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 every day.
Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Lifestyle
We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. As a member of HARMAN Lifestyle, you connect consumers with the power of superior sound.
- Contribute your talents to high-end, esteemed brands like JBL, Mark Levinson and Harman Kardon
- Unite your passion for audio innovation with high-tech product development
- Create pitch-perfect, cutting-edge technology that elevates the listening experience
About the Role
As a Category & Marketing Planning Specialist, you will play a key role in supporting the North America Category & Marketing Planning team as we bring new products to market and drive growth across HARMAN's Lifestyle Consumer Audio portfolio. Working across categories including headphones, portable speakers, home audio, and more, you will help execute regional category strategies, new product launches, and marketing initiatives that strengthen the position of HARMAN's leading brands.
The Specialist will serve as a central resource across the Category & Marketing Planning team, helping maintain critical business processes through product information management, planning tools, reporting, and cross-category operational support. In addition, the role will partner closely with one designated product category lead, gaining hands-on experience in product roadmap planning, portfolio management, commercialization, and collaboration with global Business Unit teams.
From supporting new product introductions and launch readiness activities to managing key planning tools, and business processes, you will help transform product strategy into execution.
What You Will Do
- Partner closely with Marketing peers, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, Business Units and external agencies to support new product launch planning, commercialization activities, and go-to-market execution.
- Analyze product, category and market performance data to generate insights that support business planning, forecasting, and decision-making.
- Serve as a key liaison to the North America Sales organization for all product marketing needs, ensuring product assets, documentation and pricing information are accurate, current, and readily available to support sell-in and sell-through efforts.
- Manage product sample inventory, ordering, allocation, and distribution to support launch activities such as media reviews, customer presentations, events, and internal stakeholder needs.
- Lead consumer review programs for new products through third-party review platforms to generate early advocacy.
- Manage personalized product orders for marketing programs and support setup of these unique products for sale through JBL.com.
- Review product and lifestyle marketing assets, including copy, imagery, video, and digital content, to ensure accurate, compelling, and consumer-centric communication of product features and benefits.
- Support product marketing budget management through expense tracking, forecasting, purchase order processing, and reporting.
- Address ad hoc packaging reviews and compliance initiatives for sale of products in North America.
What You Need to Be Successful
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or business-related field preferred.
- Minimum of 2 years of marketing or agency experience.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to drive projects and tasks to completion with a high level of quality, anticipating needs, resolving gaps, and addressing follow-up requirements proactively.
- Ability to collaborate efficiently across teams and with senior management.
- Effective communicator (oral and written) and creative thinker, with an ability to use both data, input, and intuition to inform decisions.
- Highly resourceful and solution-oriented with the ability to proactively seek out answers, utilize available data, and leverage team resources to overcome roadblocks.
- Openness to new ideas and the desire to continuously learn and develop new skills.
Bonus Points if You Have
- Creative thinker, capable and comfortable with generating innovative ideas. Proven ability to create unique and compelling positioning and messaging.
- Passion for consumer electronics, product innovation, and marketing, with a strong curiosity to learn and contribute to the continued growth of one of the most recognized brands in audio – JBL.
What Makes You Eligible
- Willing to travel up to 10%, as necessary domestically.
- Ability to work in the Northridge, CA office three days a week.
- An understanding that flexibility in working hours may be required due to the nature of our global infrastructure.
- Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment (post-offer).
What We Offer
- Competitive wellness benefits and 401K Retirement Savings plan.
- An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities.
- Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work-life integration and collaboration in a global environment.
- Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University’s business and leadership academies and extensive course catalog.
- Tuition Reimbursement.
- Access to employee discounts on world-class HARMAN products (JBL, Harman/Kardon, etc.).
- “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.
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Salary Ranges:
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.
Skills Required
- Minimum of 2 years of marketing or agency experience
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing or business-related field
- Experience supporting new product launch planning, commercialization, and go-to-market execution
- Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail
- Ability to analyze product, category, and market performance data to generate insights
- Experience managing product information, assets, documentation, and pricing for sales enablement
- Experience managing product sample inventory, ordering, allocation, and distribution
- Experience with budget management tasks: expense tracking, forecasting, purchase order processing, reporting
- Effective oral and written communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Willingness to travel up to 10% domestically
- Ability to work in the Northridge, CA office three days a week
- Successful completion of background investigation and drug screen (post-offer)
- Creative thinking and strong passion for consumer electronics (bonus)
Harman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Harman and has not been reviewed or approved by Harman.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, often including medical, dental, and vision plans, with HSAs/FSAs and disability or life insurance also referenced. Wellbeing support such as EAP access and onsite occupational health services is also part of the package in some regions.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Lifestyle-oriented benefits include employee product discounts and region-specific perks like free fruit deliveries, Cycle to Work schemes, and meal coupons or allowances. Flexible schedules and work-from-home options are also part of the overall offering where roles and projects allow.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is repeatedly characterized as solid or market-aligned for many roles, with salary payments described as consistent and on time. Compensation is also tied to performance in some accounts, reinforcing a perception of basic fairness for a portion of employees.
Harman Insights
What We Do
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training and competitive compensation. Looking for a challenge where your experience is valued? Come see what you can achieve as a leader with HARMAN!
