Assistant Product Development Manager – Finance & Insurance – Torrance, CA

Job Purpose

The Vehicle Service Contracts (VSC) Department manages the Honda Care and Acura Care vehicle protection product programs, working to build Honda and Acura customer and dealer loyalty through premier product offerings and service levels. Departmental responsibilities include F&I product development, contract administration, compliance, marketing, field support, customer service, claim adjudication, and expense control.

This VSC Assistant Manager position oversees the creation and implementation business plan for the VSC (Vehicle Service Contracts) operations. This includes coordination with AHFC, AHM, and others to ensure business development and support for field sales of contracts. Projects and creation / maintenance of the VSC key business plan projects and KOI achievement.

VSC operates in a highly regulated environment, and it generates over $70M in annual profit and has an operating budget of approximately $4 million through sales of vehicle service contracts and pre-paid maintenance plans.  This role is responsible for F&I product development, administration, and marketing; coordination and administrative support of the dealerships, field organizations who promote contract sales, the customers who purchase the contracts, and various other stakeholders; ensuring product & organizational compliance, including with insurance regulations governing vehicle service contracts; and departmental reporting.

The VSC Assistant Manager is also responsible for moving the business forward by overseeing the business team responsible for increasing Honda Care and Acura Care penetration by improving F&I product offerings to meet market trends and compliance requirements, evaluating profit structure, strengthening dealer sales support and incentives, creating brand and product visibility via dealer and consumer marketing, and ensuring product integration with dealer sales technologies and retail platforms.
 

Key Accountabilities

• Execute strategies to achieve sales, profitability, and dealership satisfaction targets
  • Establish National level objectives and review trends (working with AHFC & AHM field & AHM PST senior management)
  • Support and implement changes to programs, initiatives and marketing strategies for growth
  • Promote and communicate direction and initiatives
  • Collaborate with regional management team to create annual business plan with KPl’s I MAR’s to support growth and initiatives
• Working through departments to guide the creation of planning calendars and correlation of timing and process with stakeholders.  Track and assure adherence to the planning schedule.
• Assure that the Business Plan for VSC is professionally prepared on time for presentation to AH Sr Leadership.
• Effectively manage the day-to-day business operations for F&I product development, administration, and marketing.
  • Support each operation, ensuring that all daily targets/metrics for sales and for project-related implementation are met.
  • Build and maintain the Business Operations group with business and training processes that ensures organizational compliance and efficiency.
  • Provide clear, concise and regular reporting on a daily, weekly and monthly basis that monitors sales and incentives performance as well as project status and progress.
  • Demonstrate experience and capability for addressing issues and problems that occur within the organization using solid communication, problem identification and problem resolution skills
  • Partner effectively with the business operations staff members through performance management and coaching while fostering a collaborate and effective team
  • Provide developmental opportunities to support future career growth
• Develop sales and profitability strategies using knowledge of local market conditions to contribute sale information and recommendations to strategic plans and pricing
  • Contribute to the development of regional action plans
  • Provide leadership and guidance to regional field associates
  • Build, maintain, and develop dealership relationships and contacts
  • Communicate and address issues while maximizing dealer support
  • Organize dealer events promoting the value proposition for VSC
• Support ad-hoc requests from management

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in business, preferably Business Administration, Finance, Management, or equivalent work experience
• 5-10+ years in combination of automotive sales, parts, service, finance or protection (F&I) products or equivalent
• 3+ years of project management
• 3+ years of people management preferred
• Strong project management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Process management skills such as System Trees, PDCA, CAP-Do, 5-P, SWOT
• Ability to multi-task in a dynamic work environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite products (Excel, Powerpoint, Word)

Workstyle

• Onsite

Benefits and Total Rewards

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?

 Total Rewards:

·    Competitive base salary 

Pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, education, etc.
·    Annual Bonus

·    Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision)

·    Paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, sick time, and personal days

·    401K Plan with company match + additional contribution

 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