Project Manager, Product Planning

Job Description

The Product Planning Project Manager is responsible for understanding the customer insights and U.S. market requirements to drive product development programs. This includes defining key market assumptions for each program – such as target buyer, product concept, value propositions, specifications – to ensure market success. This role collaborates closely with product strategy, manufacturing plants, and design teams to create One Voice Proposals for locally developed products.

Utilizing the mid-term plan and Product Cycle Plan assumptions as a foundation, this role develops U.S.-specific product lifecycle strategies and proposals to mitigate risk and seize opportunities in a competitive landscape. The Project Manager also ensures a smooth transition from planning to launch by cascading key information and datapoints to downstream departments, bolstering their launch strategies.

Major Areas Of Responsibility (MAR)

Product Planning - 40%

• Develop customer and market requirements for all major and minor product programs, ensuring proposals increase market appeal and competitiveness for successful launches.
• Develop comprehensive U.S. market research projects by defining clear objectives, developing a research plan, analyzing data, and capturing key insights that inform product concepts and validate assumptions.
• Define and align the product's mission and vision by integrating both business goals and customer needs; collaborate closely with the Product Strategy team to ensure cohesion and strategic direction.
• Develop product concepts to meet the customer needs preferences and align with the strategic objectives of both MNAO and Mazda Corporate (MC).
• Coordinate with MC program team, engineers, and vehicle line managers to establish and align product assumptions (i.e., specifications, new features, technologies) that meet both customer demands and market requirements.
• Partner with Mazda Design America (MDA) and engineers to visualize key value concepts and specifications to communicate to MC.
  
  

Local Development Product Proposals - 30%

• Facilitate the local development process in partnership with cross-functional teams, aligning with local product proposals.
• Collaborate with strategy teams and local North American plants to define and align key product objectives
• Create product development schedules based on key milestones and feasibility requirements, ensuring sufficient time for cross-functional alignment.
• Formulate product strategies and concepts that directly support aligned objectives and long-term business goals.
  
  

Product Lifecycle Analysis - 20%

• Develop product lifecycle strategies and proposals grounded in competitive analysis, market forecasts, and mid-term plan objectives.
• Conduct proactive research studies and analysis, ensuring our products maintain lifecycle competitiveness and consistently meet evolving customer expectations and business objectives.
  
  

Local Product SME - 10%

• Act as the local product expert to facilitate the understanding of the product strategy, concept, and assumptions to operational launch team members.
• Contribute to overall market awareness, demand, and success.
  
  

Education

Qualifications and Other Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, engineering or related fields, or equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience in lieu of degree.
  
  

Experience

• 5+ years of product planning and/or related work (i.e., product strategy, product marketing, portfolio strategy, cross-carline strategy, market or product analysis) experience is required.
• 3+ years of automotive industry experience is 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

• General understanding of automotive engineering is strongly desired.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in both Japanese and English with excellent communications skills is a plus to support smooth communication between MNAO and headquarters.
• High level of creativity, conceptual developments, intellectual curiosity, and experience in effective planning/implementation.
• Strong analytical, statistical, and data-driven mind-set; detail-oriented work style with ability to work autonomously.
• Ability to influence and motivate others, adapting communication styles, and building effective relationships across diverse backgrounds. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and provide project management support.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple tasks at a time.
• Great interpersonal skills with passion and thorough understanding of the corporate culture and philosophies to promote products within and outside of the company.
• Must be proficient in all Microsoft applications with a high skill level with Excel and PowerPoint with an emphasis on executive level reporting.
  
  

Travel

May be required 1 – 2 times per year

Pay Range

$91,400.00 - $139,400.00

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