Executive Director Product Management

DRiV•Skokie, IL

About The Position

The Executive Director, Product Management establishes and executes the strategic vision, portfolio roadmap, and commercial growth agenda for assigned product categories. The role is accountable for portfolio performance, profitability, innovation, and customer value creation while aligning product priorities with broader business objectives. The Executive Director leads a product management organization and partners across Sales, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, and executive leadership to translate market insight and customer needs into focused strategies, investment choices, and measurable business results. The position leads a significant product management function, setting strategic direction and establishing product management standards, operating rhythms, and decision frameworks for its scope. It makes or recommends decisions about portfolio investment, prioritization, commercialization, and resource allocation within approved authority, and influences broader business decisions through market insight, customer knowledge, financial analysis, and strategic recommendations. The role may be based in Southfield, Michigan, or Skokie, Illinois. Hybrid work expectations, travel requirements, and other working conditions are to be confirmed. Physical demands are also to be confirmed by HR and the business teams based on essential functions and applicable accommodation requirements. Additional duties, responsibilities, and activities may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
12+ years of progressive experience in Product Management, Marketing, Strategy, Engineering, Sales, or a related business leadership discipline.
8+ years of people leadership experience, including leadership of managers and/or directors.
Demonstrated success leading complex product portfolios and delivering profitable growth.
Experience developing and executing product, portfolio, commercialization, and market strategies in a complex matrixed organization.
Demonstrated experience managing P&L performance and presenting strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
Deep knowledge of product management, portfolio strategy, lifecycle management, and commercialization.
Strong financial acumen, including P&L management, forecasting, pricing, and margin improvement.
Executive-level communication, presentation, stakeholder influence, and change leadership skills.
Ability to combine strategic thinking with disciplined operational execution in an ambiguous environment.
Strong analytical judgment, prioritization, and complex problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration or a related field.
Experience in the automotive aftermarket, manufacturing, industrial, mobility, or another product-driven industry.
Experience leading a global or multi-regional product organization.
Experience with SAP, CRM platforms, business intelligence tools, and advanced analytics.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the long-term product management strategy and multi-year portfolio roadmap in alignment with business growth objectives.
Establish portfolio priorities and investment recommendations using customer insight, market trends, competitive intelligence, and financial analysis.
Communicate product strategy, portfolio performance, risks, and opportunities to executive leadership and other key stakeholders.
Drive alignment on enterprise-level trade-offs, priorities, and resource allocation affecting the assigned portfolio.
Lead the full product lifecycle, including concept development, commercialization, performance optimization, rationalization, and end-of-life decisions.
Identify portfolio gaps, customer needs, and competitive opportunities to strengthen market position and accelerate profitable growth.
Oversee product launches and commercialization plans, ensuring cross-functional readiness and disciplined execution.
Establish relevant portfolio measures and operating reviews to monitor performance and enable timely decisions.
Own portfolio P&L performance and lead actions that improve revenue, margin, profitability, and market share.
Partner with Finance and Sales to develop operating plans, forecasts, pricing approaches, and growth initiatives.
Evaluate business cases and recommend investments based on strategic fit, customer value, risk, and financial return.
Provide clear direction when business conditions, customer priorities, or market dynamics require a change in plan.
Partner with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Marketing, and Finance to deliver portfolio objectives.
Build strong relationships with key customers and strategic partners to identify unmet needs and growth opportunities.
Represent the product organization in customer reviews, strategic discussions, and industry forums as appropriate.
Resolve complex issues that require broad organizational influence and executive-level decision making.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing product management organization with clear accountability and decision rights.
Coach leaders and team members, strengthen succession and capability plans, and create meaningful development opportunities.
Foster a culture of customer focus, collaboration, innovation, inclusion, continuous improvement, and disciplined execution.
Establish product management standards, operating rhythms, and decision frameworks for the assigned scope.
Make or recommend decisions related to portfolio investment, prioritization, commercialization, and resource allocation within approved authority.
Influence broader business decisions through market insight, customer knowledge, financial analysis, and strategic recommendations.