Product Development Operations Lead

Job Description

Role Summary:

The NAR Product Development Operations Lead drives strategic initiatives and operational excellence across the North American region. This role oversees the implementation of board-level KPIs through dashboards, ensuring performance alignment with corporate objectives. Designs the NAR Product Development newsletter and organizes events, including board-drives. As the functional leader for change management, they guide the organization toward a functional leadership model. The role also champions cultural development initiatives in Product Development. This position engages (liaison) with Finance departments VWGoA as well as VW Wolfsburg, VW Mexico or other VW AG brands.

Role Responsibilities:

Steering Board-Level KPIs and Dashboard Implementation (30%)

• Develop and manage dashboards to track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) at the board level, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and providing insights for decision-making.

Cultural Development and Role Model Initiatives (20%)

• Lead efforts to promote organizational culture, including developing NAR role models and cultural programs that reinforce desired values and behaviors within the organization.

Functional Leadership in Change Management (20%)

• Serve as the functional leader for change management initiatives, steering the organization toward a functional leadership model, and ensuring effective adoption of changes.

Designing and Distributing NAR Newsletter (10%)

• Create, design, and distribute a regular newsletter to enhance communication and unity within the NAR region, ensuring relevant information reaches all stakeholders.

Planning and Organizing Regional Events (10%)

• Lead the planning and execution of key events across the North American region, including board-driven activities, to promote engagement and alignment across teams.

Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams and Leadership (10%)

• Work closely with functional leaders and cross-functional teams to ensure strategic initiatives and change management efforts are aligned and successfully implemented across the organization.

Qualifications

Years of Experience:

• 5-7 years of experience in Financial Steering or project management in Automotive Industry

Education - Required

• Bachelor degree in Business Management or similar

Education - Desired:

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Business Management or Controlling

Skills:

• Project management skills
• Analytical and conceptual thinking - using logic and reason, creative and strategic
• Communication skills - interpersonal, presentation and written
• Computer savvy - skilled in the use of software
• Integration - joining people, processes or systems
• Problem solving
• Team oriented
• Collaborative
• Flexible
• Customer service oriented
• Results driven
• Process oriented

Specialized Skills - Required:

• Past experience in automotive industry in controlling and project management
• Extensive knowledge on internal procedures and processes
• Experience in developing financial strategies and processes
• Skilled in presentation development primarily using Power Point
• Skilled in data analytics and spreadsheet preparation & development
• Strong computer skills; primarily but not limited to Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point
• Ability to work flexible and extended hours as workload requires
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.

Specialized Skills - Desired:

• Past experience and knowledge in controlling of R&D departments in automotive industry
• Past experience and knowledge with R&D strategies
• Skilled in Atlassian Jira and Confluence
• Fluent in German (verbal & written)

Work Flexibility:

• Domestic / International travel required, up to 25%
• Must be available to contact colleagues at European locations during varying hours
• Ability to do Telework as well as in person

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.