Senior Product Planning Manager

At Kia, we’re creating award-winning products and redefining what value means in the automotive industry. It takes a special group of individuals to do what we do, and we do it together. Our culture is fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative. Our people thrive on thinking differently and challenging the status quo. We are creating something special here, a culture of learning and opportunity, where you can help Kia achieve big things and most importantly, feel passionate and connected to your work every day.

Kia provides team members with competitive benefits including premium paid medical, dental and vision coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) plan matching of 100% up to 6% of the salary deferral, and time off starting at 14 days per year. Kia also offers company lease and purchase programs, company-wide holiday shutdown, paid volunteer hours, and premium lifestyle amenities at our corporate campus in Irvine, California.

Status

Exempt

Summary

The Senior Product Planning Manager develops short, long-range product and pricing strategies, vehicle packaging, price, color and trim recommendations for two or more product lines. 

This position maintains product coordination and support needs of Kia NA internal departments along with relevant affiliates including Kia HQ, HATCI, Kia Mexico (KMX).  

In addition, the Senior Manager will be responsible for MECA (Mobility, Electrification, Connectivity and Autonomous) projects for electrified vehicle programs.  This includes both leading a peer group and management of direct report(s). 

Major Responsibilities

1st Priority - 40%

Product Life Cycle Management

• Develop and present Product Proposals to executive management and Kia HQ by monitoring competitor actions, market analysis, industry trends, dealer and end-customer reactions to managed products
• Adjust, re-package managed products in response to executive management, end-customer and dealer needs or to respond to Kia HQ, Kia NA manufacturing or profitability needs
• Recommend product packaging changes as necessary to support cross carline strategy, allow freely orderable conditions, reflect market dynamics, respond to competitive actions and KUS Sales department requests
• Conduct competitive analysis to identify product and pricing opportunities for model year changeover and at minor change Product Enhancement Program (PEP) timing
• Support/attend product launch events, PQ evaluations, port inspections, Kia HQ Design reviews, and other product related activities
• Ensure product specification and buildable order accuracy 
• Create, manage and publish the Product Resource Guide (PRG) and ensure timely updates
• Take on the role of internal product champion – Kia NA, HATCI, Kia HQ. Act as subject matter expert for assigned models related to vehicle performance, attribute strengths/weaknesses related to target customer and typical use-case scenarios. Ascertain vehicle competitiveness and pricing potential when developing next generation concepts.

2nd Priority - 20%

Vehicle Pricing Lead

• Coordinate with the pricing team to develop pricing strategies and proposals for current and new products
• Recommend model year price position based on value planning, competitor actions, and mix targets
• Jointly develop with the pricing team the product and pricing Executive Approval Deck (EAD)
• Review and verify feature values, product value comparisons with competitors. 
• Ensure spec accuracy for managed products in SEL, JATO, AutoPlanner, FOBs in Pricing EADs, other database used for pricing analysis

3rd Priority - 20%

Develop and Manage Staff

• Train and manage assigned staff in support of duties and project tasks
• Take a project management lead role to coordinate and solicit proposal directions among all Product Managers with focus on Electrified Vehicle strategies. This may include assigning or delegating tasks to staff.

4th Priority - 10%

Mid / Long Range Product Support

• Collaborate with internal depts, Kia HQ, HATCI and KDCA on next generation product concepts and MSRP pricing strategies to support business objectives
• Identify and recommend marketable Unique Selling Points (USPs) for next generation models that provide a meaningful competitive advantage 
• Develop trim and packaging strategies, mix rate target for future products that considers profitability and maximizes Kia marketability

5th Priority - 10%

Market, Brand, Research Collaboration

• Develop an annual product overview to support sales/fleet sales
• Review the company’s consumer facing website, marketing brochures, training materials, and related point of sale (POS) materials for accuracy