Executive Director, Japan Project Delivery Lead, Intelligent Cockpit

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Automotive 

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Automotive, we give you the keys to fast-track your career.  

• Engineer audio systems and integrated technology platforms that augment the driving experience  

• Combine ingenuity, in-depth research, and a spirit of collaboration with design and engineering excellence 

• Advance in-vehicle infotainment, safety, efficiency, and enjoyment  

About the Role 

The Strategic Business Unit (SBU) Intelligent Cockpit Japan Leader is responsible for the overall performance, profitability, growth, revenue, cost, and quality targets of the business within the region, holding primary P&L accountability for the Japan operation. Acting as the primary regional representative for the SBU, this role serves as the key liaison between Japanese OEM customers and the global organization, ensuring customer requirements, market priorities, and business opportunities are translated into product strategies, development roadmaps, and execution plans. In partnership with Customer Account Management and Regional Customer Group leadership, the position drives end-to-end program delivery, sales growth, pre-development activities, and technical engagements with senior OEM stakeholders, while ensuring alignment across Engineering, Product Management, Program Management, Operations, and Delivery teams. 

The role provides leadership and coordination across regional delivery, engineering, and support functions to ensure successful program execution against revenue, profitability, scope, schedule, budget, cost, and quality objectives. It oversees regional teams including Software and Hardware Project Leads, Systems Engineers, and Operations, while influencing the organizational development and resourcing of supporting functions to maintain an efficient and scalable structure. The position is accountable for consistent scope management, product lifecycle governance, milestone execution, supplier coordination, and organizational effectiveness, including talent planning, employee engagement, succession readiness, and change management. Through strong cross-functional collaboration, the role ensures execution excellence across the entire value chain while implementing location, footprint, and operational strategies that support long-term business success and compliance with corporate policies and practices. 

Your Team 

You will have approx. 10-15 internal direct reports.  Employees Internal Total Organization approx. 100-150 and Program Members in functional matrix - 1000-1500 

What You Will Do 

• Manage the Japan Delivery team for SBU Intelligent Cockpit which consists of hardware program managers, software program managers, and systems engineering for OEM customers within the region (collocated teams in customer facing locations) 

• Works to agreed program targets and is accountable for driving and steering the achievement of profitability, scope, schedule, budget, cost, and quality of SBU projects.  

• Responsible for primary Profit and Loss of the SBU Intelligent Cockpit business in the Japan region and is accountable for driving and steering the achievement of revenue, profitability, and business award targets of the SBU.  

• Project Delivery responsibility of Japan programs for the SBU Intelligent Cockpit program portfolio. 

• Responsible for developing program execution plans to meet program scope and targets. 

• Responsible for the development strategy for projects and provides the customer facing technical competence as a technology partner of choice towards OEMs. 

• Actively supports the SBU product strategies and road maps and is responsible for executing product delivery into customer programs.  

• Executes location and footprint strategies to implement efficient and economically viable structures in line with the P&L management – including support function footprint of Customer Groups, horizontals, and manufacturing strategy for awarded projects.  

• Driving the optimization of operational costs and footprint from regional perspective. 

• Supports and approves the Customer Group sales strategies and responsible for the calculation of resources and budget, technical analysis for customer quotations (RFI/RFQ/PoC). 

• Interface at customer’s senior management engineering level for pursuits and project execution. Interface to OEM-Customer Management, OEM-Program Management, OEM Engineering,  and OEM Procurement. 

• Providing accurate and aligned program reporting (Internally/Externally) 

• Capability to steer international teams incl. target setting and assurance of operational excellence. 

• Budget responsibility for associated program budget and regional cost centers 

• Acts as a role model in terms of leadership and code of business conduct 

• Implements overall quality practices and tools aligned with HARMAN standards. 

• Assess the financial viability for all projects and change requests. Analyze project and change requests to optimize regional profitability. 

• Maintain the overall development plan for all Regional Projects. 

• Staff and maintain department resources which includes career growth and technical skills enhancements. 

• Serve as the primary coordination point between the SBU Intelligent Cockpit organization, Japan-based teams, Customer Account Management, and Japanese OEM customer organizations. 

• Represent Japan customer requirements, market priorities, and organizational needs within global SBU strategy, product, investment, and resource discussions. 

• Align the SBU’s global customer strategy for Japanese OEMs, with primary focus on customer stakeholders and activities located in Japan. 

• Lead the pre-development of technical concepts with Japanese OEM customers in collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Customer Account Management, and global technology organizations. 

• Provide dotted-line leadership and coordination across SBU Intelligent Cockpit activities in Japan while maintaining the functional accountability of the respective organizations. 

• Resolve cross-functional and interdepartmental issues, and support project teams in securing emergency resources required to protect customer commitments. 

• Coordinate Japan recruiting, succession-plan readiness, employee engagement actions, and organizational advocacy in partnership with functional leaders and Human Resources. 

What You Need to Be Successful 

• Bachelor of Engineering in electrical engineering, computer engineering/science, information technology, or related discipline. (Master of Engineering, MBA preferred).  

• Experience in multi-discipline general management (software engineering, hardware engineering, finance, program management, sales, procurement, etc.). 

• Prior experience (5+ years) leading a primary Profit and Loss 

• Track record as a successful team and business leader with experience of 15+ years overall and 10+ years leading multinational teams 

• Successfully led engineering teams in global development setup 

• Fundamental knowledge in terms of PLM methodologies, PM processes in project execution and project management 

• Change management experience and related track record. 

• Proven expertise in developing complex systems from architecture to implementation. 

• Experience in automotive project development.  

• Willing to travel up to 20% domestic and international travel  

Bonus Points if You Have  

• Proved proficiency of Harman Competencies (Results driven, Team Player, Change Orientation, Customer Focus and Self Awareness) on an excellent level. 

• Strive for operational excellence by achieving results beyond expectation. 

• Sound technical and methodical knowledge in all areas of Product Life Cycle Management 

• Ability to define individual aims corresponding to general and program strategy. 

• Ability to integrate people, to resolve conflicts. 

• Broad intercultural experience and excellent communication skills 

• Certification as Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar recommended 

 What We Offer  

• Flexible work environment 

• 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 

• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program 

• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development 

You Belong Here 

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.  

About HARMAN: Where Innovation Unleashes Next-Level Technology