Director, Product Planning

Company Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology.

For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms.

And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital, G-Technology, SanDisk and WD brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Product Planning to join our team. As the Director of Product Planning, you will be responsible for overseeing the strategic planning and execution of our product portfolio.

This role requires strong leadership skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

The ideal candidate will have a background in storage technologies, with HDD experience being a plus.

Responsibilities :

Develop and execute the product strategy in alignment with company goals and market demands.

Identify and evaluate return on investment (ROI) for new product initiatives, and justify resource allocation based on potential business impact.

Define customer benefits and product positioning, including competitive analysis and differentiation strategies.

Collaborate closely with engineering teams to define product features based on available technology and market requirements.

Develop customer engagement strategies to drive product adoption and satisfaction.

Position our products against competitive offerings, highlighting key advantages and benefits.

Lead quarterly product roadmap alignment meetings with engineering teams, setting agendas and ensuring actionable outcomes.

Oversee the product planning process from ideation to execution, ensuring smooth handoffs to product execution teams.

Work with engineering and procurement to establish initial and target costs, and develop action plans to meet cost objectives.

Proactively identify risks and issues, and develop mitigation plans to address them.

Resolve customer and technology alignment issues as they arise, adjusting strategies accordingly.

Collaborate effectively with stakeholders with differing viewpoints to reach consensus and drive win-win solutions.

Thrive in an environment of uncertainty, demonstrating adaptability and a willingness to learn and innovate.

Qualifications

Proven experience in product planning and strategy development, ideally in the storage industry.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make informed decisions with limited information.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, capable of aligning diverse perspectives towards common objectives.

Experience leading cross-functional teams and driving product initiatives from concept to market.

Ability to navigate ambiguity and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Bachelor's degree in engineering, or related field; MBA or equivalent experience preferred.

Familiarity with HDD technologies and storage systems is highly desirable.

If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for driving product innovation and market success, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Join us in shaping the future of storage technology and making a meaningful impact in the industry.

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment.

We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the poster.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within.

We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process.

Please contact us at to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education;
• qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results;

4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.

The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.

We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.

This range may be modified in the future.

You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.

Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan.

Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan.

RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical / dental / vision insurance;
• life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program;
• other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity;

tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.

Note : No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable.

The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.