Senior Model Line Business Manager

Date: Sep 28, 2024

Location: Irvine, California, US, 92606

Company: Kia America, Inc.

At Kia, we’re creating award-winning products and redefining what value means in the automotive industry. It takes a special group of individuals to do what we do, and we do it together. Our culture is fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative. Our people thrive on thinking differently and challenging the status quo. We are creating something special here, a culture of learning and opportunity, where you can help Kia achieve big things and most importantly, feel passionate and connected to your work every day.

Kia provides team members with competitive benefits including premium paid medical, dental and vision coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) plan matching of 100% up to 6% of the salary deferral, and paid time off. Kia also offers company lease and purchase programs, company-wide holiday shutdown, paid volunteer hours, and premium lifestyle amenities at our corporate campus in Irvine, California.

Status

Exempt

Summary

The Senior Model Line Business Manager will act as the vehicle’s chief advocate, championing and marshaling resources to support, promote and strengthen the model for maximum marketplace success and profitability.   As the go-to person for the assigned model, they will maintain comprehensive knowledge of the vehicle, its target customers, dealer engagement levels and the competitive segment marketplace dynamics to provide input for collaborative development of the near-term sales, marketing and product plans.  Key responsibilities include leading the collaboration with Marketing on the product-market positioning strategy for the assigned model, serving as the messaging subject matter expert, and providing strategic input on messaging to achieve sales and marketing goals. The Senior Manager will generally manage up to four assigned vehicle lines with focus on 12-18 forward-looking months.  They are also responsible to manage a direct report. 

Major Responsibilities

1st Priority - 15%

Expertise: Maintain continuous, 360-degree understanding of assigned model’s marketplace dynamics, segment trends, target customers behavior, key competitor actions, model advantages / vulnerabilities, and unserved market opportunities/white space. 

2nd Priority - 15%

Strategy:  Provide upstream strategic guidance to position vehicle in optimal manner for relevant market differentiation and launch success.

3rd Priority - 25%

Market Messaging:  As vehicle messaging expert, work upstream cross-functionally, to ensure consistent vehicle positioning and salient messaging of model in all communication touch points (Marketing, Sales, PR, Sales Training, etc.)

4th Priority - 15%

Sales Operations: Operate closely with field leadership to collaborate, manage and optimize media messaging and provide strategic/ tactical inputs to drive the monthly go-to-market plan. 

5th Priority - 5%

Training: Collaborate with Sales Training team to ensure key product points / competitive advantages are clearly communicated (ensure consistency of key marketing messages, positioning, proper competitor comparisons used)

6th Priority - 15%

Business Unit Management:  Collaborate with Product, Sales and Marketing in jointly setting the quantitative and qualitative objectives for each model; and in identifying the key product, marketing and sales programs required to achieve the set objectives.

7th Priority - 10%

Product: Collaborate with PPD and Product Quality (PQ) to provide immediate and upstream input (up to 18 months prior to new model year change over) so as to ensure assigned product meets Sales and Marketing channel marketplace needs.
 

Education/Certification

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
  • Master’s degree in business or related field preferred    
     

Overall Experience

  • Minimum 12+ years OEM Marketing, Sales Operations or Field Sales Experience . Experience in at least one of these fields required. Experience in 2-3 fields preferred. 

Directly Related Experience

  • Strong understanding of the Auto Business and Landscape
  • Ability to quickly react to and manage change
  • Ability to work well with cross-functional teams
  • Ability to effectively manage multiple assignments
  • Occasional travel may be required domestically and/or internationally 
  • Perform other duties as assigned
     

Skills

Ability to clearly convey (written and oral) learnings as well as recommendation that will results towards action.
Ability to solve multi-dimensional / cross-discipline problems
Excellent presentation skills. Ability to communicate persuasively and effectively to a wide range of internal and external customers at all levels
Highly organized with strong time management skills
Leadership and supervisory skills
Strategic Thinking – Fully understands the purpose and content of the organizations’ strategic plan, and executes tasks in alignment with larger organizational objectives.
Understand basic concepts of automotive product marketing strategies in all aspects of integrated marketing communications, reporting, measurement.
Work proactively to head off issues before they become a problem

Competencies

Care for People
Chase Excellence, Every Day
Dare to Push Boundaries
Empower People to Act
Move Further, Together

Pay Range

$108,209 - $156,133

Pay will be based on several variables that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to, job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training, etc.

 

Equal Employment Opportunities

KUS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, including pregnancy and childbirth and related medical conditions, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, legally protected physical disability or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, family care or medical leave status, protected veteran or military status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  KUS complies with applicable law governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which KUS has offices.  The KUS EEO policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, discipline, termination and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.

 

Disclaimer:  The above information on this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and for this position.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.


Nearest Major Market: Irvine California
Nearest Secondary Market: Los Angeles

Job Segment: Marketing Manager, Business Manager, Communications, Marketing Communications, Marketing, Management, Automotive