What are the responsibilities and job description for the Global RFQ Lead, SBU Connectivity position at HARMAN International?
About The Role
We are seeking a thought leader to join SBU Connectivity as the RFQ Management Lead. This role is critical in driving growth through strategic RFQ (Request for Quotation) management, ensuring alignment with HARMAN Automotive’s SBU Connectivity business objectives. The ideal candidate will combine strategic insight, operational excellence, product mindset, and cross-functional collaboration to enable our transformative vision of a product-first approach to simplify our go-to-market (GTM) approach to enable seamless connected mobility ecosystem.
You will thrive in a dynamic, results-oriented environment - formulating, organizing, and executing strategic plans that drive business success. As a key interface between product management, business development, customer delivery, and customer management teams, you will ensure the quality, timeliness, and competitiveness of our global RFQ responses leveraging the tools and resources at your disposal.
You will be expected to lead with influence and work with 5-6 direct reports globally and a cross-functional team members drawn from all relevant functions within the business. This team will be empowered and aligned around Automotive and SBU Connectivity strategic imperatives.
What You Will Do
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
Ever since the 1920s, we’ve been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected.
Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today’s most sought-after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world’s ever-evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award-winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other.
If you’re ready to innovate and do work that makes a lasting impact, join our talent community today!
HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or Protected Veterans status. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training, and competitive compensation. (www.harman.com)
We are seeking a thought leader to join SBU Connectivity as the RFQ Management Lead. This role is critical in driving growth through strategic RFQ (Request for Quotation) management, ensuring alignment with HARMAN Automotive’s SBU Connectivity business objectives. The ideal candidate will combine strategic insight, operational excellence, product mindset, and cross-functional collaboration to enable our transformative vision of a product-first approach to simplify our go-to-market (GTM) approach to enable seamless connected mobility ecosystem.
You will thrive in a dynamic, results-oriented environment - formulating, organizing, and executing strategic plans that drive business success. As a key interface between product management, business development, customer delivery, and customer management teams, you will ensure the quality, timeliness, and competitiveness of our global RFQ responses leveraging the tools and resources at your disposal.
You will be expected to lead with influence and work with 5-6 direct reports globally and a cross-functional team members drawn from all relevant functions within the business. This team will be empowered and aligned around Automotive and SBU Connectivity strategic imperatives.
What You Will Do
- Lead Global RFQ Management: Own and drive the end-to-end RFQ process for the SBU Connectivity, ensuring quality and timely responses aligned with business targets.
- Product Evangelism: Champion the SBU Connectivity product roadmap (Ready Connect, Ready Aware, Ready Ride, etc…) - translating technology capabilities into customer-relevant solutions.
- Requirements Gathering: Understand high level requirements defined by customers at bidding/ RFQ stage and translate them into functional requirements understood by cross functional teams.
- Roadmap Influencing: Managing early and long-term engagement with key OEM accounts to influence product requirements and influence product/platform roadmaps.
- GTM Transformation: Leverage available products/platforms to make proposal for product/derivate based GTM approach while limiting the amount of bespoke engagements to drive reuse/R&D efficiency.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with business development, product line management, engineering, finance, and supply chain teams to deliver compelling and feasible proposals on time and high quality while compliant to GAR guidelines.
- Market & Trend Analysis: Continuously monitor global and regional market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and emerging technologies to inform RFQ strategies and long-term business planning.
- Strategic Planning: Formulate and execute growth strategies to expand HARMAN’s footprint in the global connectivity domain. Govern pursuit planning and PoC with early OEM engagements to align with portfolio strategy.
- Governance & Process Excellence: Ensure adherence to HARMAN’s Global RFQ process and establish best practices and tools for continuous improvement.
- Stakeholder Management: Engage with executive leadership and customers to communicate status, risks, and strategic recommendations.
- Performance Tracking: Establish KPIs and dashboards to measure RFQ success, response efficiency, and win rates including lessons learned from win/loss analysis.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field.
- 8 years of experience in RFQ, program management, product management, or business development within the automotive or technology industry.
- At least 5 years of experience in customer product delivery and sales in automotive or related industries.
- Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional projects and managing multiple RFQs simultaneously.
- Understanding of connectivity technologies (Telematics, V2X, 5G, Cloud, Edge, etc.) and automotive product lifecycles.
- Financial acumen and in-depth automotive business understanding.
- Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to translate market trends and customer needs into actionable business strategies.
- Experience in managing global team members, stakeholders and working across diverse cultural and functional teams.
- Strong knowledge of the HARMAN product portfolio and the technology roadmap.
- MBA with Master's in Engineering or Computer Science or related field.
- Strategic thinker with a data-driven mindset and strong business acumen.
- High degree of empathy for both customers and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Passion for innovation and emerging technologies shaping the future of mobility.
- You are willing to travel up to 30% domestic and international travel.
- Due to the nature of global teams and customer base, you understand that flexibility in working hours is required.
- Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location.
- 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.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.
- An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.
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
Ever since the 1920s, we’ve been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected.
Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today’s most sought-after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world’s ever-evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award-winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other.
If you’re ready to innovate and do work that makes a lasting impact, join our talent community today!
HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or Protected Veterans status. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training, and competitive compensation. (www.harman.com)