Technology Strategy Specialist (m/f/d)

HARMAN’s engineers and designers are creative, purposeful and agile. As part of this team, you’ll combine your technical expertise with innovative ideas to help drive cutting-edge solutions in the car, enterprise and connected ecosystem. Every day, you will push the boundaries of creative design, and HARMAN is committed to providing you with the opportunities, innovative technologies and resources to build a successful career.

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do everyday.

About the Role

This position will provide Program Execution (80%) and administrative (20%) support for the Harman Research Group, including the CTO and multiple VP-level executives using advanced business software skills and knowledge of the organization's policies and procedures. The ideal candidate will be experienced in handling a wide range of administrative, technical, and executive support related tasks and will be able to work independently with little or no supervision, combined with strong engineering skills and highest levels of flexibility. This person will play a significant role in supporting Harman Research operations. As part of the team, you will participate in the design, and implementation of strategies, plans and activities in support of key business objectives.

What You Will Do

Program Management (80%)

• Support technology strategy and projects with research, analysis, and execution
• Work with Research leaders to facilitate enterprise-level technology collaboration, cross-functional meetings, and workshops
• Interface with all levels of management and teams to provide strategic and tactical advice on strategy and execution
• Advise and provide recommendations to strategy stakeholders on matters of significance by identifying metrics to track and coordinates with subject matter experts to help build and maintain metrics scorecards.
• Lead quantitative and qualitative assessments such as stakeholder analysis and change impact assessments for key stakeholder groups to drive development of data-driven change strategies.
• Measure effectiveness of change interventions and evolve plans as needed to best drive adoption and reduce risk of initiatives.
• Identify synergies between various development areas and projects/programs and bring teams together to establish relationships
• Facilitate and lead global cross-functional meetings and workshops.
• Work with Strategy to drive the evolution of the Research team:
  • Help Coordinate multiple development areas
  • Ensuring alignment with the organizational strategy
  • Address any challenges or issues that arise and developing quick effective solutions

Administrative (20%)

• Support leadership by reading, collecting data, and analyzing information in advance
• Draft and prepare correspondence for announcements, board meetings, and organizations
• Develop business documents, presentations, agendas, reports, and special projects
• Arrange domestic and international business travel for executives, proactively coordinating the pre-planning of trips with various internal functions, while scheduling and maintaining calendar appointments, and expedite passports, visas, and other international entry rules for many HARMAN sites

What You Need

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of related administrative or program management experience, including experience supporting executives
• Advanced knowledge of office, program management, and CRM tools
• Previous experience booking international travel
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills; and proven ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to function well in a high-paced environment and perform additional duties as assigned by executives
• Enthusiasm for technology with basic technical aptitude and the ability to learn and engage with advanced projects
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the proven ability to adapt to a dynamic company environment and simultaneously manage multiple responsibilities with potential conflicting priorities and business interests

Skills

• Clear communication and social intelligence on team and executive levels
• Strategic thinking to understand the context and needs of colleagues and stakeholders
• Project Management
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Technical konwledge across many areas of hardware and software
• Leadership in a matrix setup (without line management authority)
• Stakeholder Management

Preferred skills

• Self-directedness and motivation to contribute to growth and improvement for yourself and our team
• Problem solving and creativity – have experience working through challenges by timely delivering effective solutions
• Experience working in technical engineering and/or research environments
• Business sense - has a strong business sense and can decipher priorities and make sound judgment calls when needed.
• Commitment to excellence - perform duties at the highest level possible on a consistent basis.
• Excellent communicator - able to interact with people of all levels in a confident, professional manner.
• Team player - have team-oriented experience and approach.
• Service focus - dedicated to meeting the expectations of the other senior executives by maintaining effective relationships with interested parties.
• Ability to think outside of the box with a sense of urgency. 

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to work in an office in Germany

What We Offer

• HARMAN offers a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities, professional training and competitive market base compensation
• You will also receive top-notch employee discounts on Harman’s Consumer Audio (JBL, AKG, HARMAN Kardon) and Samsung products
• Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work life integration and collaboration in a global friendly working atmosphere and good work-life-balance
• Attractive salary package based on the Metall & Elektro Tarif Baden Wurttemberg and an Employer contribution towards a company pension plan
• Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University’s business and leadership academies which also includes extensive technical trainings
• Internal talent management leadership acceleration programs
• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program

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HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.