Principal Business Lead, HondaLink

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one.  We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. 

 At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success.  We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future

Location
Torrance, CA
 
Job Purpose
Developing and executing product and business strategy in a world of rapid technological and social change requires a highly capable, highly knowledgeable, and highly engaged team. The Digital & Data Business Planning Department is tasked with navigating the strategy and execution of Honda's digital services. As vehicles become more connected, Honda is working to develop industry-leading digital services and programs to delight customers. The team is focused on building and sustaining Honda's core brand values and enhancing brand image and competitiveness in the marketplace by developing new businesses, features, products, and services in the digital domain with responsibility for their customer value, competitiveness, and profitability for Honda in North America. 

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Principal Business Development Specialist for HondaLink and AcuraLink connected services. This individual will lead business aspects to drive Honda’s goals and objectives in this area while staying focused on the customer. This is an opportunity to contribute to a rapidly evolving and increasingly important part of Honda's digital products, subscriptions, and services platform. The team is looking a Principal Business Development Specialist that will work with the Unit Lead and various stakeholders globally. This is an opportunity to contribute to a rapidly evolving and increasingly important part of Honda's future in Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) and digital services strategy.

Key Accountabilities
Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Lead the business aspects of HondaLink and AcuraLink connected services, including strategic planning, ideation, and go-to-market planning. 
• Create and deliver business proposals for executive approval. 
• Be an expert in the drivers, levers, KPIs and financial implications of the HondaLink and AcuraLink business model.
• Work closely with sales and marketing teams to drive awareness and value of HondaLink and AcuraLink across the customer journey.
• Position Honda as a leader in digital services and connected vehicles.
• Enhance Honda’s brand image by delivering seamless and innovative solutions that meet customer expectations.
• Have a pulse of the connected vehicle space, including competitive offerings, customer needs and industry trends. 
• Work across American Honda and Honda Motor Japan to develop and execute short and long-term customer-centric business strategies.
• Write clear and thorough Business Requirement Documents (BRDs) as needed. 
• Collaborate with a diverse global mix of cross functional teams to ensure alignment on objectives and brand values.

Financial Performance and Profitability:

• Optimize pricing models and profitability while ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Create simulations and monitor financial aspects of connected initiatives, including revenue streams from digital services across multiple platforms.
• Analyze KPIs related to profitability and adjust strategies accordingly.

Partnership Development and Negotiation:

• Identify potential partners and collaborators for advancing HondaLink and AcuraLink strategies.
• Negotiate business agreements with partner(s). 
• Leverage partnerships to enhance Honda’s competitive edge in North America.

 
Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree is required, ideally with a major in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Engineering, or related field or equivalent work experience.
• MBA preferred.
• 8-10 years of experience in a business development, strategic partnerships, consulting, IT, engineering, or product marketing role(s).
• 8+ years of experience in high-tech subscription or service-based products in a B2C or B2B environment, including strategic planning, ideation, and go-to-market planning. This includes automotive, connected car, software, media and/or Internet of Things (IoT).
• 8+ years of experience evaluating and analyzing data and analytics, specifically for recurring, subscription-based revenue to with attention to detail and data-driven decisions.
• Problem Solving: Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments and work at strategic and tactic levels simultaneously.
• Self-Driven: Ability to work independently and respond rapidly in a fast-changing environment.
• Results Oriented: High level of attention to detail while maintaining vision of the larger business objectives and meet company goals.
• Bias For Action: Strong sense of product / domain ownership and bias for action.
• Financial Literacy: Interpret financial data, evaluate ROI, and make informed decisions.
• Negotiation Skills: Negotiate contracts and partnerships.
• Sales Pitch: Articulate the value proposition of vehicle connectivity to stakeholders and leadership. 
• Technical Literacy: Understands technology design principles to collaborate with technical teams.
• Effective Communication: Clearly convey complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product teams, engineers, marketing, and sales to align business goals.
• Presentation Skills: Deliver compelling presentations, executives, and internal teams.

Workstyle

• 100% - Normal office conditions – desk job with laptop, meetings, conference calls.
• 15% - Travel – CA, Ohio, Japan, Partner offices as required.
• 100% - Joy of Creating.
• Hybrid workstyle; Remote considered

 
Benefits and Total Rewards
 
What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?
 
Total Rewards:

• Competitive base salary
• Overtime compensation
• Annual Bonus
• Associate lease car program with a cost
• Industry leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, sick time, personal days
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

 
Career Growth:

• Advancement opportunities
• Career mobility 
• Education reimbursement for continued learning
• Training and Development programs

 
Additional Offerings:

• Wellbeing program
• Community service and engagement programs
• Product programs
• Free drinks onsite

 
Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.