POSITION: Senior Manager, Commodity Strategy, Materiality

POSTING END DATE: 14/05/2025

LOCATION: Gaydon, Warwickshire (UK)

SALARY: Competitive

At JLR, we're on a continual journey to reimagine the future of modern luxury, and we want you to be part of it. Through our exquisite and timeless house of brands – Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar – we're defining a new approach to sustainability and providing exceptional experiences. As a leader here, you have the opportunity to influence the way we think, providing your unique insight and vision for a better future. It's time to become a proud creator.
 
WHAT TO EXPECT
 
Defining and leading all Materiality activities for Commodity Strategy, partnering with the Materiality Director, Head of Vehicle Design Strategy and Materiality Senior Managers to inform a holistic approach across the House of Brands to capture all Commodity Strategy activities and alignment to business objectives. Creating the most desirable, relevant and exceptional client experiences, underpinning the Reimagine strategy.

THE ROLE
 
Key Responsibilities

• Strategic and Creative leadership role with overall responsibility and accountability for the Commodity Strategy across all JLR brands
• Create connections between Design Research & Innovation and other enterprise chapters, as well as external research and development organisations
• Establish partnerships with JLR Research counterparts. Identify advanced research into current and future landscape shifts to develop strategies for Materiality for the interior and exterior of vehicles to satisfy the client, brand and design requirements. Focus on circular, sustainable and responsible material initiatives and methods of make will be required for the now, next and future
• Leading all required Materiality activities for all Commodity Strategy projects (Interior and Exterior) with an Agile mindset and on time delivery in line with the company purpose
• Partner with the Materiality Design Senior Managers to ensure successful delivery of Material innovation and material commodity strategies
• Support to define and deliver Design Academy training to create a talent pipeline that brings new creatives into the Materiality Design Organisation
• Active recruitment of new talent and capabilities into Design Strategy Materiality team
• Capability to lead multiple strategic industry leading bodies of work against the backdrop of competing business priorities
• Setting the direction of commodity strategies from a Brand standpoint as our product portfolio and business needs evolve
• Share best practice with the team as well as Creative and Technical advice and direction as appropriate
• Mentor and coach to others (both Junior and Senior) in research projects and methods
• Directly manage the Interior and Exterior Commodity Design Managers, collaborate to deliver the relevant Commodity Strategy outcomes

Key Performance Indicators

• Creation and execution of future focused material commodity strategy both interior and exterior that deliver across the House of Brands
• Delivery of exterior and interior off-cyle projects into Programs across the House of Brands
• Proof of collaboration and Co-Creation across Creative and the wider enterprise
• Employee Net Promoter Score / Pulse scores
• Delivering into Business Sustainability targets

Key Interactions

Internal

• Vehicle Design
• Brand Design
• Materiality Design (Vehicle & Brand)
• Business Planning & Transformation

External

• Finance/Purchasing
• Research/Advanced Engineering
• Product Strategy
• Universities, R&D facilities, Suppliers
• Relevant Brands (partnerships)
• Strategy & Sustainability
• Strategic Partners (eg DOW)
• Vehicle Program Organisation
• Materials Continuum Community

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Proven ability to establish, step up and resource a newly formed Commodity Strategy Materiality team
• Ability to create and foster strong networks, multiple stakeholders and working relationships within Creative and across the wider JLR business. Elevate and represent the Materiality discipline and organisation both internally and externally
• Ability to represent JLR at external events and external R&D and research partner events
• Identify opportunities for Interior and exterior commodities and partners to collaborate with internal and external to Creative. Lead the set up of these partnerships. Lead the delivery mechanisms for delivery into product
• Leading creation and implementation of vehicle line material strategies and plans across the JLR portfolio of products. Partner with Materiality R&I Senior Manager. Conduct competitor and analogous industry benchmarking and collaborate with existing/new external suppliers
• Set direction in collaboration with, Vehicle Design Strategy, Interior and Exterior teams for Commodity Strategy. Lead the creation of digital & physical assets to visually communicate Commodity Strategy. And present new initiatives for communicating ideas
• Depth and breadth of creative capability and pragmatic design thinking for concept development and strategy implementation

Personal Profile

• Demonstrates our Creators' Code behaviours of Customer Love, Unity, Integrity, Growth and Impact

Creating Modern Luxury requires a modern approach to work. At JLR, hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement providing employees flexibility around how, when and where they work. Some roles require more on-site work, but details of this can be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview stage.

We work hard to nurture a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. We understand candidates may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Please discuss these with your recruiter so we can accommodate your needs.

JLR is committed to equal opportunity for all.

Please be aware that we may close this vacancy for applications before the stated deadline if we receive a high volume of interest. We strongly advise you to submit your application as early as possible.