Product Planning Manager (23108)

SUMITOMO RUBBER NORTH AMERICA, INC.•Rancho Cucamonga, CA

10d•$104,765 - $162,633•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Planning Manager owns, manages, and communicates a portfolio of products within a designated tire segment (LTR, PCR, or TBR) throughout the entire product lifecycle. This role sets the long-term vision and strategic direction for the segment and serves as the product champion and subject matter expert, advocating for the portfolio both internally and externally. The position is responsible for defining and executing the go-to-market strategy and clearly communicating the rationale behind the product roadmap to ensure organizational alignment at all levels.

Requirements

A minimum of five (5+) years of industry experience is required, preferably within the tire or automotive sector, with a focus on product planning.
A technical background and/or experience in engineering and product development is strongly preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred; Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) is a plus.
A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field will be considered if accompanied by a strong technical background.
Self-motivated with the ability to effectively prioritize projects and manage time.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to collaborate professionally and effectively across all organizational levels and with external customers.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Highly detail-oriented and exceptionally organized.
Strong analytical and statistical skills, with the ability to generate, interpret, and present accurate, actionable data.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, and use hands and fingers for extended periods.
Role may require walking on level surfaces, reaching above shoulder height and below the waist, and lifting up to 25–50 pounds (including moving tires).
Domestic and international travel required up to 25% of the time, including visits to corporate technical centers, production facilities, proving grounds in the U.S. and Japan, and customer locations.
The position is primarily office-based to support effective collaboration with the product planning team and cross-functional partners.
Flexibility is required to accommodate irregular hours for phone and video conferences across multiple time zones.

Nice To Haves

An MBA is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead product management, including roadmap development and full lifecycle management, to support overall business objectives.
Communicate and align product vision across all levels of the organization and with cross-functional business units (e.g., Original Equipment, SRI Advanced Technology) to drive synergy in product development and marketing initiatives.
Drive the creation of new product concepts by anticipating market trends and initiating, managing, and supporting market research efforts.
Define product positioning, establish market share targets, and develop pricing and profitability strategies aligned with business goals.
Maintain a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics and the competitive landscape through benchmarking and proactive analysis of competitor product plans.
Identify customer needs, translate them into product requirements, and collaborate with engineering teams to negotiate performance targets and product specifications.
Lead and develop product planning team members and manage third-party vendors, including market research firms and design contractors.
Partner with engineering and testing teams throughout product development and industrialization phases.
Oversee exclusive and customer-specific products (e.g., DTC, 4WP) to support strategic objectives.
Define and execute the go-to-market launch strategy for new products.
Develop compelling product stories, messaging frameworks, and promotional plans for new products, technologies, and features.
Drive demand generation by supporting sales and promotional teams, including corporate training, with customized, product-specific marketing initiatives.