Sr. Product Strategy - Planning Manager

Company Summary:

Harman International Industries, Inc. is the worldwide leader in the manufacture of high-quality, high-fidelity audio and electronic products for automotive, consumer and professional use. It is the parent company behind an array of legendary brands that includes Harman Kardon®, JBL®, Mark Levinson® and Infinity®.The Company has developed, both internally and through a series of acquisitions, a range of product offerings. It operates in three segments: Automotive, Consumer and Professional. The Automotive segment designs, manufactures and markets audio, electronic and infotainment systems for vehicle applications primarily to be installed as original equipment by automotive manufacturers. The Consumer segment designs, manufactures and markets audio, video and electronic systems for home, mobile and multimedia applications. The Professional segment designs, manufactures and markets loudspeakers and electronic systems used by audio professionals in concert halls, stadiums, airports, houses of worship and theme attractions. For more than 50 years, our legendary brands have taken a leading role in the creation and innovation of progressive technologies, from the world's first car radio in 1948 to today's most revolutionary infotainment systems.  

Essential Responsibilities:

• The Senior Product Strategy and Planning Manager leads a Category Analyst to obtain and distill the necessary market, category and customer data; work with the Category Analyst in the development of relevant, fact-based persuasive category and brand selling “stories” and for production of related sales collateral.


• Two of the primary responsibilities are:  (1) ensure new item “Excellence”; and (2) build effective trade promotion programs that complement Harman’s consumer marketing programs.


• Oversees the identification, development and implementation of category and channel management best practices, processes and standards across the company.


• Directs the development and implementation of channel and customer business planning according to company strategies and policies and evaluates performance versus agreed to business goals by customer.


• Approves allocation of funding for business-building activities across channel and customers.


• Leads the development of the master calendar to ensure the sales organization has the capacity to achieve sales forecasts and new product launch plans.


• Leads both the development of the category and customer business review process and also the sharing of channel and customer insights across functions (as appropriate).


• Establishes analytical protocols consistent with Best Practices and directs the evaluation of assortment, shelving, in-store displays, on-line shopping, promotion and pricing effectiveness.


• Provides channel and category perspective into the new product development process.


• Works closely with IS to define business needs for data, systems and decision support tools and works with external data producers as necessary, e.g. NPD, Retail Link.


• Develops and updates pricing standards working with global counterparts by category/channel.


• Establish career path and development plans for Category Analyst.

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires a demonstrated ability in analyzing data, formulating recommendations, developing presentations and presenting action plans to customers to achieve desired business results.


• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field, Master’s Degree preferred.


• One must have at least 7 years experience working with internal databases, customer data e.g. Retail Link and syndicated data e.g. NPD, Nielsen, IRI.


• Must have an understanding of the Retail Category Development process and how it relates to achieving objectives.


• Ability to prepare complex financial, sales and costing analysis and reports is required.


• Strong research skills Interpretation – experience of making sense of a wide range of complex data and creating actionable findings.


• Requires strong communication skills and the ability to communicate action points to a wide audience; must possess strong leadership skills.

 Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.  The employee must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Desired Characteristics:

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate with enthusiasm and impact; exceptional critical thinking skills.


• Project Management skills.


• Someone who enjoys a fast paced, customer focused team oriented environment.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Willingness to travel 40% of the time


• Willingness to work in an office in Northridge, CA.


• Willingness to submit to a background screen and a drug test.