Project Manager, Product Planning

Product Planning Project Manager

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) :

• 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

Product Lifecycle Analysis

Local Product SME

Qualifications and Other Requirements :

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities :

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.

Learn more about MNAO's comprehensive benefits package