Executive Director, Brand Owner, Car Audio

Role Overview

• Build and lead Brand Experience Strategy
• Manage a small, nimble, powerful direct brand experience team, plus larger supporting matrix teams.
• Lead the translation of the brand experience vision into a technical vision, feature ideas, and feasible technical path aligned with customer needs
• Coordinate the brand's portfolio strategy and positioning with Consumer and Pro Divisions
• Lead the determination of Commercial/Strategic/Technical Feasibility
• Lead PLM Lite Process – risk eval & go/no-go analysis
• Align internal delivery planning with OEM facing customer roadmaps
• Collaborate with other Brand Owners, adjacent stakeholders, internal teams, external partners & vendors to come up with new UI/UX and audio related technologies and best practices.
• Evaluate new ideas coming out of innovation pipeline for potential brand experience inclusion
• Act as Brand Ambassador and “CEO” to Lead the brand experience vision, development, customer relationship, business model, and direct plus cross-functional teams to define, match, and deliver compelling brand experience product bundles with customer partners
• Serve as single point of contact for Customer Account Management Team for the brand – Support the jointly developed customer engagement strategy on pursuits
• Represent & Promote brand and experience both internally and at the customer
• build relationships, support tech day events, present brand and customer proposals
• Signoff on production proposals during PLM200 concept freeze and approval
• Manage overall team that builds, tests, and delivers Brand Features to Project Teams, with market leading speed and quality
• Assign business value to objectives during PI Planning. Approves Sprint and Release scope (what/when)
• Oversee the creation of internal documentation for holistic brand experience and/or OEM adaptations through Brand Experience concept freeze and approval (PDM)
• Drive development of demo cars integrating brand experience package and features

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related demonstrated technical expertise
• 20+ years of combined brand, audio, product, and business-related experience.
• 5+ years in leadership, customer relationship management, and supplier relationships, preferably in automotive and/or luxury audio.
• A mature approach toward leadership and soft skills: building trust and long-term internal team relationships to influence consistent, positive outcomes.
• Functional audio architecture knowledge of automotive infotainment and audio systems.
• Demonstrated acumen in business case development, program management, make/buy, commercial, and product bundling/sales strategy, feature ideation, and consumer validation.
• Ability to communicate advanced and complex concepts and ideas persuasively and concisely to all levels of the business.
• Experience leading a team to drive time critical projects to completion.

Benefits

• Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location
• 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
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development