Director, Software Business Growth & Strategy

In this position, you will lead the Software Products Business Growth & Strategy organization, enabling HARMAN to compete in the pure software market. This is a global, multi-function leadership role with direct accountability across Business Strategy & Portfolio Management, Business Growth OPDM [Outbound Product Management] / Pre-Sales, Solution Management, Customer Success, Pursuit & Account Management, and Partner Strategy.

This role will manage a team of functional leaders and a distributed organization responsible for influencing where HARMAN plays, how Software Products wins, and how revenue is created, protected, realized, and governed. Success requires a strategic, results-driven, and change-oriented leader with a strong industry perspective, disciplined decision-making governance, and the ability to connect across all levels of the company to drive outcomes.

This role is central to HARMAN’s transition from a hardware-led and hardware-plus-software model toward a software-first business capable of winning SDV, platform, lifecycle revenue, and recurring software opportunities. Success requires executive-level judgment, strong commercial and financial ownership, deep customer orientation, and the ability to influence Product Management, Engineering, Finance, Legal, CAMs, Automotive Strategy, and senior leadership around a single growth agenda.

How You’ll Make An Impact

• Set the vision, operating agenda, and performance expectations for the Software Products Business Growth & Strategy organization, ensuring the function operates as one accountable growth engine rather than a collection of support activities.
• Lead senior functional leaders across Business Strategy & Portfolio Management, Business Growth OPDM [Outbound Product Management] / Pre-Sales, Technical Solution Management, Customer Success/Program Mgmt, Pursuit & Account Management (from Discovery to Cash), and Strategic Partner Strategy.
• Set the software-first commercial agenda, translating the Software Products strategy into 5YP revenue, EBIT, pipeline, GTM, portfolio, partner, and investment plans.
• Foster a collaborative, values-led environment where depth of leadership enables teams to own the outcome, move as one, and apply collective intelligence to deliver exceptional customer and business outcomes.
• Own the business translation of Software Products strategy into multi-year revenue, EBIT, pipeline, portfolio, account, and GTM plans aligned with Intelligent Cockpit and Automotive priorities.
• Drive market intelligence, customer voice, competitive insight, segment prioritization, and go-to-market readiness, so product and investment decisions are anchored in where customers are moving and where HARMAN can win.
• Lead portfolio and investment steering with Product Management, Engineering, Finance, and Strategy, ensuring budget allocation, and resource decisions are tied to revenue potential, margin impact, market differentiation, and execution feasibility with KPI-driven dashboards that highlight value, risk, and actions needed to accelerate profitable growth.
• Responsible to deliver revenue realization according to growth trajectory targets across regions, through pursuit strategy, business development, battle plans, bid management, pipeline coverage, forecast quality, and executive-level deal escalation.
• Oversee solution management and pre-sales execution to ensure customer requirements, technical solutioning, drive high-quality RFX responses, pricing inputs, SOW scope, and solution commitments are commercially sound, technically credible, and aligned to product direction.
• Protect and expand existing revenues through account management and customer success discipline, including renewals, extensions, follow-on programs, account health, escalation management, customer feedback loops, and continuity of awarded business to ensure customer retention.
• Chair the decision-making KPI-oriented governance model for your organization, including executive business reviews, pipeline and pursuits governance, account continuity, strategy and portfolio investment forums, market insights, sales operations governance, and business case approval discipline.
• Represent Software Products voice in cross-BU executive forums and influence enterprise stakeholders to resolve structural barriers, secure resources, and ensure Software Products is set up for success.
• Collaborate with Sales Excellence, Global Customer Groups, Finance, and Business Development to embed Software Products into account planning, commercial governance, customer strategy, and growth execution across regions.
• Build an external and internal narrative that makes HARMAN credible as a software partner to OEMs, Tier 1s, technology partners, and internal business units, to enable alternate channels of revenue generation.
• Own business operations and sales operations rigor across forecasting, contract lifecycle, booking, invoicing, PO tracking, revenue support, business case quality, quote-to-cash transparency, and leadership reporting.
• Represent Software Products across Business Units and with strategic customers, partners, and executive stakeholders, aligning resources and removing barriers to accelerate credibility driving toward defined goals.

What Makes You A Strong Fit

• 25+ years of progressive hands‑on leadership experience across automotive software, connected vehicle, SDV, product strategy, business development, commercial operations, portfolio management, or enterprise software growth; experience with OEMs, Tier 1s, or major technology players strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead senior functional leaders and multi-disciplinary global teams, through transformation, ambiguity, organizational change, and high‑stakes executive decision making.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across Product Management, Engineering, Finance, Legal, Sales, CAMs, Business Development, SBU leadership, Sales Excellence, and enterprise strategy functions.
• Deep understanding of software business models, recurring revenue, licensing, services, platform economics, solution selling, commercial governance, and the shift from product‑centric lifecycle value models.
• Strong financial acumen across revenue planning, EBIT, business cases, pricing, budget allocation, margin improvement, portfolio trade‑offs, and investment governance.
• Experience leading complex customer‑facing software pursuits, RFQ/RFX strategy, executive customer engagement, account expansion, renewals, contract continuity, and cross‑functional deal governance.
• Ability to establish operating models, governance forums, KPI systems, dashboards, and management routines that improve decision quality, transparency, accountability, and execution speed.
• Strategic communication capability, including the ability to distill complex software, commercial, technical, and financial topics into crisp executive recommendations and decision papers.
• Bachelor's and/or master’s degree in engineering, Business, Strategy, Finance, or a related field; advanced degree is strongly preferred.

Things To Know

• This role is based in Novi, Michigan and follows a hybrid schedule, with regular in‑office collaboration alongside engineering, product, and customer program teams.
• This role requires occasional domestic and international travel.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment (post‑offer).

What You Can Expect

• A hybrid work environment that balances flexibility with in‑person collaboration, with most office‑based roles onsite three days a week.
• Access to employee discounts on HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman / Kardon, AKG, and others)
• Learning and development opportunities through our award‑winning HARMAN University programs
• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well‑being
• Access to the HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria, where available
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that supports both your professional and personal development

Pay Transparency

$ 185,250 - $ 271,700

Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation are also available, such as bonuses or commission.

Pay is based on a wide range of factors, including, without limitation, skill set, experience, training, location, and business need. While the above range is a reasonable estimate of the wage range for this position, please note the disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographical differential associated with the location where the position may be filled.

Benefits HARMAN is interested in the health and wellbeing of you and your family and offers a range of benefits designed to support your needs for holistic wellbeing. Benefits and perks may vary depending on the nature of your employment with HARMAN, and may include paid vacation and holidays, paid sick leave, volunteer leave, and paid bonding and care giver leave. Employees may also be eligible to participate in comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, fertility support and adoption assistance, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan with employer match, short and long term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.

About HARMAN: Where Innovation Unleashes Next-Level Technology

Ever since the 1920s, we’ve been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected.

Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today’s most sought‑after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world’s ever‑evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award‑winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other.

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.

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. HARMAN strives to hire the best qualified candidates and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse marketplaces and communities of our global colleagues and customers. 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. HARMAN attracts, hires, and develops employees based on merit, qualifications and job‑related performance.( )

HARMAN is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io . Requests will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis in accordance with applicable law.