Director Corporate Strategy, Lifestyle Portfolio

About the Role

The Director of Corporate Strategy, Lifestyle Portfolio will lead and advance strategic projects that contribute to the long-term growth and development of the Lifestyle business. In supporting the Lifestyle business encompasses you will contribute your talents to high-end, esteemed brands like JBL, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Revel, Denon, and Bowers & Wilkins. The role reports to the VP Corporate Strategy – Lifestyle. In this role, you will bring a strong outside‑in perspective on consumer audio and professional solutions markets, competitive dynamics, product category and technology evolution, and go‑to‑market models. You will partner closely with Lifestyle division business, product, sales, finance, and marketing leaders to shape portfolio choices and long‑term strategic priorities across categories such as headphones, speakers, electronics, and professional audio and lighting solutions. 

What You Will Do

• Provide strategic insight on consumer and professional audio market trends, including category growth drivers, technology shifts (e.g., wireless, immersive audio, software‑enabled experiences), channel dynamics, and competitive positioning
• Partner with business and functional leaders to assess and evolve portfolio strategy across product categories, channels (DTC, retail, professional, OEM), and sales regions
• Support strategic decisions through fact-based analysis and business case development across the end-to-end value chain, from innovation funnel and platform strategy, portfolio rationalization, and adjacency expansion
• Evaluate inorganic growth and partnerships, including evaluation of audio, software, services, and platform‑based business models; assessment of product and technology fit with existing Lifestyle portfolios

What You Need to Be Successful

This role requires strong intellectual curiosity and business acumen within the consumer and professional audio ecosystem, balancing data driven analysis with practical understanding of how audio businesses compete and scale.

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering or related field
• 3-5 years of experience in consumer audio or adjacent consumer electronics and technology industries, with demonstrated understanding of audio product categories, go‑to‑market models, and competitive dynamics
• Strong understanding of portfolio strategy and go‑to‑market considerations in consumer and/or professional audio
• Demonstrated ability to translate consumer, market, and technology trends into actionable strategic insights and portfolio recommendations
• Proficiency in market data analysis and competitive intelligence, including hands-on experience in leveraging analytical tools and methods
• Strong leadership, ownership of results, negotiating and collaboration skills
• Impactful communication skills, both written and verbal with an ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of senior stakeholders and all levels of the organization

Bonus Points if You Have

• 3+ year experience in strategy consulting
• Experience with Agentic AI in products and services
• Experience in leveraging AI tools and or developing custom-AI tools for business strategy
• Previous experience working within a global matrixed organization
• Experience in market intelligence tools such as AlphaSense, Futuresource, GfK, and other

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel up to 25%, domestic and international travel
• Be willing to work in an office or hybrid in Stamford, CT, Northridge, CA, or Amsterdam, NL. Ideally you live near one of these locations to be able to meet in the office for meetings and workshops
• Due to the nature of global infrastructure, you understand that flexibility in working hours is required

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.