaluate strategic opportunities, define company priorities, and translate them into actionable plans. You’ll guide how we set goals, measure success, and build alignment and accountability across the organization.
What you’ll do
Strategy:
- Define and refine the strategic roadmap, including growth opportunities, business model evolution, competitive positioning, and build/buy/partner strategies.
- Lead annual and quarterly strategic planning, including setting objectives, aligning cross-functional priorities, and translating strategy into operating plans and measurable KPIs.
- Partner cross-functionally to ensure strategy is grounded in market reality and informed by consumer, dealer, data, and AI trends. Make sure the business is implementing and applying learnings.
- Identify and size new market opportunities, leveraging market intelligence, customer research, and data trends to guide product and investment priorities.
- Develop and evolve business models across CarGurus, evaluating monetization and partnership structures that drive growth and profitability.
- Evaluate build, buy, and partner options to accelerate capability development, expansion into new segments, or differentiation of core offerings.
- Act as an internal consultant, leading small, high-impact projects that address key business questions, performance challenges, or emerging opportunities.
Strategic Program & Project Execution (SPPE)
- Lead the SPPE function to plan, orchestrate, and deliver enterprise-wide, business-critical programs through consistent, transparent practices that accelerate execution.
- Drive alignment, prioritization, and execution discipline across the strategic portfolio, ensuring clear ownership, integrated roadmaps, and proactive risk management.
- Champion organization-wide adoption of SPPE capabilities, embedding shared planning, measurement, and performance practices that foster execution excellence.
Strategic Partnerships
- Own the strategic partnerships agenda: identify, evaluate, and negotiate alliances that advance our product innovation and business growth goals.
- Manage the full partnership lifecycle — from selection and deal structuring through execution, governance, and performance measurement.
- Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Product, Operations, and business units to ensure partnerships are strategically aligned and value-accretive.
Leadership Operations
- Lead the company’s leadership operating rhythm, including leadership team meetings, strategic offsites, and quarterly reviews.
- Drive leadership effectiveness through structured governance, clear decision-making, and accountability frameworks.
- Enable cross-functional alignment and transparent communication of strategic priorities across the organization.
Team Leadership & Culture
- Build and lead a high-performing team of strategy, planning, and partnership professionals.
- Foster a culture of strategic clarity, accountability, and operational excellence.
- Develop team members to think critically, act with ownership, and deliver measurable business impact.
What you’ll bring
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent experience strongly preferred.
- 10+ years of experience, including 5+ years in management consulting or corporate strategy leadership in a high-growth environment, technology experience preferred.
- Proven success leading strategy development and execution, with deep expertise in strategic planning, portfolio management, and performance improvement.
- Strong financial acumen and analytical rigor, skilled in building business cases, scenario models, and ROI analyses.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and organizational transformation.
- Exceptional communicator and influencer, able to translate complex strategy into clear, actionable narratives and engage senior leaders and the Board
- Entrepreneurial and adaptable, with a “roll up your sleeves” mindset and comfort leading through ambiguity.
- High integrity, sound judgment, and a results-driven orientation.
- Relationship builder and influence across the organization.
- Strategic thought partner who drives alignment, decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration.
The displayed range represents the expected annual base salary / On-Target Earnings (OTE) for this position. On-Target Earnings (OTE) is inclusive of base salary and on-target commission earnings, which applies exclusively to sales roles.
Individual pay within this range is determined by work location and other factors such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
This annual base salary forms part of a comprehensive Total Rewards Package. In addition to benefits, this role may qualify for discretionary bonuses/incentives and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
Position Pay Range
$240,000—$300,000 USD
Working at CarGurus
We reward our Gurus’ curiosity and passion with best-in-class benefits and compensation, including equity for all employees, both when they start and as they continue to grow with us. Our career development and corporate giving programs, as well as our employee resource groups (ERGs) and communities, help people build connections while making an impact in personally meaningful ways. A flexible hybrid model and robust time off policies encourage work-life balance and individual well-being. Thoughtful perks like daily free lunch, a new car discount, meditation and fitness apps, commuting cost coverage, and more help our people create space for what matters most in their personal and professional lives.
We welcome all
CarGurus strives to be a place to which people can bring the ultimate expression of themselves and their potential—starting with our hiring process. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We foster an inclusive environment that values people for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. That’s why we hope you’ll apply even if you don’t check every box listed in the job description. We also encourage you to tell your recruiter if you require accommodations to participate in our hiring process due to a disability so we can provide the appropriate support. We want to know what only you can bring to CarGurus. #LI-Hybrid
