Sr. Director, Product Planning & Technical Services


Toyo Tires - Cypress, CA
Cypress, California


Last Day to Apply: July 23, 2015

Senior Director, Product Planning and Technical Services

Toyo Tire U.S.A.


Our client, Toyo Tire, the North American Subsidiary of a global automotive products manufacturer with their Headquarters on the West Coast has retained us to recruit an experienced Sr. Director of Product Planning and Technical Services.

As Senior Director of Product Planning and Technical Services, you will report to the Chief Operating Officer and lead a team of 10 professionals in both product planning and consumer relations.  You will be responsible for ensuring the increase of the revenue and profits of Toyo Tires USA created through a steady stream of new products responsible for the growth of the business, while increasing market share and the competitive position of the Company both now and in the future. 

Position responsibilities include tire portfolio planning and analysis, and management activities to direct the new tire product program with a roadmap for a profitable and sustainable future, while ensuring the continued demand for current tire products. As such, the Sr. Director and his/her team has primary interface with the passenger, light truck and truck tire product development and planning departments in Japan. The Director also oversees the U.S. Consumer Relations department and technical activities/interface with Toyo Tire Holdings of the Americas (“TTHA”) technical group.  This role works in close alignment with the marketing, pricing, sales and financial departments, requires hands on contribution and serves as a member of its senior leadership team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

  1. Product portfolio planning and future roadmap creation
    • Creating a strategic plan for new products and technologies that is responsive to the firm’s overall business strategy
    • Integration of both current and future market factors with Toyo’s R&D technology developments and technology strategies leading to a living Roadmap
    • Toyo process and portfolio ownership
    • Active participation in the setting of strategic company direction
    • Resource management
  2. Close interface and complete coordination with the Company’s product development and product planning resources based in Japan
  3. Leadership and management of the product management and engineering/technical personnel within the department
  4. Leadership and management of the Consumer Relations group within the department
  5. Creation of a knowledge base which provides for a  systematic and continual analytical assessment of competitive products, technology movements and market trends (both tire and automotive)
  6. Active participation in the technical interface with the TTHA Technical Department
  7. Ensure compliance within Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (TTC) of all Quality Assurance Instructions (QAIs), corporate policies and JSOX requirements
  8. Planning and management of annual and long term budgets and expenses
  9. Personnel evaluation, development, and training within the department
  10. Serve as a member of the TTC Senior Leadership Team
  11. Other duties as appropriate and assigned

Requirements of the Right Candidate

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the following essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  1. Management and Leadership of two Managers and their staffs, total of approximately 10 people. 
  2. Demonstrated ability to manage projects from concept to fulfillment including planning, organizing and executing
  3. Demonstrated strong product portfolio management skills
  4. Strong leadership and communication skills to effectively manage direct reports, build cross-functional relationships, and interact with all levels of associates, management and executives
  5. Analytical and decision making skills, including strong data manipulation skills via Excel, Access or other comparable applications
  6. Ability to bring business value and improved financial results through use of technology, process efficiencies and risk management
  7. Strong aptitude/technical knowledge for understanding information systems, processes, and structures
  8. Demonstrates creative problem solving and design of  innovative solutions
  9. Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word)

Desired Education and/or Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree from a four-year institution (business administration, engineering, economics or equivalent preferred)
  • Master’s degree preferred
  • Minimum fifteen years of experience in automotive product planning, automotive product development,automotive marketing, automotive product marketing, automotive product engineering or automotive product portfolio development functions in OEM and/or aftermarket
  • Extensive background in and knowledge of the tire/automotive industry is preferred
  • Fluent English language skills required; Japanese language a plus, but not required

Compensation:  Six figure base salary, bonus eligibility, car allowance (including insurance and fuel reimbursement), 401K with 100% employer match, and health benefits.  


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