Executive Director, Brand Owner, Car Audio

HARMAN International

Executive Director leading brand experience strategy at HARMAN with a focus on audio technology. Managing cross-functional teams to deliver innovative branded audio experiences for consumers.

Posted 6/26/2026full-timeGarching • 🇩🇪 GermanyLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build and lead Brand Experience Strategy
Manage a small, nimble, powerful direct brand experience team, plus larger supporting matrix teams.
Lead the translation of the brand experience vision into a technical vision, feature ideas, and feasible technical path aligned with customer needs
Coordinate the brand's portfolio strategy and positioning with Consumer and Pro Divisions
Lead the determination of Commercial/Strategic/Technical Feasibility - Lead PLM Lite Process – risk eval & go/no-go analysis
Align internal delivery planning with OEM facing customer roadmaps
Collaborate with other Brand Owners, adjacent stakeholders, internal teams, external partners & vendors to come up with new UI/UX and audio related technologies and best practices.
Evaluate new ideas coming out of innovation pipeline for potential brand experience inclusion
Act as Brand Ambassador and “CEO” to Lead the brand experience vision, development, customer relationship, business model, and direct plus cross-functional teams to define, match, and deliver compelling brand experience product bundles with customer partners
Serve as single point of contact for Customer Account Management Team for the brand – Support the jointly developed customer engagement strategy on pursuits
Represent & Promote brand and experience both internally and at the customer - build relationships, support tech day events, present brand and customer proposals
Signoff on production proposals during PLM200 concept freeze and approval
Manage overall team that builds, tests, and delivers Brand Features to Project Teams, with market leading speed and quality
Assign business value to objectives during PI Planning. Approves Sprint and Release scope (what/when)
Oversee the creation of internal documentation for holistic brand experience and/or OEM adaptations through Brand Experience concept freeze and approval (PDM)
Drive development of demo cars integrating brand experience package and features

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related demonstrated technical expertise
20+ years of combined brand, audio, product, and business-related experience.
5+ years in leadership, customer relationship management, and supplier relationships, preferably in automotive and/or luxury audio.
A mature approach toward leadership and soft skills: building trust and long-term internal team relationships to influence consistent, positive outcomes.
Functional audio architecture knowledge of automotive infotainment and audio systems.
Demonstrated acumen in business case development, program management, make/buy, commercial, and product bundling/sales strategy, feature ideation, and consumer validation.
Ability to communicate advanced and complex concepts and ideas persuasively and concisely to all levels of the business.
Experience leading a team to drive time critical projects to completion.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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
Competitive wellness benefits
Tuition Reimbursement
Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria
An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

brand experience strategytechnical visionrisk evaluationgo/no-go analysisUI/UX technologiesaudio technologiesprogram managementbusiness case developmentfeature ideationconsumer validation

Soft Skills

leadershipcustomer relationship managementbuilding trustinfluencing outcomescommunicationteam collaborationrelationship buildingpersuasive communicationlong-term relationship managementcross-functional team leadership

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering