Long Term Planning & Forecasting Lead (Job Number: AUD001879)

Description

"Vorsprung durch Technik" or, "Progress through Technology" is our company ethos and is the core belief that drives the development of every Audi vehicle. It inspires the innovative solutions, revolutionary engineering and progressive design that have become synonymous with the Audi name. And it reminds us to challenge ourselves, rewrite the rules from time to time and always fuel our pioneering spirit. The spirit that sets us apart on the racetrack and the open road. In our relentless pursuit to become the number one premium car brand in America, we need employees who share in this spirit of challenging the status quo in everything that we do.
 

Role Summary:

• Audi Sales Planning team requires a Planning and Competitive Intelligence Lead to perform the following key functions for our team:
• Serve as a subject matter expert for planning of assigned carlines, research sales opportunities, forecast demand, lifecycle development, and competitive research.
• Market Planning and Analytics: Facilitate approval of the premium automotive market forecast for the US market: short, mid and long-term plan.
• Audi Volume Planning: Conduct Audi long-term volume planning for the US market. Provide management with analytics and opportunities/challenges associated with volume and market planning, and long-range portfolio decisions.
• Market Intelligence and Analysis: Perform Industry Analysis, Competitive Intelligence and ad-hoc research. Develop and maintain a holistic perspective of competitive product portfolios to guide premium market planning and share analysis.

Role Responsibilities: 

• Assigned Segment Planning SME (30%)
• Lead volume planning for respective segments in short, mid and long-term.
• Analyze competitive strategies in the segment, including, BEV penetration, number of current and future entries, evaluate impact on Audi Market Share.
• Expert level knowledge of all assumptions in future planning of assigned segment vehicles.
• Expert level understanding of how these cars perform in the market, and continually evaluate sales potential and explore additional opportunities.
• Work with Ordering team to ensure that correct mixes are ordered and aligned with future planning.
• Market Planning and Analytics (20%)
• Communicate forecast and leverage inter-departmental collaboration to gain full approval of Premium Market volume forecast within AoA and ultimately within AG and VWAG.
• Communicate changing market conditions for AoA and key competitors at the brand and model level.  
• Generate data-driven insights and recommendations to Management and assist execution as required.
•       Audi Planning Round (20%)
• Manage Audi Volume Planning Round – combine robust market and AoA inputs and ensure agreement of plan.
• Ensure accurate, on-time, and transparent Planning Round delivery.
• Recommend strategies to management on how to optimize Audi volumes in U.S.
• Gain full approval of Audi volume forecast within AoA, Audi AG and VWAG.
• Manage Audi and Premium market assumptions / rules / premises (e.g., product premises, substitution factors, seasonality, product lifecycles).
• Work closely with Product Mgmt. on future product portfolio decisions. Including use of market and analytical insights to assist in development of product volume scenarios and holistic portfolio assessments.
• Oversee annual segmentation process for Premium market and model definitions. Ensure segmentation and forecasts are utilized within AoA, VWGoA, Audi AG, and VWAG.
• Create Audi Sport volume scenarios, set KPI’s for tracking dealer and regional performance.
•      Compliance Intelligence (10%)
• AoA expert resource for competitive strategy and major trends that may affect Audi.
• Develop and maintain reporting on future competitive product plans and lifecycles.
• Research Competitive Strategy, Missions, Goals and Objectives with a US Focus.
• SWOT analysis - emphasis on future competitive threats and opportunities.
• Evaluate external substitution from new entrants and competitors, i.e. Tesla.
•     Compliance (10%)
• Oversee compliance topics, current and future (EPA, GHG, CARB, CAFE, etc).
• Provide guidance in CO2 and CAFE regulation topics.
•    Ad Hoc Requests (10%)
• Lead and/or contribute to ad hoc planning, market analysis, board tasks or other analytical requests

Qualifications

Qualifications:
 Years Relevant of Experience: 

• 7-10 years job related experience
  

Education-Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, or a related field

Education-Desired:

• MBA or Advanced Degree in Business Analytics, Data Science, Statistics or related field

Skills:

• Strong project management skills, ability to execute multiple long-term tasks across departments.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills and ability to work with all staff and management levels.
• Analytical and conceptual thinking – using analysis and strategic thinking to solve complex problems.
• Experience in automotive planning, market research, and competitive analysis.
• Solid knowledge of quantitative analysis and ability to apply it in practice.
• Ability to holistically understand, assess, and articulate the holistic automotive marketplace.
• Influencing and negotiation skills.

Specialized Skills- Required:

•    Expert-level ability to provide accurate long-term Audi planning volumes and detailed short-term planning for assigned segment vehicles.
• Experience in the areas of trends research, strategic and product planning, economics, consumer research
• Expert-level ability to recommend specific strategies to management in order to achieve desired results in both short and long-term.
• Ability to facilitate and manage agreement on volume planning throughout AoA and AG business units.
• Ability to meet quick turn-around timelines.
• Ability to be self-starter without significant guidance.
• Ability to effectively communicate plan, analysis, and recommendations.
• Ability to drive consensus and change

Desired:

• Combination of analytical expertise, AoA knowledge, luxury automotive segment knowledge, and various VWG systems.
• Audi organization, systems, processes knowledge and experience.
• Volkswagen Group automotive product knowledge and experience.
• Volkswagen Group process knowledge

Work Flexibility:

• Limited travel required for occasional meetings and training
• The flexibility to adjust hours to accommodate business demands as well as collaborate in both the Pacific and European time zones

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.
 

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