Director Product Management - Exterior Door Handles

Overview

Are you eager not just to advance products but to actively shape the future of mobility? In this pivotal leadership role, you will steer our product portfolio strategically in the domain of exterior door handles. You will uncover new business opportunities, integrate market, technology, and customer insights, and collaborate with global teams to develop the next generation of intelligent access solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic evolution of the global exterior door handle product portfolio throughout the entire product lifecycle — from initial ideation and pre-development to cost optimization in serial and spare parts manufacturing.
• Formulate a long-term product and portfolio strategy considering market, customer requirements, and technological trends.
• Discover new business avenues and anticipate future customer needs in the area of Exterior Access Systems.
• Develop business cases, product roadmaps, and strategic decision documents for emerging technologies and new product generations.
• Work closely with development, sales, program management, and international locations and customers to implement the product strategy.
• Conduct competitor, technology, and innovation analyses to sustainably strengthen WITTE’s market position.
• Present strategic product concepts to senior management and international OEM customers.

Qualifications

• Degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automotive engineering, or a comparable discipline.
• At least five years of professional experience in product management, business development, or similar roles within the automotive industry.
• Preferably background with exterior systems, door systems, locking systems, mechatronics, smart access, or comparable vehicle components.
• Experience working internationally in a Tier-1 supplier or OEM environment.
• Strong technical aptitude combined with keen awareness of market and technology trends.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with proficiency in developing and evaluating business cases.
• Fluent in German and English, with willingness for international travel.

What We Offer

• Stable employment in a family-owned company featuring a permanent contract.
• International teamwork combining family enterprise values with global projects and teams.
• Flexible work arrangements including up to 50% remote work and flexible hours without fixed core times.
• Comprehensive amenities such as diverse breakfast and lunch options in our company cafeteria, snack machines, obligatory fruit basket, coffee machines, and company health management including health days and sports courses.
• Additional benefits including a choice from over 1,000 bike models, employee discounts on goods, services and events via Corporate Benefits, summer ice cream truck, and much more.