Sr. Product Manager I

Be essential at Cars Commerce

At Cars Commerce, we’re fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We do right by our customers and consumers to better connect the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure and drive local automotive retail. Whether through our No.1 most recognized marketplace, Cars.com, our industry-leading digital experience, Dealer Inspire, our trade and appraisal technology, AccuTrade, our reputation-based digital wholesale auction marketplace, Dealerclub, or our new Cars Commerce Media Network, Cars Commerce is essential for success in the automotive industry.

No one ever travels alone here: at its core, Cars Commerce is collaboration. In fact, it’s built into the very fabric of our shared values. We like to say we Rise Together – putting people at the center of what we do, from consumer to customer to community. Life at Cars Commerce makes it easy when we share the ethos to be Open to All, encouraging open-minded communication because we know diverse thinking yields better outcomes. But critical to our success is Caring to Challengeand Taking Ownership, fueling a competitive spirit in a respectful environment where we think about tomorrow but act today. At our foundation, we have integrity, Doing the Right Thing, even when it’s hard. It’s our shared commitment to these values that makes Cars Commerce a place where growth becomes not only possible, but downright unavoidable.

But don’t take our word for it. As a U.S. News & World Report Best Company to Work For in 2024, we're obsessive about the employee experience. We are among the top 20% being declared “Best” of our industry based on six critical factors that are important to employee wellbeing, like quality of pay, benefits, work life balance and more.

About the Role:

The Product Manager for Consumer Finance will be responsible for defining and executing a consumer-focused financing strategy to drive revenue growth through innovative financial tools and experiences for car shoppers on our marketplace. This PM will focus specifically on prequalification tools, shop-by-payment experiences, lender integrations, and optimizing the financing funnel to convert more consumers into qualified buyers. The role involves partnering closely with internal stakeholders (including Platform Engineering, CiQ, Finance, and Sales), external stakeholders (lending partners and specialty dealers), and cross-functional teams to build financing products that simplify and accelerate the car buying process.

This role requires a product expert with deep fintech experience, preferably in automotive finance, who can create intuitive financing experiences that guide consumers through complex credit decisions while driving measurable business results. The ideal candidate will focus on funnel optimization, improving financing throughput, and expanding the addressable market by bringing new consumers into financing pathways.

Scope of the Role:

As a Product Manager at Cars Commerce, you will solve challenges unique to our multi-sided marketplace by leading innovation in consumer finance products while collaborating across engineering, design, and business teams. You will work with Platform Engineering, CiQ, and external lending partners to build best-in-class financing experiences that serve consumers across all credit tiers. You will own the product roadmap for financing tools, define success metrics around funnel conversion and throughput, and drive measurable improvements in both consumer experience and business outcomes.

You have strong empathy for consumers navigating financing decisions and make product decisions based on both qualitative user research and quantitative funnel analytics. You understand the complexities of automotive finance, credit decisioning, and API integrations with third-party financial services. You are a natural collaborator who builds positive relationships with both internal teams and external lending partners.

Essential Functions

• Define and deliver the roadmap for consumer finance products including prequalification, shop-by-payment, and lender integration initiatives

• Drive funnel optimization by analyzing financing conversion metrics, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions to improve throughput

• Expand financing adoption by developing strategies to drive net new users into financing pathways and broaden the addressable consumer base

• Partner with Platform Engineering and CiQ teams to ensure seamless integration of financing tools into the core marketplace experience

• Manage external relationships with lending partners, specialty dealers (like Drivetime), and financial service providers to optimize integration and performance

• Own financing funnel metrics including prequalification rates, financing attachment, conversion by credit tier, and overall financing penetration

• Understand consumer financing needs across different credit segments and ensure products serve both prime and subprime audiences effectively

• Collaborate cross-functionally to improve processes and ensure alignment between finance product initiatives and broader marketplace goals

• Monitor competitive landscape in automotive fintech and identify opportunities for differentiation and innovation

• Communicate roadmaps and results effectively across the organization, translating complex financing metrics into actionable business insights

• Drive alignment with other product teams to ensure financing tools integrate seamlessly with inventory, search, and lead generation experiences

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, computer science, economics, finance, or related field, or equivalent work experience

• At least 5+ years of product management experience with significant focus on fintech, preferably in automotive finance, lending, or payment solutions

• Fintech Product Expertise: Deep understanding of consumer lending, credit decisioning, and financing user experiences. Proven ability to build products that navigate complex regulatory and compliance requirements in financial services

• API and Integration Knowledge: Working knowledge of third-party integrations, particularly with financial service providers. Understanding of how APIs enable lending partnerships and data flows between systems

• Analytical Excellence: Proficiency with SQL, analytics tools (Amplitude, etc.), and A/B testing platforms to analyze financing funnel performance and optimize conversion rates

• Funnel Optimization Focus: Track record of improving conversion rates, reducing friction in complex user flows, and driving measurable improvements in business metrics

• Stakeholder Management: Experience managing relationships with external partners (lenders, financial institutions) and internal engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions

• Consumer Credit Understanding: Knowledge of different credit tiers, financing products (loans, leases), and how to build experiences that serve diverse consumer financial profiles

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to leverage both quantitative funnel metrics and qualitative user research to guide product decisions

• Communication Skills: Strong ability to translate complex financing concepts into clear product requirements and business justifications

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree in finance, business, or related field

• Automotive finance experience - previous work in automotive lending, dealership finance, or related automotive fintech

• Experience with specific credit segments - understanding of subprime lending, specialty finance, or working with credit-focused dealer partners

• Regulatory knowledge - familiarity with lending compliance, fair credit practices, and automotive finance regulations

• Experience with Split.io, Amplitude, or similar experimentation and analytics platforms

• Background in marketplace or two-sided platform products where you managed both consumer and business stakeholder needs

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package includes:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Healthcare Plans

• New Hire Stipend for Home Office Set-Up

• Generous PTO

• Refuel - a service based recognition program where employees receive additional paid time away to learn grow and reset

• Paid Holidays, Floating Holiday, Volunteer Day, Recharge Day

Learn more about our Benefits, Perks, & Culture on our LinkedIn Life Pages!

For US-based Positions: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that we are unable to sponsor employment visas at this time.
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