Director, Luxury Audio Product Strategy & Planning

About the Role

The Director of Product Strategy and Planning plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining the Business Unit’s vision and contributes to long-term success through developing aligned product strategies and product planning. This role is responsible for shaping the product vision & strategy and translating it into a rolling 3-year product roadmap. It provides organizational direction & priorities to lead in the product category against competition and achieve profitable growth in revenue as well as margin expansion for the business unit over the product lifecycle.

This position ensures the products launched in the markets meet both consumers’ needs and business objectives. The role leads and guides the Global Product Line Management Team to execute the roadmap, from concept to launch. It requires collaboration with external technology partners and internal cross-functional stakeholders to define and refine a differentiated and competitive product strategy, with the ultimate goal of exceeding consumer expectations.

The candidate will directly lead the Product Management Team in a matrix structure, ensuring functional teams deliver products on Cost, Design, Timing, Quality, and Experience. The role involves presenting, influencing, and negotiating with regional product marketing teams, sales teams, and regional leaders to align product planning, product proposition, and pricing strategy with company strategy and financial objectives.

The candidate will represent the Business Unit for on-site operational matters and serve as the initial point of contact for challenges requiring extra attention, such as quality-related incidents, new legislation, or supply base optimization. The role also drives a culture of continuous innovation to ensure HARMAN is recognized as a leader in the Consumer Audio space. The Director reports to the VP&GM for the Business Unit.

Responsibilities

• Define and align long-term product strategy with the Business Unit’s goals, supporting financial targets and competitive positioning.
• Lead global product roadmaps and innovation planning, creating rolling 3-year product roadmaps that deliver high-quality, differentiated, and profitable product propositions.
• Develop annual business plans across all product lines with clear brand positioning and winning value propositions, maximizing ROI and profitability.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales to align product launches with go-to-market strategies.
• Steer cross-functional execution and product development, leading teams including Design, R&D, Engineering, Sourcing, and Quality to deliver New Product Introductions (NPIs) on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Drive breakthrough innovation and consumer-centric design by collaborating with internal research teams and external partners to identify opportunities and refine product features.
• Oversee the full product lifecycle, from roadmap planning and release management to launch, post-launch support, upgrades, and end-of-life transitions.
• Lead and develop high-performing product teams, managing and mentoring the Global Product Line Management (GPLM) team, fostering a performance-driven culture.
• Present product strategies and plans to C-level executives, senior management, and regional leaders, ensuring alignment with company-wide objectives.
• Manage risk and adapt to market changes, applying critical thinking and risk management strategies to mitigate issues and respond to opportunities.
• Drive sales enablement and customer engagement by partnering with global sales and marketing teams to develop and execute sell-in and sell-through plans.
• Conduct business reviews with strategic customers, monitor market and competitor activity, and ensure customer satisfaction through effective product positioning.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, or a technical field (or equivalent); an advanced degree such as an MBA is preferred.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in business, product strategy, or planning, with proven leadership experience in a dynamic global environment.
• Strong English proficiency and effective communication skills.
• Willingness to travel 30% of the time and work on-site 70% of the time, with flexible hours to support global time zones.

Qualifications

• End-to-end product leadership experience: 10+ years in product strategy, planning, creation, and marketing, ideally in consumer electronics or audio, with a proven track record of launching innovative, high-impact products.
• Strategic thinking with strong business acumen: Ability to define long-term product vision and translate it into actionable roadmaps, balancing strategic foresight with operational execution.
• Cross-functional and matrix leadership: Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams (Design, R&D, Engineering, Sourcing, Marketing, Sales) in a global matrix environment.
• Team development and talent management: Experience managing and mentoring medium-sized teams (5-10 people), fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Consumer-centric and technically fluent: Strong ability to connect with both engineering teams and end-users, translating technical capabilities and consumer insights into compelling product strategies.
• Communication and executive engagement: Exceptional communication and presentation skills, comfortable engaging with C-level executives, regional leaders, and customers.
• Innovation and growth orientation: Proven ability to identify new market opportunities, drive breakthrough innovation, and commercialize new products successfully.
• Financial and P&L ownership: Strong financial literacy with experience managing P&L, conducting ROI analysis, and making data-driven decisions.
• Operational excellence and lifecycle management: Disciplined in managing product lifecycle processes from concept to launch and end-of-life.
• Change leadership and cultural agility: Ability to lead teams through transformation and change, with cultural sensitivity and adaptability.

Skills

• Bonus points for experience managing a global P&L (ideally $100M+), with strong business acumen and data-driven decision-making.
• Exceptional planning, prioritization, and execution skills, with a proven record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in fast-paced environments.
• Experience developing and executing partnership strategies with OEMs, ODMs, and ecosystem partners, including familiarity with OEM quality systems.
• Downstream marketing and sales experience for consumer products, with an understanding of go-to-market processes and innovative product storytelling.
• Background in high-end consumer electronics, especially immersive audio, with technical fluency in audio systems, diagnostics, and product design.
• Highly analytical with the ability to break down complex challenges into actionable solutions, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Ability to work with talented experts in the audio industry.
• Access to employee discounts on world-class HARMAN and Samsung products.
• Extensive training opportunities through HARMAN University.
• Competitive wellness benefits.
• Access to HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria.
• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters professional and personal development.