Global Director, Go to Market Category Owner

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

Do you want to work for some of the world’s leading audio brands? Become a part of the HARMAN team and get to work for JBL and Harman/Kardon. 

By joining HARMAN, you'll dive headfirst into the exciting world of headphones, portable speakers, party boxes and other audio technologies, and contribute to the success of Harman Lifestyle EMEA business. The consumer audio industry is fast paced, fun and dynamic and we’re looking for someone who is proactive, loves to work with a lot of different stakeholders from all over the globe and has creative ideas.

You will join our Sales Management department, based in Amsterdam in the position of: 

Global Director, Go-To-Market Category Owner

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Lifestyle

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. As a member of HARMAN Lifestyle, you connect consumers with the power of superior sound.

• Contribute your talents to high-end, esteemed brands like JBL, Mark Levinson and Revel
• Unite your passion for audio innovation with high-tech product development
• Create pitch-perfect, cutting-edge technology that elevates the listening experience

About the Role:

The Global Go-To-Market Category Owner will be responsible for driving the global Go-to-Market (GTM) and Product Launch strategy across all SBU Regions and Business Units for the assigned category. This role is responsible for ensuring the success of new product launches within a single category across multiple brands at HARMAN, driving programs that are aligned with SBU level business objectives and guarantee the business goes to market with the right Product, Price, Place, and Promotion (4P).

This role covers leading the strategic planning, execution, and oversight of product launches in a specific product category across all Harman global markets. This position is the central hub that will orchestrate, guide and compel collaboration with the Product, Marketing and Sales functions as well as deliver category expertise to ensure strategic goals are achieved through the go-to-market process start to finish.

Your Team:

This position will report into the Global Go-To-Market Owner and will be an individual contributor.

What You Will Do:

Go-To-Market Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of the GTM strategy and processes for assigned categories, ensuring alignment with Divisional and SBU level strategic direction, including market positioning, pricing, and assortment planning.
• Contribute GTM insights to strategic planning exercises, helping shape category-level “Where to Play” decisions and ensuring GTM plans support SBU, BU, and regional business goals.
• Own the development of category budget allocation and tiering frameworks for product launches, recommending trade-offs and ensuring consistency with corporate priorities and global frameworks.
• Develop complete understanding of disparate strategies from all corners of the Triangle for the assigned category and act as the primary feedback loop for strategy refinement throughout the GTM triangle – while you do not own the strategy, you have a critical voice to ensure it is a good strategy. Do not hold back.
• Drive collaboration between Marketing and Sales teams, ensuring a unified approach to launches, and act as a key link between the Regional and the Global GTM team to secure alignment.
• Manage the silos and politics between existing segments of the organization and proactively address the alignment between global and regional teams, supporting forecasting and target-setting processes.
• Coordinate deployment of GTM resources as aligned with GTM owner to priority launches, ensuring teams are equipped to deliver impact.
• Leverage SBU and category expertise to aid in navigation of the GTM Triangle complexities to enable smooth collaboration across functions and geographies.
• Own, drive and manage end to end process with the Global Product & Pitch Deck, shaping how the value proposition is articulated by bringing in consumer, market, and retail insights via strategic triangulation from the senior cohort teams.
• Ensure the regional Sales perspective is fully represented in Category “How to Win” strategies, working alongside Marketing.
• Manage and influence cross-functional teams (Product, Marketing, Sales) to guarantee all go-to-market projects are delivered in full and on-time.

Strategy

• Be the category captain driving and contributing to analysis of all relevant knowledge about the category, consumers and business that will help ground how to win category strategies in data & insights.
• Co-develop with Marketing counterparts the How To Win Strategy for own categories and guarantee input from Sales & Product counterparts.
• Own the Global Product & Pitch Deck, clearly articulate the reasons for the new product to exist from a business, category & consumer perspective, crystalizing its value proposition and determining the critical strategic pillars for its success as well as financial viability.
• Act as a senior advisor on GTM matters for category, providing recommendations to Division, SBU and GTM leaders and supporting enterprise-wide decisions.
• Resolve GTM issues for assigned categories that span brands, and regions, escalating to GTM leadership when necessary to ensure timely decisions.
• Make certain strategy is aligned with GM, senior commercial, marketing, the BU, Product Planning, and Strategy leadership to ensure best in class launches.
• Mentor leaders and collaborate with adjacent functions to embed GTM excellence across the organization.

Planning & Execution

• Partner with the global Insights & Analytics team to incorporate competitive intelligence into GTM planning, including market trends, audience insights, and messaging strategies.
• Unequivocal ownership of the Global GTM Activation Plan Blueprint, working together with GTM leadership, BU leadership, regional counterparts, global Marketing & Sales to develop a sharp, compelling plan for product launch that contemplates the 4Ps.
• Facilitate the collaboration between regions, and the exchange of best practice so that great ideas can easily travel within Harman and siloed politics can be managed.
• Aggregate product launch performance results globally to derive learnings and identify and disseminate best practice.

What You Need to Be Successful:

• A bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field is required with a master's degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in GTM strategy, category management, or a related field.
• In depth international experience and a proven ability to work cross culturally Experience in the relevant industry and with B2B or B2C models is also valuable.
• Proven track record of successful product launches and category excellence, P&L ownership and financial acumen a plus.
• Demonstrated understanding of developing product communication strategies, product user experience and persuasive marketing techniques to drive engagement with new or existing customers.
• Presents interests in ways that foster the understanding and resolution of problems. Seeks to understand others’ interests. Gains other parties’ trust by being honest, respectful, and sensitive to their needs. Knows when to be gentle and when to be assertive and acts accordingly. Avoid ultimatums.
• Ability to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working toward common goals, establish agreement around intended outcomes/results, and assess and adjust the organization’s direction in response to a changing environment.
• Paramount are superior communication skills; a deep understanding of the business, business, and consumer needs; capacity to analyze data and act on insights; and the ability to work up, down and across the company.
• Collaborative, curious, believes in lifelong learning and critical thinking as key attributes. Transparent to a fault and naively positive.
• Proven history of setting an agenda – the ability to identify an organizational need and build strategies & plans to address; the ability to bring a sense of clarity and direction within potentially ambiguous contexts.
• The ability to collaborate effectively as a team towards a common goal, sharing knowledge and responsibilities while fostering teamwork and building a positive team dynamic.

Bonus Points if You Have:

• Natural curiosity and interest in consumer technology and audio market
• Ability to diplomatically manage challenging or tense interpersonal situations fairly, regardless of personal biases or beliefs.
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar budget(s).
• Demonstrated success in leading teams through cultural integration in fast-changing business environments.
• Prior experience working with a cross-functional global organization.

What Makes You Eligible:

• You are willing to travel regularly both domestically and internationally,
• This role is eligible to work remotely with 1 or 2 days a week in the applicable office and for meetings when needed.
• Due to the nature of global infrastructure, you understand that flexibility in working hours is required.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment.

What We Offer:

• A flexible work schedule where you will be able to work from home up to 40% and the remaining days in a fantastic new office at Houthavens, Amsterdam.
• You are going to work in an international team within a friendly global working atmosphere.
• HARMAN offers a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities, professional training and competitive market base compensation plus a 13th month salary, 28 holidays per year.
• You will also receive a highly valued commuter travel package, a EUR 100,- environment allowance when commuting via public transport or bike. Additionally, we provide an interesting collective health insurance scheme, pension and top-notch employee discounts on world class HARMAN/Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG etc.)
• Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University’s business and leadership academies.
• Internal talent management leadership acceleration programs.
• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.
• A unique opportunity to contribute to drive revenue growth and nurture strategic trust-based relationships.

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HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. 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.