Product Launch Specialist

Location Type: Not Specified

Industry: Marketing & Corporate Communications

Company: Subaru of America

Job Description

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Love. It’s what makes Subaru, Subaru®. As a leading auto brand in the US, we strive to be More Than a Car Company®. Subaru believes in being a positive force in the communities in which we live and work, not just with donations but with actions that set an example for others to follow. That’s what we call our Subaru Love Promise®.

Subaru is a globally renowned automobile manufacturer known for its commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability. With a rich history dating back to 1953, Subaru has consistently pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering to deliver vehicles that offer not only exceptional performance but also a unique blend of utility and adventure.

Subaru’s company culture is built on collaboration, diversity, and a shared passion for our product. We foster an inclusive environment that encourages employees to bring their unique perspectives and talents to the table. Our team members are driven by a common goal: to create exceptional vehicles that inspire and delight our customers.

SUMMARY

Responsible for coordinating marketing launch plan details for Subaru of America (SOA) carline- or brand-level communications, ensuring appropriate positioning and marketing of those communications across all channels. Serves as a key driver of data mining and analysis for assigned carlines or brands, planning, and coordination for product marketing planning and issues. Assists the Product Launch Manager in developing carline communications strategy to be shared with all SOA/Subaru Corporation (SBR) departments. Will be responsible for product launch marketing activities for specified vehicle carlines.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Product Marketing: Serves as lead for coordination of all Launch communication decks, carline messaging hierarchies/positioning documents, and data analysis around major or minor vehicle or brand launches to support marketing strategy and tactics employed in association with those vehicle/brand launches.
• Product Launch Planning and Coordination: Maintains responsibility for vehicle/brand launch timeline/calendar and ensures effective communication of such to all major Subaru of America (SOA)/Subaru Corporation (SBR) stakeholders. Works closely with stakeholders to gather information on milestones, deadlines, and dates to develop project timelines and launch calendar, as well as communicates this information to pertinent stakeholders. This includes auto show calendars (see below).
  • Works with Public Relations team and SBR in planning and developing long-range auto show calendar. Develops a timeline, proposals, and documents supported with data and analysis in support of vehicle launch plans, so that long-term debuts can be scheduled to begin creation of a vehicle marketing launch plan.
• Launch and Marketing Team Meetings: Serves as lead for planning, coordinating, and running weekly or bi-monthly (as necessary) Launch and Marketing team meetings to ensure adequate coordination of marketing activities, including developing an agenda, communication decks, and collateral materials.
• Product Market Research: Coordinates with the Marketing Research Manager to plan, develop, and execute marketing research projects.
  • Maintains list of projects, timeline, and other necessary documentation to communicate reasoning/purpose for those projects for the carline/cross-carline research topics.
  • Performs detailed competitive research on web resources including blogs, competitor websites, YouTube, and press releases.
  • Works with Marketing Research Manager and stakeholders to develop stimulus and questions for quantitative and qualitative research.
  • Attends research clinics.
  • Obtains information from SBR and internally from SOA using data sourcing/research software/tools, using ability to utilize these systems and analyze data from them.
• Collaborates with Product Launch Manager in communication/coordination between Marketing, Public Relations, Product Management, Service, Customer Advocacy, Parts, Sales, Distribution, Business Planning, and SBR, as well as vendor (Carmichael Lynch) in cross-carline/brand-level matters and communications. Works in partnership with manager regarding gathering information and creating content for communications and setting prioritizations and timelines.
• Works with SBR and Product Management on product, technology, and vehicle naming process related to assigned carline/brand. Serves as the marketing champion for naming along with the Product Launch Manager. Facilitates and develops an effective and efficient process for developing, signing off internally, researching, and trademarking names in coordination with Product Management, Public Relations, SBR, and the Legal team.
• Brand and Carline Positioning/Messaging Guide: Oversees the content, editing, budgeting, and on-time delivery of the annual editing and publication of the Brand and Carline Messaging Guide. Coordinates with Product Launch Manager, Associate Director – Marketing Operations, Senior Vice President of Marketing, and agency partners regarding content to ensure its accuracy and validity.
• In addition to the Primary Responsibilities listed above, one of the Product Launch Specialists will also perform the following responsibilities:
  • Serves as lead for Awards, Accolades, and quotes licensing rules and language throughout the SOA organization. Acts as “duty expert” regarding Awards & Accolades usage and assists the Product Launch Manager in communication and coordination of all brand/carline awards, accolades and licensed claims language. Acts as key stakeholder in developing and communicating Awards & Accolades claims for Marketing. Maintains responsibility for the Awards & Accolades document along with designated agency partner(s). Maintains and manages Competitive Claims and Active Licensed Quotes documents along with designated agency partner(s). (Both must be published regularly and kept up-to-date as well as communicated to the broader Launch Team across Sales, Training, Marketing, Public Relations, Product Management, Business Planning, and SBR departments.)
  • Marketing Claims, Awards, Partner Integration: As an example, serves as lead person to coordinate Motor Trend, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Kelley Blue Book (KBB), etc. claims along with Public Relations and agency partners to ensure that claims are being fully utilized in all appropriate Subaru communications, as well as being the lead person to communicate to the claim partner agencies or key persons.
  • Leads and manages the partnership and claims/awards: As an example, Consumer Reports (CR) and their publication agency PARS International. Annually oversees licensing and budget as well as develops showroom-ready materials along with Sales Training to ensure that CR materials are available for use in the sales process.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Strategic marketing experience.
• Strong data analysis skills using Oracle SBI, mTab (market research database), Velocity, GFK, Maritz, and JATO.
• Ability to spend significant desk time gathering and analyzing data and creating communication decks.
• Passion and interest in automotive industry and new products.
• Ability to translate product details into consumer-facing language.
• Strong collaborative, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Ability to work across cultures, departments, teams, and agencies; will spend significant amount of time working within Japanese and Subaru Corporation (SBR) work culture due to the heavy amount of time spent coordinating/working with SBR colleagues.
• Project management skills. Excellent follow-up skills to make sure projects are on-track and managed to completion.
• Negotiation skills and contract management experience.
• Strong detail orientation.
• Highly proficient at Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel specifically).
• Automotive industry background and/or familiarity with automotive industry
• Competitive product knowledge

WORK ENVIORNMENT

• Ability to lift up to 25lbs
• Travel: 20%
• Weekends/After Standard Work Hours
• Same Day Travel Outside Standard Work Location

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 4-Year College Degree (BA, BS) and 6-8 years’ experience

COMPENSATION: The recruiting base salary range for this full-time position is $81300 – $119000 / year. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. (Internal Job Grade: P3) In addition to competitive salary, Subaru offers an amazing benefits package that includes:
• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• Pension, Profit Sharing, and 401K Match Offerings
• 15 Vacation days, 9 Company Holidays, 5 Floating Holidays, and 5 Sick days.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Vehicle Discount Programs
• See our Careers landing page for additional information about our compensation and benefit programs.