Research Specialist

What Makes a Honda, Is Who Makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals.

At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Title

Research Specialist

Job Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to leading research activities, drive impactful contributions through passionate engagement with the team, and ensuring good organization. The individual will be responsible for fostering a collaborative environment, organizing and managing tasks efficiently, spearheading research initiatives, and providing clear and concise reporting to support informed decision-making. This role is pivotal in achieving our research goals and enhancing overall team performance.

Key Accountabilities

• Conduct thorough research and competitor testing of vehicles, analyzing performance and providing detailed reports to inform future projects and improvements.
• Organize and oversee research activities within our shop spaces, ensuring that all projects are conducted efficiently and effectively.
• Provide comprehensive support to researchers within our team, assisting with their needs and facilitating their work to ensure successful outcomes.
• Manage the research vehicle fleet, including planning, budgeting, purchasing, operation, and disposal, to ensure that all vehicles are available and in optimal condition for research purposes.
• Oversee budget and purchasing activities for research facility spaces, ensuring that all financial resources are allocated and utilized effectively.
• Check and align strategy direction with respect to automotive competitors, ensuring that our strategic initiatives are competitive and aligned with industry trends.
• Stay up to date on emerging technologies and trends that may impact our products.
• Champion the user experience and ensure that products are easy to use and delightful to interact with.
  
  

Qualifications, Experience, & Skills.

Minimum Educational Qualifications

Engineering or Science (BS)

Minimum Experience

2-3 years of experience working in the automotive research and technical areas.

Experience in conducting research activities, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

Other Job-Specific Skills

Excellent planning and communication skills

Strong teamwork skills

Ability to work with engineering researchers to meet project goals and timelines

Understanding of agile principles and methodologies and experience implementing and adapting them to fit the team's needs.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Budget Management: Effective management of research budgets, including planning, tracking, and reporting on expenditures

Communication and Reporting: The clarity and comprehensiveness of research reports and presentations, ensuring that findings are communicated effectively to stakeholders

Research Activity Completion: The number of research projects or activities completed within a specified timeframe, ensuring that deadlines are met and quality standards are maintained

Collaboration and Teamwork: The level of collaboration and support provided to team members, including participation in team meetings and contributions to group projects

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal Contacts

DSD supervisors - keep close communication within the DSD team, report status, present works in progress, and to enact rapid response to new activities and business needs

DSD teams – Continuous communication aligning the needs of the teams and the activities ongoing

External Contacts

Competitor vehicle providers: Purchased or leased

Technology Suppliers for the purpose of technology and software solutions

DECISIONS EXPECTED

Prioritize projects, allocate physical space, and schedule activities to ensure optimal utilization of our research facility.

Manage and promote the use of competitive vehicles to maximize asset value and provide the best learning opportunities.

AHM COMPETENCIES

Creating Teamwork

Valuing Relationships

Influence and Impact

Developing Self and Others

Innovative Thinking

Results Orientation

WORKING CONDITIONS

50% - Research lab work – workspace and mobile

45% - Normal office conditions – desk job with laptop, meetings, conference calls

5% - Travel – Ohio, Japan, Partner offices as required

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.