VP Portfolio Management, Car Audio

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

About the Role

You will lead a global team of experts to drive and define the Product and Platform portfolio strategy, Technology Roadmap, Innovation strategy, Customer pursuit strategy, Systems Architecture approach, and Platform reuse approach. The end goal is to position the Car Audio Business Unit to maintain the market leader in Car Audio solutions and drive profitable growth for the BU.

You’ll serve as an overall thought leader to help define what’s next for the business unit.  You’ll ensure the strategy positions HARMAN to continue to be a market and a thought leader in the Car Audio business solutions.

Your Team

The team is comprised of  ~300 professionals focusing on Business Development, Strategy and Planning

What You Will Do

• Focus on defining a Product Portfolio for the Car Audio BU that enables the BU to exceed its 2025 business targets.

• Define a Hardware, Software and Services solutions roadmap within the portfolio.  Solutions will be focused on creating a Platform Foundation that spans across all of the BU’s current and future Product lines – Speaker and Amplifiers Solutions, across different segments and regions. 

• Manage and maintain a roadmap of Product Lines that allows HARMAN to lead in the market.  Focus the company on future growth areas that drive business value and deliver a strong ROI of platform investments. 

• Conduct market intelligence and assess market competition by comparing the company's product to competitors' products

• Develop and maintain an ecosystem of partners contributing back to the Business Unit

• Define Make vs Buy options in upcoming technology areas that may be of interest to the BU as part of its growth strategies

• Work with the strategy team and support them in identifying companies and support on due diligence

• Work closely with Global Accounts to define Global and region-specific pursuit strategies.  Ensure there is a close alignment between the Platform roadmap, technology enablers and the customer needs of now and future. 

• Support overall RFQ Engagements

• Work closely with Finance Controlling and Engineering groups, Global customer Sales BUs to define and control the overall budget on platform and product investments, and to manage the portfolio of business to meet the Car Audio BU goals.

• Monitor overall investments on platform technologies and demonstrate clear ROIs. 

• Help optimize Product (CPM) business cases by closely aligning the Platform and Product. 

• Work closely with marketing and business pursuit teams to help craft an effective marketing pitch for the platforms and support showcasing Platform solutions at different venues like CES, Geneva, and Technology days

• Directly responsible for Platform Definition, Product Requirements definition, Business Development, Program management (for internal reference platform development), business sales team, and RFQ support teams. 

• Cradle to grave and support CPMs with technology and product updates for ongoing programs

• Support for lifecycle across Requirements and Design

• Contribute current knowledge and future vision of how technology and systems will enable business strategy, growth, and competitive positioning.

• Assess and prioritize all emerging technologies and innovations that HARMAN needs to invest in so that it can remain ahead of its competitors and its clients. Develop a cohesive plan for technology development and deployment that incorporates the specific needs of each of the individual businesses.

• Understand all aspects of the product lifecycle from cradle to grave, ensuring the program milestones happen on time, technologies launch successfully and software evolution strategies are in place to maximize ROI.

What You Need

• 20+ years of Product development experience.

• 20+ years managing customer projects, platforms, and end-to-end delivery experience

• 10+ years in automotive electronics development

• Bachelors of Engineering in Computer Science, Information Technology or Electrical Engineering or equivalent

• Experience in driving and leading Platforms and core development, understanding the needs of program and product execution with the technical capability to guide strategically and manage resources

• Business acumen, to gauge not just what can be done but to know what can be profitable, and a general manger perspective across different functions is a key requirement for this role. The ability to manage near-term R&D costs/risks with long-term product commercialization is a critical requirement for this position.

• Must be able to communicate effectively with customers and constituents outside the engineering organization.

• Have the ability to promote and explain technology initiatives to business leaders outside of the technology organization and to external partners and customers.

• Experience leading a significant part of a technology and business pursuit team.

• Must be a strategic technology leader. The selected individual must combine a solid technical foundation with forward-looking strategic skills to effectively develop a Platform strategy to enable HARMAN to capitalize on emerging technologies including emerging technology trends outside of HARMAN’s core domain.

• Ability to think beyond the technology itself and will understand key business drivers that ensure technology investment will provide substantial value or improvements to customers.

What is Nice to Have

• Master of Engineering in Computer Science or Information Technology or Electrical Engineering or equivalent

• Sound technical and methodical knowledge in all areas of Product Life Cycle Management

• Strong experience in Product development and agile processes

• Track record of managing large, complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

• Track record of driving business value and growth

• Teaming skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels within the organization, internally and externally.

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel up to 25%, domestic and international travel

• Be willing to work in an office in Novi MI location

• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment

What We Offer

• Access to employee discounts on world class HARMAN/Samsung products (JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG etc.)

• Inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities

• Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work life integration and collaboration in a global environment

• On-site opportunities to focus on personal well-being and development such as, onsite café, fitness center, weekly massage, fitness classes, and other onsite events promoted by our Employee resource groups

• Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University’s business and leadership academies

• Internal talent management leadership acceleration programs

• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program

• Scholarship programs for employee family members

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HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.