At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic projects and influence key growth initiatives across Europe.
- Company: Join Cox Automotive, the world's largest automotive services provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a collaborative culture and opportunities for travel.
- Why this job: Shape the future of automotive transformation and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 3-5+ years in strategic planning or management consulting with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Are you ready to shape the future of automotive transformation across Europe? Cox Automotive is looking for a strategic thinker, collaborative partner, and analytical problem-solver to join our International Strategy team as Strategy Manager – Europe.
Whether you’re based in Leeds or Cologne, you’ll play a pivotal role in guiding leadership decisions, influencing key growth initiatives, and helping define how we invest, innovate and win across the UK and Continental Europe.
Why this role matters
Europe is one of the most exciting growth regions for Cox Automotive. With a mature UK operation and rapidly expanding Continental European businesses, this role puts you at the heart of the decision-making that shapes our future. You’ll work directly with senior leaders, support high-impact strategic projects, and bring clarity to complex questions around markets, opportunities, diversification, and M&A. This is a role for someone who thrives on influence, insight, and meaningful impact.
What you’ll do
- Lead strategic projects that inform where we play, how we win, and what we prioritise.
- Conduct market, customer and competitor assessments across Europe.
- Develop insights that cut through ambiguity and support critical business decisions.
- Build financial and strategic models to guide investment choices.
- Partner with business leaders across multiple markets to shape strategic plans.
- Support M&A analysis and due-diligence activities.
- Create compelling presentations and storylines for executive audiences.
- Work with cross-functional teams across Europe, and collaborate with global teams in the US, ANZ and Brazil.
No two days are the same—this is a role where curiosity, drive and influence truly matter.
What you’ll bring
- 3–5+ years’ experience in strategic planning, management consulting, or a similar analytical role.
- Strong analytical, modelling and critical-thinking skills.
- Experience working with complex data and turning it into clear, actionable insights.
- Excellent communication and storytelling skills, especially with senior leaders.
- Ability to lead projects independently and manage multiple workstreams.
- A collaborative mindset and the ability to influence across functions.
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
Nice to have: experience in automotive, international markets, or M&A.
Language Requirements & Location Options
- Leeds (UK) – English required. Work closely with the UK business and wider European teams.
- Cologne (Germany) – Fluent German & English required. Support continental European teams, business leaders and market assessments.
Both locations involve around 30–50% travel across the UK and Europe for workshops, planning sessions and strategic engagements.
About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and technology provider. In Europe, we’re growing quickly and investing heavily in innovation, data, digital solutions and mobility transformation. You’ll be joining a team with huge opportunity to shape what comes next.
Ready to make an impact? If you're a strategic thinker who loves solving big problems, influencing leaders and creating clarity in complexity, we’d love to hear from you.
Strategy Manager Europe in Leeds employer: Cox Automotive
Contact Detail:
Cox Automotive Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Manager Europe in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at Cox Automotive. Building relationships can give you insider info and might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their strategy, and think about how your skills align with their goals. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth in Europe.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of how you've tackled complex problems in the past. Use data to back up your insights and demonstrate your ability to influence decisions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Cox Automotive.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Manager Europe in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Strategy Manager role. Highlight your analytical skills, strategic planning experience, and any relevant projects you've led.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell your story! Explain why you're passionate about automotive transformation and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Don’t forget to mention your collaborative mindset!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical abilities, include examples of how you've turned complex data into actionable insights. This will show us you can thrive in ambiguity and make informed decisions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cox Automotive
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the automotive market in Europe. Understand the key players, recent trends, and challenges. This will not only help you answer questions but also show your genuine interest in the role and the company.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've used analytical skills to solve complex problems. Bring along any relevant models or insights you've developed in previous roles that demonstrate your ability to turn data into actionable strategies.
✨Craft Compelling Stories
Since storytelling is crucial for this role, practice presenting your past experiences in a way that highlights your impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and keep them engaging.
✨Engage with Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the company's strategic goals and challenges. This shows you're not just interested in the job, but also in how you can contribute to their success.