VP, Divisional Head of Product and Innovation Management

Role Description

As Divisional Head of Product and Innovation Management for Automotive, you will lead a globally positioned team to shape a resilient, user-centric, and strategically aligned product portfolio. You will drive the development and execution of a unified portfolio management framework—consolidating business unit portfolios into a cohesive roadmap that supports long-term growth, diversification, and customer relevance. This role owns the product and innovation management processes across the division, ensuring excellence in tools, methods, and governance. You will collaborate across strategy, product, and innovation teams to accelerate market-winning concepts into sales-ready offerings, while continuously aligning product strategies with evolving market needs and business objectives. With cross-product experiences, value propositions, and system-level integration, you will amplify our product attractiveness and support go-to-market.

Your Team

Your team will consist of ~40 globally positioned experts for product management, innovation management, vehicle integration and validation.

What You Will Do

• Ensure effective portfolio governance consolidating the business unit product lineups into a resilient, industry leading, and user-centric portfolio coherent to our company strategy.
• Define and monitor relevant KPIs and control measures to achieve set business goals.
• Champion a culture of entrepreneurial thinking, ownership, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Foster a high-performing product organization with state-of-the-art product management methods and best practices.
• Translate market insights and technology trends into winning, transformative product opportunities outside existing businesses.
• Ensure responsiveness to emerging market trends and technological shifts.
• Synchronize innovation and portfolio development with long-term strategic goals.
• Accelerate transformative innovation and time to market with technology scouting and industry and research partnerships.
• Foster an innovative culture with leading methods and close collaboration with our business units and your peers in strategy, design, and research.
• Ensure coherence and system-level integration across our in-cabin product portfolio by owning and orchestrating cross-product synergies in user experience, value proposition, and technical design.
• Oversee pre-production car integration, product validation, and the creation of compelling product demonstrators.

What you need to be successful

• Proven track record in launching and profitable execution of electronics and software products.
• Demonstrated ability to define and execute product portfolios across multiple business units.
• Deep knowledge of cost structure and revenue streams in various industries to achieve profitable growth.
• Experience in building and scaling product organizations, including setting up governance, tools, and best practices.
• Strong demonstrated ability to lead and influence in a matrix of global, cross-functional organizations by collaborating with key stakeholders in product, sales, marketing, and strategy organizations.
• Results and detail oriented, holds him/herself and others accountable for commitments.
• Effective communication skills including C-Level.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Entrepreneurial experience.
• Automotive electronics and software technology experience is great but not required.
• Senior Pre-Sales or Business development experience.

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel domestic and international travel when needed.
• Be willing to work in an office in North America or Germany or India.

What We Offer

• 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.
• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.

Company Description

HARMAN is committed to making every employee feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. No matter what role you play, we encourage you to share your ideas, voice your distinct perspective, and bring your whole self with you – all within a support-minded culture that celebrates what makes each of us unique. We also recognize that learning is a lifelong pursuit and want you to flourish. We proudly offer added opportunities for training, development, and continuing education, further empowering you to live the career you want.