Product Planner

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Job Description:The Product Planner plays a significant role in the product development and internal communications at MNAO and MC. This position is responsible for supporting the product planning projects and facilitating smooth transition from Planning Phase to Development and Launch Phases.

The Product Planner leads market research activities and market understanding activities. Upon understanding of the market trends and customers, the product planner defines and develops target customer profiles, product concept, and key values with strong understanding of the Mazda Brand, Development Process, and US and Japanese cultures.

The position is also responsible for market and future trend understanding, market predictions, and proposal creations in the advanced planning area such as electrification, connected vehicle, and autonomous driving technologies.

Lastly, the position is also responsible for facilitating the smooth communication between departments within MNAO & MC, which includes U-PRC operation and delivering the conceptual ideas clearly and precisely to the audience.

Research 50%

  • Conduct US market research and data analysis to further clarify current and future market trends, customer requirements, competitor actions and Mazda brand positioning/product strategies.
  • Research automotive industry trends by attending the marketing events such as auto shows and CES.
  • Conduct and understand the latest advanced key technological trends to support Mazda’s future business (e.g. electrification, autonomous driving, and connected vehicle) and support new value creation.
  • Conduct both quantitative and qualitative customer research to identify their lifestyle and values.
  • Not limited to automotive industry, explorer various trends in the market by internet research, attending related conferences and shows; then derive insights for future Mazda business (e.g., software business, subscription business)
  • Define and develop target customer profile based on customer research and market data, to create consensus with MNAO and MC Product Planning, Marketing, Design teams.
  • Share the research and customer study results not only within MNAO but also to MC as a part of consignment projects and tasks.

Concept Creation / Delivery 30%

  • Develop product concept based on the defined target customer and market data and coordinate the development of the presentation to clearly express the concept and engineering requirements.
  • Enhance the affinity of the concept by integrating the Mazda Brand and Japanese culture.
  • Conduct advanced planning/strategy creation for vehicle features, performance, functions, etc., in collaboration with Vehicle Line Managers, for in-cycle model changes (IPM) through market data and customer satisfaction analysis, to identifying challenges and solutions with supervision.
  • *Except for large IPMs that involve the addition of new powertrains.
  • Cascade of concept and product information/assumptions clearly to Design, Engineering, Accessory, and other departments as needed to facilitate a smooth transition from the Planning to the Development phase.

Program Promotion 20%

  • Support the operation of U-PRC (US Product Review Committee) as a committee member.
  • Facilitate and coordinate the communication and co-creation activities within various MNAO departments by collecting and organizing team members’ feedback, in order to create the team’s one-voice concept.
  • Present the concept to MNAO R&D management.
  • Support requests from other departments for R&D’s involvement and support.

 Qualifications and Other Requirements:

Education (Minimum):

  • Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Engineering, Design, or similar fields, or equivalent work experience

Experience:

  • 3+ years of work experience in Marketing, Product Planning or related fields in auto industry desired

       

Training/Certification:

  • A satisfactory driving record as determined by the Company and a current, valid State driver’s license are required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal written, and presentation skills
  • Proficiency in Japanese verbal communication strongly desired
  • Proficiency in Japanese written communication preferred
  • Must be proficient in all Microsoft applications with a high skill level with Excel and PowerPoint
  • Strong analytical, statistical, and data-driven mindset; detail-oriented work style
  • Ability to derive insights and analytics from multiple data sources
  • Self-starter, independent, flexible thinker with strong conceptual and logical thinking skills
  • Skills to translate market data into concept
  • Facilitation skills
  • General knowledge of automotive development, including engineering and of all discipline associated with auto sales and marketing
  • General knowledge of automotive engineering
  • Ability to work flexibly in a multicultural work environment
  • Ability to work collaboratively with various departments

#LI-Remote

We support Remote work in the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Pay Range:

$66,400.00-$96,250.00

Salary to be determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Learn more about MNAO’s comprehensive benefits package here

Organisation: 
Mazda USA