Automotive Product Development & Innovation Manager

AAA National; Florida; On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

AAA National is seeking an Automotive Product Development and Innovation Manager to design, incubate, and deliver new automotive products that grow revenue, engage members, and expand AAA's relevance beyond roadside assistance. You will lead cross-functional teams, partner with OEMs, attend industry events, and translate market insights into client-ready opportunities.

This role demands strategic vision, superb communication, and the ability to build consensus across AAA Clubs and external

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, product management, automotive management, or related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• 5–7 years’ experience in product development, innovation, strategic partnerships, automotive industry strategy, or related growth-focused roles.
• Experience delivering, launching, maintaining, or improving products, programs, or services in a cross-functional environment strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new revenue growth opportunities through innovation, product development, market insights, and collaboration with AAA Clubs and internal stakeholders.
• Design, develop, and incubate new products, pilots, and concepts that create revenue, increase member value, and expand exposure for AAA Clubs.
• Lead product delivery and ongoing maintenance activities, including implementation planning, launch readiness, performance monitoring, issue resolution, and continuous improvement after release.
• Collaborate with AAA Clubs, business lines, governance units, and cross-functional teams to shape innovative programs and ensure concepts are aligned with priorities.
• Serve as OEM/automotive SME, providing insights, trend analysis, and strategic guidance to leadership and stakeholders.
• Develop strategic relationships with OEMs and partners to expand to new products and opportunities beyond roadside assistance.
• Attend trade shows and industry events to identify trends, build relationships, and translate insights into opportunities.
• Manage RFP responses and support pursuit of new clients and industries.
• Develop market intelligence and business cases to support growth initiatives and strengthen AAA’s automotive relevance.
• Provide guidance to RAP Leadership Team initiatives related to innovation and strategic opportunities.

Skills

Strong communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Relationship building

Stakeholder collaboration

Strategic thinking

Automotive industry knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/marketing/product management

Master’s degree desirable

Job description

Business Summary

The Automotive Product Development and Innovation Manager designs, develops, incubates, and delivers product ideas across the Automotive ecosystem that create value for AAA Clubs, Members, and the Association. This role collaborates internally and externally to advance innovative products that drive revenue growth, member engagement, and market exposure while expanding AAA’s automotive relevance beyond traditional roadside assistance. The Manager supports the Automotive Strategic Partnerships Leadership Team with innovation, growth strategy, industry expertise, and insights while helping elevate AAA’s strategic relationships with OEMs and automotive clients.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Identifies and evaluates new revenue growth opportunities through innovation, product development, market insights, and collaboration with AAA Clubs and internal AAA, Inc. stakeholders.
• Designs, develops, and incubates new products, pilots, and concepts that create revenue, increase member value, and expand exposure for AAA Clubs.
• Leads product delivery and ongoing maintenance activities, including implementation planning, launch readiness, performance monitoring, issue resolution, and continuous improvement after release.
• Collaborates with AAA Clubs, business lines, governance units, and cross-functional teams to shape innovative programs and ensure concepts are aligned with Association priorities and Club needs.
• Serves as an OEM and automotive industry subject matter expert, providing insights, trend analysis, and strategic guidance to the Automotive Strategic Partnerships Leadership Team and AAA stakeholders.
• Develops strategic relationships with OEMs and automotive industry partners that expand to additional products and opportunities beyond traditional roadside assistance.
• Attends trade shows, conferences, and industry events to identify emerging trends, build relationships, gather market intelligence, and translate insights into client-facing product opportunities.
• Manages RFP responses for new business and supports pursuit of new clients and new industries where appropriate.
• Develops market intelligence, business cases, product concepts, and recommendations that support new growth initiatives and strengthen AAA’s relevance in the automotive ecosystem.
• Provides guidance and support to RAP Leadership Team initiatives related to innovation, growth, automotive industry expertise, and strategic opportunities with OEMs and partners.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, And Other Characteristics

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, be self-motivated, and be adaptable in a fast-paced, dynamic, deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to work with stakeholders (internal and external) to build consensus on key elements of strategy, partnerships and programs, including initiatives and approaches that are new and innovative to the business.
• Proven ability to develop and foster productive relationships with industry insiders and analysts, partners, executives, peers, and subordinates.
• Demonstrated successful negotiation of partnership and sourcing agreements with senior executives.
• Proven ability to create, evaluate, and advance innovation-led growth strategies, product concepts, pilots, and new revenue opportunities.
• Strong automotive industry knowledge, including OEM priorities, emerging mobility trends, customer experience expectations, and opportunities to develop products beyond traditional roadside assistance.
• Ability to collaborate across AAA, Inc., AAA Clubs, OEMs, and industry partners to incubate ideas, align stakeholders, and move concepts from insight to execution.
• Ability to manage product lifecycle activities, including requirements gathering, implementation coordination, launch support, maintenance planning, performance review, and continuous improvement.
• Capable of representing AAA in professional organizations, trade groups, and industry events.

Education, Experience, & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, product management, product development, automotive management, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered. Master’s degree desirable.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years’ experience in product development, innovation, strategic partnerships, automotive industry strategy, or related growth-focused roles.
• Experience delivering, launching, maintaining, or improving products, programs, or services in a cross-functional environment strongly preferred.