Senior Director - Global Brakes

DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a Senior Director - Global Brakes to lead the global product strategy and long-term roadmap for our Air Disc, Air Drum, and Hydraulic braking portfolios. This position offers an onsite with flexibility work environment in either Troy, Michigan or Cwmbran, Gwent, United Kingdom. We are considering candidates across North America and Europe. The Senior Director - Global Brakes will oversee a high-performing international team of product managers, driving product planning, customer-focused innovation, and successful product launches across commercial vehicle applications.

As a key strategic leader within the Drivetrain and Braking Systems organization, this role will shape the competitive direction of our global brake business, guide major investment decisions, and ensure alignment across regional teams and joint venture partners. Working closely with cross-functional collaborators worldwide, the Senior Director - Global Brakes will advance market-leading solutions, strengthen global brand positioning, and deliver profitable growth through disciplined execution and deep customer insight.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways:

• Strategic leadership: Setting long-term product strategy, forecasting, and annual operating plans to guide the global brakes portfolio.
• Product lifecycle oversight: Directing product introduction plans and ensuring ongoing product management supports organizational goals.
• Market insight: Interpreting broad business, market, and industry trends to inform competitive positioning and drive successful product launches.
• Customer focus: Improving market demand by developing products, features, and services that exceed customer expectations.
• Cross - functional alignment: Securing alignment on key performance indicators and driving accountability to achieve margin expansion.
• Resource optimization: Prioritizing initiatives across functions to maximize the return on invested resources and ensure successful product launches.
• Global collaboration: Representing product management interests across global locations and serving as a board member for joint ventures in South America and Turkey.
• Team development: Coaching and motivating Senior Product Managers and Product Managers, providing direction and delegating work to support growth and performance.

• Storytelling: Ability to craft and deliver clear, compelling narratives that influence decisions and drive alignment.
• Market and business insight: Strong understanding of commercial truck market dynamics, with the ability to apply this knowledge to advance product strategy and organizational goals.
• Customer focus: Skill in building strong customer relationships and creating customer-centric product solutions.
• Drives vision and purpose: Capability to articulate a motivating vision and strategic direction for the global brakes portfolio.
• Global perspective: Comfort navigating global markets, cultures, and perspectives when shaping strategy and solving problems.
• Organizational savvy: Skilled at navigating complex structures, aligning diverse stakeholders, and operating effectively through cross-functional influence. Able to create clarity in ambiguous situations and build strong partnerships across regions and functions.
• Strategic mindset: Forward-thinking approach to identifying future opportunities and translating them into breakthrough product strategies.
• Technical competency: Understanding of braking technologies and the ability to guide engineering teams to execute effectively.
• Financial acumen: Core financial competency with the ability to drive profitability, assess product economics, and make data-driven decisions.
• People development: Demonstrated commitment to coaching, capability building, and succession planning within teams.

• College, university, or equivalent degree in Marketing, Sales, or a related field required.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree highly preferred.
• Green Belt Certification required.
• Significant experience in strategy, management, and budget ownership required.
• Broad business understanding and demonstrated financial acumen required.
• Experience applying the four P's of marketing (Product, Price, Promotion, Placement) required.
• Proven product management experience within commercial truck braking systems.