Manager, Corporate Strategy

Harman Becker Automotive Systems Manufacturing Kft • Novi, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Corporate Strategy – Automotive and AI will help shape and advance HARMAN's strategic agenda, portfolio priorities, and growth ambitions. Reporting to the Director, Corporate Development – Automotive & AI, this leader will partner with senior executives and cross-functional teams to translate market, customer, technology, and competitive developments into clear strategic choices and actionable priorities. This role will lead enterprise-critical strategic initiatives, including portfolio and adjacent growth strategies, market and segment entry, competitive positioning, business-model evaluation, and buy/build/partner decisions. It requires rigorous analysis, sound business judgment, and the ability to translate recommendations into executable roadmaps and measurable outcomes. The role will also shape HARMAN Automotive’s inorganic growth agenda by partnering closely with Automotive Strategy teams, division leadership and Corporate Development to develop investment themes, evaluate acquisition and partnership opportunities, assess strategic fit, inform executive decision-making, and lead or support the execution of inorganic growth initiatives and strategic partnerships.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; a technical, quantitative, business, or economics discipline is preferred
• 8-10+ years of highly relevant experience in corporate strategy, strategy consulting, business development, corporate development, strategic partnerships, or a related field
• At least 3 years of experience leading cross-functional project teams or multidisciplinary workstreams
• Significant relevant industry experience such as automotive (OEM, Tier 1, auto tech), mobility, semiconductors or technology sector experience or strategy consultancy serving these sectors.
• Strategic thinking, commercial and financial acumen, business judgment, and analytical problem-solving skills
• Experience with portfolio strategy, market sizing, business-case development, investment evaluation, and buy/build/partner analysis
• Ability to structure ambiguous problems, synthesize complex information, and translate analysis into clear strategic recommendations
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence senior stakeholders in a global, matrixed organization
• Ability to craft compelling executive presentations, translating data and insights into structured, decision-oriented narratives
• Results-oriented leadership style with a track record of delivering measurable business impact and developing high-performing teams

Nice To Haves

• MBA or another relevant advanced degree
• 3+ years of experience in strategy consulting or strategic transaction advisory
• Experience evaluating and executing acquisitions, strategic investments, or strategic partnerships
• Experience applying AI tools or AI-enabled solutions to improve research, analysis, scenario development, or strategic decision-making
• International experience working across major automotive or tech markets, regions, functions, and cultures

Responsibilities

• Support the development and refinement of HARMAN Automotive’s multi-year strategy, strategic priorities, and portfolio choices
• Lead cross-functional strategy initiatives that address critical business challenges and accelerate priority growth opportunities
• Structure ambiguous problems, synthesize quantitative and qualitative analysis, and develop decision-oriented recommendations
• Build a strong external perspective through industry benchmarks, expert networks, customers, partners, and competitive intelligence
• Engage and manage external advisers when specialized expertise or an independent perspective is required, ensuring clear scope, resources, timelines, and outcomes
• Develop strategic theses and priority areas for acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and investments
• Identify and screen potential targets in collaboration with Automotive leadership and Corporate Development
• Assess strategic fit, growth potential, competitive differentiation, business-model implications, and value-creation opportunities
• Prepare executive-level materials and strategic framing for senior leadership and board-level discussions
• Lead execution of strategic partnerships, including counterparty relationship management and negotiations, drafting of partnership agreements, management of Harman cross functional teams incl. legal, business unit leads and engineering
• Support M&A due diligence, business-case development, and investment decision-making
• Prepare executive-level updates regarding the above
• Build trusted relationships with Harman executives, business units, functions, and regional stakeholders
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and influence outcomes in a global, matrixed organization without relying on direct authority
• Coach and develop strategy team members, setting high standards for analytical quality, collaboration, and delivery
• Communicate complex issues through clear executive narratives and practical, decision-ready recommendations

Benefits

• Access to employee discounts on HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman / Kardon, AKG, and others)
• Learning and development opportunities through our award-winning HARMAN University programs
• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well-being
• Tuition reimbursement support
• Access to the HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria, where available

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager