About the Role
As the Business Lead, you will lead and manage multiple teams, and work closely with, solicit feedback from, and provide leadership to various cross-functional teams including the Global Customer Business Units, Marketing, and Procurement teams. You will capture the voice of the customer, support the new business acquisition and RFQ pursuits from concept through business award, identify forward-looking technology & associated strategies, and define which platform technologies to invest in.
You will drive growth by targeted technology deployment, maximizing the potential for sales and margin by enabling attractive product roadmaps, prioritization of technology, and hardware/software (enablers) strategy development. You will anticipate industry trends, build value propositions for the technologies, engage with potential customers, and set the global product strategy.
Your Team
Lead a team of ~20 globally with ~5 direct reports. This team will include the software platform product delivery team, and individual product manager(s). It will span the responsibilities of Product Management Scope, and software Platform Engineering Delivery. You and your team will also be expected to lead with influence and work with additional cross-functional team members drawn from all relevant functions within the business in a matrix organization. This team will be empowered and aligned around company objectives. Excellent communication and leadership skills will be key to success.
What You Will Do
Define the product platform: including positioning, cost, performance, and features, to fulfill the overall Car Audio Software product strategy.
Own the product from cradle to grave; identify when new platforms/products are needed and when legacy platforms/products should be retired.
Create and maintain market and product requirement documents, product roadmaps, and go-to-market plans for each amplifier platform and each amplifier customer.
Lead product management processes and discipline for the business unit.
Work with other product line directors to establish product management processes and influence business unit culture.
Support market and customer analysis: sync with Global Sales/Strategy/Customer Engineering teams, define and size market segments, and determine trends and relevant changes in industry requirements and international law based on close contact with customers and partners.
Conduct competitor analyses and analyze competitive landscape/products.
Feedback on Customer and Competitor intelligence into the refinement of the product strategy and plan.
Identify areas for potential partnerships for software development and/or delivery, and identify and recommend potential partners.
Provide proactive and innovative ideas on ways to differentiate our products from the competition and "delight" customers.
Lead and manage global software platform and delivery team(s) to launch reference products
Drive continuous improvements in the overall quality, cost, and efficiency of the development team
Provide the final direction for the cross-functional engineering teams when considering design trade-offs and feature prioritization
Establish and maintain annual department budget for equipment and resources
Establish department goals and monitor team performance
Hire, coach, and develop high-performing talent ensuring the success of each team member
Support software project and solutions management lead(s) to drive for flawless delivery and high profitability
What You Need
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10+ years experience in product management (or equivalent product management knowledge)
5+ years of experience in product development
5+ years of experience managing a global product development engineering team
Highly motivated and innovative leader guiding the organization
Ability to direct and manage complex product activities to successful on-time completion
In-depth knowledge of fundamental engineering principles
Strong engineering process development background
Effective interpersonal skills with customers, peers, leaders, global teams, and industry forums
Desire to maintain skills and master new technologies
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Ability to speak comfortably, clearly, and confidently in front of an audience
Proven experience in working with a team of design engineering, finance, sourcing, and product management members and coordinating activities among team members with either direct or indirect reporting structure
Proven key leadership traits and skills: collaborative work style, integrity, creativity, objectivity, assertiveness, effectiveness, responsibility, honesty, reliability
What is Nice to Have
Advanced degree in engineering, business, or management/leadership preferred
Excellent written and verbal communication skills both in English
What Makes You Eligible
Willingness to travel 10%- 20% of the time
Willing to work in an office in the Novi, MI location
What We Offer
Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
Competitive wellness benefits
Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria
An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development