At Caribou, we care about giving people financial freedom so they can focus on what’s most important to them. Today, less than two percent of Americans refinance their auto loans despite drastic increases in the cost of new and used cars. We see huge potential to help folks reduce their monthly auto expenses, as well as increase the predictability of those expenses over time. We do this by building technology to pair customers with community banks and credit unions, and ushering them through the process quickly. On average, our drivers save $151/month on their car loans while protecting their investment long term.
Caribou is led by leaders from the technology, automotive, and finance industries. We’re proud to be backed by a great team of investors, including QED Investors, Goldman Sachs, Moderne Ventures, Accomplice, Link Ventures, Motley Fool Ventures and others.
About the Role
As the Sr. Manager of Public Relations and Communications, you’ll define and amplify Caribou’s story at the intersection of technology and financial empowerment. You will own and elevate Caribou’s earned media and communications strategy, growing brand awareness, shaping perception, and establishing Caribou as the leading authority in auto refinancing while advancing our mission to make car ownership more affordable and predictable.
This role blends strategic leadership and hands-on execution, combining storytelling, media relations, and reputation management to build Caribou’s profile across consumer, partner, and employer audiences. The ideal candidate is a strategic, creative, and metrics-driven communications leader who thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments.
You’ll shape Caribou’s public voice and strengthen our leadership position in the auto refinancing category, driving trust and visibility with key audiences. As an individual contributor, you’ll partner closely with the Head of Brand and Content to develop compelling brand narratives.
This position reports to the VP of Marketing and can be remote from a state where Caribou currently operates*. Occasional travel for in-person meetings and media events may be required.
In this role, you will…
Lead Strategic Communications
- Own the company's external communications strategy, including press, media relations, strategic announcements, and corporate reputation management.
- Develop and execute PR strategies and story angles that promote Caribou’s mission, while proactively identifying opportunities to insert our perspective into relevant news cycles.
Drive Storytelling, Messaging, & Media Relations
- Partner with brand, content, product marketing, and exec teams to align messaging and ensure consistency across earned, owned, and paid channels. Translate customer stories and product innovation into newsworthy brand narratives.
- Leverage internal and external data to identify newsworthy trends and stories that will generate media coverage and position Caribou as an industry leader.
- Pitch media outlets to secure earned placements across print, digital, and broadcast platforms. Respond to media inquiries, manage Caribou’s newsroom, and serve as the point of contact for proactive and reactive media engagement.
- Write press releases, news blogs, talking points, backgrounders, articles and press kit materials.
- Build and maintain relationships with journalists, producers, editors, and influencers to generate consistent media coverage and drive organic leads.
Support Corporate and Internal Communications
- Support internal communications initiatives and employer brand storytelling to engage and inspire current and potential employees.
- Write and manage executive and company content for LinkedIn, speeches, events, and earned placements, ensuring consistency of voice.
- Manage Caribou’s corporate and employee reputation across Linkedin, Glassdoor, and similar platforms to reinforce our employer brand and company culture.
Measure and Optimize Earned Media
- Track and analyze PR impact, including media reach, sentiment, and share of voice, and communicate results to leadership.
About You
You, like us, are driven to achieve your goals. At Caribou, we have just three core values: Give a damn. Velocity. Make the assist. We’re motivated. We race towards our goals. And we help each other along the way.
- Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 8+ years of experience in public relations, communications, and/or media relations, ideally within fintech, financial services, or a high-growth technology environment.
- Proven experience delivering impactful media coverage and effective executive communication programs.
- Exceptional storytelling skills and ability to craft compelling brand narratives.
- Strategic thinker who executes with speed, accuracy, and attention to detail.
- Strong executive presence and confidence representing the company externally.
- Exceptional writing skills across formats — from press releases and op-eds to executive speeches and social media.
- Data-driven mindset with experience analyzing data to identify trends, measuring PR outcomes, and optimizing communications strategies based on performance insights.
- Experience serving as a strategic communications advisor to senior leaders and executives.
- Experience in issues and crisis management, with the ability to respond quickly and thoughtfully under pressure.
- Proficiency with AI tools for writing, editing, and workflow automation (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini).
- Excellent relationship builder and cross-functional collaborator.
- Demonstrated experience building relationships with journalists, editors, and producers.
How we will take care of you
Everyone at Caribou is a valued team member. Our compensation and benefits package includes:
- Competitive compensation: $116k - $145k
- Eligible for annual performance-based incentive
- Equity options
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Generous paid time off including Flexible Time Off (FTO) for all employees and 100% paid parental leave for all parents
- Exceptional benefits including highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision plans, and fully company-paid mental health, disability, and basic life insurance
- Optional benefits to suit your individual circumstances such as HSAs (with Caribou HSA contributions), FSAs, supplemental life and health, legal, and pet insurance
- Up to $1,000 per year for eligible professional development expenses
- Employee referral program
We come from all walks of life and are joined together by our shared values, which guide our work and how we work together.
- Give a damn. What we’re doing matters. We show up determined to deliver results, and we love it.
- Velocity. We’re intentional about where we’re going and we race towards it.
- Make the assist. We have diverse strengths. We offer and ask for help so we all win.
Caribou is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, marital status, military or protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law. This position is not restricted solely to the responsibilities listed above, and the scope and responsibilities are subject to change. A pre-employment background check is required as a condition of employment.
*Caribou does not currently have employee operations in AL, AK, AR, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WV, WY.
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Top Skills
What We Do
Caribou is an auto fintech platform dedicated to saving customers an average of over $100 a month on their car payments. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Caribou offers auto loan refinancing and auto insurance through a seamless and transparent process, leveraging partnerships with trusted lenders and insurance providers to bring customers great rates and lower monthly payments. Caribou was incubated by QED Investors, and is backed by Goldman Sachs, Moderne Ventures, Accomplice, Link Ventures, Motley Fool Ventures, CMFG Ventures, FireBolt Ventures, Gaingels, and others.
Why Work With Us
We come from all walks of life and are joined together by our shared values, which guide our work. This helps us improve life for our customers, our communities and our team members. We:
- See people as people
- Take care of each other
- Commit to the mission
- Move quickly and bravely
- Get better every day
- Seek truth
