VP of Innovation - Product Solutions & Development

Company Overview:

National Auto Research (Black Book) is the leading provider of timely, independent and accurate vehicle pricing data to the automotive industry and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation - a multi-billion dollar private company engaged in a broad range of publishing, broadcasting, cable networking, and diversified communication activities. 

Black Book provides values for both new and used vehicles, including cars, light trucks, and collectible vehicles produced since 1946, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, and heavy duty commercial trucks and trailers. Other products include VIN decoding software, projected residual values, inventory management tools, and lead generation applications.  Black Book data is published daily in multiple electronic formats including data feeds, Internet-based applications, handheld PDAs, Web-enabled cell phones, Pocket PCs, BlackBerry and Palm devices, SmartPhones, Micro Browsers, online trade appraisal services, and in a variety of other custom products.

Black Book is headquartered in Gainesville, GA, about 45 minutes northeast of Atlanta.

Position Overview:

The Vice President of Innovation will be an integral member of the Executive Management Team with responsibility for new product ideation, concept validation, and market definition resulting in the development and roll out of new products.

This key P&L position will report directly to the President and will be responsible for driving sustainable growth through the development of new software products and revenue streams.  

Key Responsibilities:

The Vice President of Innovation will:

• Assess current product lines, customer needs, and emerging opportunities




• Translate opportunities into defined product concepts




• Assess fit with current business lines




• Validate concepts for potential profitability




• Determine resource requirements and present business plans




• Establish and achieve product development timelines, launch plans, and financial targets

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelors degree required; MBA preferred




• 10+ years experience, 5+ in product development




• Demonstrated ability to conceive, define, validate, launch, and optimize product lines




• P&L  responsibility




• Ability to work with and direct others in research, marketing, sales and operations




• Experience in companies with multiple product lines




• Entrepreneurial orientation with “game changing” ideas




• Familiar with dealer retail sales, wholesale, and financing operations




• Familiar with data-based product lines


• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral




• Strong leadership skills including demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate with cross-functional management without formal reporting relationships

 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/ AAP