Associate Director - Accessories - Subaru of America, Inc.

About Subaru

Love. It's what makes Subaru, Subaru®. As a leading auto brand in the US, we strive to be More Than a Car Company®. Subaru believes in being a positive force in the communities in which we live and work, not just with donations but with actions that set an example for others to follow. That's what we call our Subaru Love Promise®.

Subaru is a globally renowned automobile manufacturer known for its commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability. With a rich history dating back to 1953, Subaru has consistently pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering to deliver vehicles that offer not only exceptional performance but also a unique blend of utility and adventure.

Subaru's company culture is built on collaboration, diversity, and a shared passion for our product. We foster an inclusive environment that encourages employees to bring their unique perspectives and talents to the table. Our team members are driven by a common goal: to create exceptional vehicles that inspire and delight our customers.

Position Summary

Directs product sourcing, engineering, and quality assurance of the Genuine Subaru Accessory Group to maximize accessory quality, customer satisfaction, sales, and profitability, while providing the vision and leadership to maximize employee engagement through the development of an excellent team environment.

Responsibilities

• Directs and leads Genuine Subaru Accessory Product Planning and Development, Supplier Sourcing, and Quality Assurance functions to ensure appropriate accessory lineups are launched on schedule and within budget to maximize quality, customer satisfaction, sales, and profitability.
• Directs and leads Genuine Subaru Accessory Quality Management activities to select suppliers with appropriate quality credentials and achieve continuous quality improvement of new and existing accessories. Deliverables include initial and sustainment vendor facility audits conducted by Accessory Quality Assurance Managers, support for the Product Engineering Managers to ensure quality is designed into new products and manufacturing processes are aligned with best practices. Ensures close cooperation with Service Department Advanced Quality Assurance Team to monitor and drive continuous quality improvement and achieve Subaru Parts-Per-Million (PPM) quality goals and customer satisfaction.
• Directs and leads all Accessory Supplier Sourcing activities to select the most qualified suppliers, ensure legal requirements are met, negotiate favorable pricing to achieve Subaru profitability goals, and maintain excellent supplier relations, stability, and redundancy where feasible. Deliverables include formal investigation of potential new vendors, management of competitive bidding and Request for Quotation (RFQ) activities, cost negotiations, negotiation of contracts, and cost verification/administration. Responsible for ongoing vendor relations and performance monitoring through the Supplier Performance Rating system, and supplier motivation through activities such as the Supplier Quality Manager Training Event and the Supplier Excellence Awards Event.
• Directs and leads all Accessory Product Planning and Development activities for future and current vehicles through the coordination of vehicle information, along with new product investigations and competitive analysis, to produce comprehensive Accessory Development Plans and budgets which satisfy customer desires, brand/carline support, and Subaru sales/profit objectives. Responsible for all engineering/development activities to achieve launch schedules, within budget, and maintain quality standards. Requires cooperation, communication, and coordination between SOA Accessory Group and SBR Overseas Parts Sales, Accessory Development (AKB), and various product Quality Groups to succeed in the fulfillment of all requirements.
• Directs and leads collaboration of future accessories sales and installation channels. Specifically, manages coordination between SOA/ SBR/ SIA to begin In-Line Assembly (ILA) of accessories at the SIA Assembly Plant in Lafayette IN. This is planned to become an important new channel for Subaru accessories performance.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assures effective department coordination and communication by all Accessories Group staff with Fixed Operations Parts & Accessories Sales and Marketing team members.
• Oversees communication and coordination with the SOA Field Team, SOA Product Management, SOA Marketing, Vehicle Planning & Logistics, Sales, Service Advanced Quality Assurance, and Fixed Operations leadership to assure appropriate brand identity and fulfill business goals.
• Reports on new accessories product development to SOA Executive Management.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Excellent team-building and motivational skills to create and maintain a work environment that maximizes employee engagement and satisfaction.
• BA/BS in Mechanical and/or Electrical Engineering; Master's degree preferred.
• Multi-cultural communication and negotiation skills for interactions with SBR, TMNA and suppliers.
• Engineering and Quality Assurance experience/expertise to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Effective interdepartmental communication and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership skills that motivate SOA corporate and field employees towards increased accessories performance in PNVW and overall success.

Education/Experience Requirements: BA/BS with 10 to 12 years of relevant experience.

Work Environment

• Hybrid Role: Remote work 2 days per week (After 90 Days Onboarding)
• Travel Required: 15-20%
• Physical Demands:
  • Challenging air travel environment including extended inflight & airport time and delays.
  • Ongoing flexibility in scheduling and time commitments as requirements change.
• Internal Work Environment:
  • Office Environment.
  • Interdepartmental and Departmental Meetings that include "one on ones" with direct reports, VP and Director -- Fixed Operations.
  • Weekly financial control and problem solving.
  • Communications to field, suppliers, SBR and TMNA.
  • Sales Responsibility: $500M+

Compensation: The recruiting base salary range for this full-time position is $131,400 - 187,700 / year. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. (Internal Job Grade: D1) In addition to competitive salary, Subaru offers an amazing benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• Pension, Profit Sharing, and 401K Match Offerings
• 15 Vacation days, 9 Company Holidays, 5 Floating Holidays, and 5 Sick days.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Vehicle Discount Programs
• See our Careers landing page for additional information about our compensation and benefit programs.