Purpose of the role:
This role will act as the product and pricing expert within region, facilitating both outbound and inbound information exchange with the central product management and pricing functions.
The outbound role will ensure the regional marketing, sales and network teams have ready access to the latest current and future product information. It will also support training and sales product presentations.
The inbound element role will ensure detailed regional product and pricing trends and information - such as regional competitor specifications and customer preferences - are represented and reflected in the product development strategy.
Additionally, the role will also support the central function with Bespoke Special Operations regional coordination.
Role Dimensions:
The role sits within the APAC & China regional team reporting to the Head of Commercial Operations - APAC & China
Principal accountabilities:
- Market analytics - produce market, customer, product and pricing reports
- Assess McLaren and competitor vehicle and options positioning and sales performance
- Pricing intelligence - operate and co-ordinate competitor price capture across the competitor set.
- Verify competitor pricing and movements, analyse and build own conclusions with recommendations for management.
- Must be able to analyse and sense-check data and be able to identify trends and draw own conclusions.
2. Be the regional product expert conveying technical knowledge with a passion for the product
- In depth understand of McLaren product range specification, engineering backstory and customer feature benefits
- Detailed understanding of competitor set including region specific specification and pricing
- Support and deliver regional (and where necessary global) product presentations
- Drive regional product knowledge through delivering training programmes for regional (internal) staff.
3. Support the Global Product Management function with the development of global product content/reporting
- Perform analysis of global product data e.g. options analysis
- Assist in the production of Global product documents e.g. Product Guides
- Where required assist Global Product and Marketing teams in the production of global and regional product information e.g. customer facing product and pricing information
4. Be the regional counterpart for McLaren Special Operations and Bespoke vehicles
- Coordinate retailers requests for Bespoke products with central department
- Ensure timely delivery of information's to retailers
- Develop specific strategy to increase uptake of McLaren Special Operations options
5. Support development of appropriate product market strategy through the provision of detailed regional product insight
- Develop understanding and report on regional customer segmentation, product requirements and buying behaviour through discussion with retailer partners
- Feed into central product management and pricing functions on regional product requirements including relative importance of product features and attributes.
- Build typical regional customer archetypes based on customer and retailer feedback, describing buying criteria, product usage and acceptor/rejector drivers
Key Stakeholders
- Regional Sales and Marketing team
- Global Product Management function
- Central Brand function
- Central Pricing function
- McLaren Special Operations
Knowledge, skills & experience:
- Degree level educated
- Min. 5 Years of experience in automotive product management is required
- Understand that intelligence of presentation is key to deliver convincing arguments to management.
- Must be able to define and execute business processes and understand the importance of formal process to reduce risk and variance.
- PC literate - highly competent in Excel (able to construct and manage complex spreadsheets) and Powerpoint (able to independently produce powerful presentations).
- Although existing detailed product knowledge is desirable, it is not a prerequisite for the job. However the candidate should be genuinely interested in the motor industry and be willing to learn.
- The necessary written and language skills to articulate complex engineering material into customer facing marketing and sales material. Conversely able to articulate customer and market facing vehicle requirements into engineering detail and tangible objectives.
- Language - fluency in English. Japanese would be a plus.
Personal Attributes / Competencies
- Accuracy is paramount to this role - the candidate should display a methodical approach and excellent attention to detail.
- Candidates will be driven and be able to work to deadlines, but also recognise when help is required and be willing to ask.
- Resilience, adaptability and the ability to remain positive in the face of challenge is key.
- This role offers a unique working environment within the motor industry, with unparalleled access to the sales and marketing and engineering teams. As such this role demands the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively within teams, but also the ability to focus on specific deliverables.
