Group Category & Marketing Strategy Manager at HARMAN… · Amsterdam

Do you want to work for some of the world’s leading audio brands? Become a part of the HARMAN team and get to work for JBL and Harman/Kardon.
By joining HARMAN, you'll dive headfirst into the exciting world of headphones, portable speakers, party boxes and other audio technologies, and contribute to the success of Harman Lifestyle EMEA business. The consumer audio industry is fast paced, fun and dynamic and we’re looking for someone who is proactive, loves to work with a lot of different stakeholders from all over the globe and has creative ideas.
You will join our Group Category & Marketing Strategy department in Amsterdam in the position of:
Group Category & Marketing Strategy Manager
About the Role:
The Manager, Category & Marketing Strategy provides strategic leadership across multiple teams to drive long-term growth and category excellence. This role is accountable for developing global marketing and category strategies that align with enterprise objectives, while ensuring regional relevance and commercial impact. The Manager partners closely with regional Sales and Marketing leaders, Business Units (BUs), Go-to-Market (GTM), and Product teams to translate strategic insights into actionable plans, frameworks, and investments.
What You Will Do:
Strategic Leadership & Planning
Develop global category and portfolio strategies, identifying “big bet” growth opportunities through robust segmentation, market analysis, and strategic frameworks.
Guide strategic planning cycles, recommending targets, KPIs, brand roles, and budget allocations across categories, brands, and products.
Lead the creation of long-term category strategies that are adaptable to regional market dynamics and consumer needs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Act as a trusted business partner to regional Sales and Marketing teams, integrating commercial strategies and market insights into a coherent global marketing strategy.
Ensure alignment between regional and global marketing strategies and their connection to Harman’s enterprise strategy.
Partner with regional marketing teams to translate global strategies into qualitative and quantitative objectives and initiatives.
Category Strategy Development
Support analyzing and drive distilling the market forces that are impacting the category today and tomorrow
Identify opportunities that will grow the category or enable growth in the category and manage category development through tools, processes, and templates Assess the attractiveness and attainability of category growth opportunities and feed category growth story and growth opportunities into the BU roadmap.
Own creation of opportunity blueprint required to realize the opportunity across the marketing mix, informing Category Strategy and HTW strategy.
Collaborate with brand teams on strategic initiatives by informing about market enablers and barriers and competitive forces and brand growth plan and campaigns.
Collaborate with regional category & marketing planning to tailor category strategies to local market conditions and ensure fit-for-purpose execution.
Go-to-Market Involvement
Represent Marketing in the GTM triangle in early phases of GTM process
Support HTW draft with category and consumer insights
Collaborate with GTM team on finalizing HTW strategy and product and pitch deck
Investment & Resource Optimization
Design and implement a recommendation framework for global targets and KPIs based on market attractiveness and cost of playing.
Co-manage regional marketing investment balance with regional leaders to optimize long-term success.
Enable regional GMs and marketing leads to prioritize key business challenges and opportunities, driving efficient resource allocation.
Marketing Planning & Execution
Contribute to annual marketing planning cycles, ensuring strategies are fact-based, investment-optimized, and aligned across global and regional teams.
Ensure consistent execution and integration of category and portfolio strategies across all touchpoints
What You Need to Be Succesful:
Proven leadership experience in global marketing strategy, category management, or portfolio strategy roles.
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights.
Demonstrated success in cross-functional collaboration and influencing senior stakeholders.
Experience influencing multiple teams and driving performance across diverse markets.
Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to translate strategy into compelling narratives.
Bonus Points if You Have:
Leadership experience in B2B2C or premium brand environments, especially in tech industry / consumer electronics.
Demonstrated success in leading teams through cultural integration in fast-changing business environments.
Known for introducing structured frameworks or innovative approaches to resolve entrenched challenges and unlock enterprise value.
What Makes You Eligible:
Due to the nature of global infrastructure, you understand that flexibility in working hours is required.
This role is eligible to work remotely.
What We Offer:
A flexible work schedule where you will be able to work from home up to 40% and the remaining days in a fantastic new office at Houthavens, Amsterdam.
You are going to work in an international team within a friendly global working atmosphere.
HARMAN offers a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities, professional training and competitive market base compensation plus a 13th month salary, 28 holidays per year.
You will also receive a highly valued commuter travel package, a EUR 100,- environment allowance when commuting via public transport or bike. Additionally, we provide an interesting collective health insurance scheme, pension and top-notch employee discounts on world class HARMAN/Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG etc.)
Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University’s business and leadership academies.
Internal talent management leadership acceleration programs.
“Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.
A unique opportunity to contribute to drive revenue growth and nurture strategic trust-based relationships.
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Pay Transparency

€ 73,725 - € 108,130

The above represents the annual gross base salary range for this role.

Variable compensation and allowances: Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation may also be available, such as quarterly or annual bonus pay, commission payments, long term incentive compensation, or certain allowances. Further details will be made available as part of the recruitment process.

How we set pay: The pay posted is a reasonable estimate of the wage range anticipated for this position. Pay is determined using objective, job-related criteria such as relevant experience, skills, role scope/responsibilities, and location-based market factors (where applicable). In appropriate circumstances, based on objective, job-related factors, the final determination on pay may deviate from the posted range.

Pay history: Please do not include current or past pay information in your application. We do not request pay history as part of our recruitment process.

Benefits: HARMAN is interested in supporting the health and wellbeing of employees and offers a range of benefits. Offerings vary by country and employment arrangement and reflect a combination of statutory requirements and company-provided programs. These may include paid time off and holidays, sick and family leave, as well as health and wellbeing support and retirement or savings plans where applicable, along with other locally relevant benefits. Further details will be made available as part of the recruitment process.

About HARMAN: Where Innovation Unleashes Next-Level Technology
Ever since the 1920s, we’ve been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected.

Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today’s most sought-after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world’s ever-evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award-winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other.

If you’re ready to innovate and do work that makes a lasting impact, join our talent community today!

Important Notice: Recruitment Scams

Please be aware that HARMAN recruiters will always communicate with you from an '@harman.com', ‘@careers.harman.com’ or ‘@harmanglobal.avature.net’ email address. We will never ask for payments, banking, credit card, personal financial information or access to your LinkedIn/email account during the screening, interview, or recruitment process. If you are asked for such information or receive communication from an email address not ending in one of the above email domains about a job with HARMAN, please cease communication immediately and report the incident to us through: harmancareers@harman.com.

You Belong Here
HARMAN is committed to making every employee feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. No matter what role you play, we encourage you to share your ideas, voice your distinct perspective, and bring your whole self with you – all within a support-minded culture that celebrates what makes each of us unique. We also recognize that learning is a lifelong pursuit and want you to flourish. We proudly offer added opportunities for training, development, and continuing education, further empowering you to live the career you want.

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. HARMAN strives to hire the best qualified candidates and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse marketplaces and communities of our global colleagues and customers.  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. HARMAN attracts, hires, and develops employees based on merit, qualifications and job-related performance.(www.harman.com)

HARMAN is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at harmancareers@harman.com. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.