Market and Product Intelligence Associate

Hankook Tire & Technology is a global leader in high-performance tire manufacturing, founded in 1941 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. As the world’s seventh-largest tire producer, Hankook operates advanced manufacturing facilities and offices in North America, including its U.S. headquarters in downtown Nashville, TN, and a state-of-the-art production plant in Clarksville, TN. The company delivers innovative tire solutions for passenger vehicles, trucks, motorsports, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide.

• Global Innovation: Pioneering innovative technologies and eco-friendly manufacturing practices. 
• Career Growth: Opportunities for internal mobility, leadership development, and continued learning.
• Employee-Focused Benefits: Competitive health coverage, 401(k) with match, paid time off, ten paid holidays per year and employee discounts on tires.
• Inclusive Culture: Committed to diversity, teamwork, and sustainability.

Location: The Market and Product Intelligence position is located at our North American Headquarters in the AT&T (Batman) Building in downtown Nashville, TN. Enjoy a collaborative work environment from Nashville's most iconic building featuring company-paid on-site parking, a cafe, gym, dry-cleaning services, and more. 

Work Style: In-person, Monday - Friday

Job Purpose

The Market & Product Intelligence Associate is a strategic storyteller and analyst who bridges raw industry data and product lineup strategies for the North American tire market.

This position is responsible for analyzing macro-level industry metrics (internal sales, USTMA, and GFK retail data) and conducting competitive product benchmarks (SKU structure, sizing strategies).

The ideal candidate will possess a customer-centric mindset, transforming complex engineering and market data into actionable insights to help optimize our product portfolio and drive brand pull.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

1. Market Data Analytics & GFK Management 

• Lead the analysis of GFK sell-out/retail market data to track brand shares, size-level growth trends, and shifting consumer preferences in the US tire industry.
• Synthesize macro trends, automotive industry shifts (such as EV and new mobility solutions), and internal sales figures to extract actionable business intelligence.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison for the USTMA (U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association), ensuring data compliance and uploading relevant datasets into SAP.
• Continuously search for and evaluate new secondary data sources and publications to improve the accuracy of market forecasting.

1. Product Benchmarking & SKU Lineup Strategy 

• Conduct comprehensive competitor product benchmarking, analyzing technical product positioning, tread pattern categories, and performance attributes.
• Audit and analyze competitor SKU lineups and sizing strategies to identify market gaps, high-demand size availability, and portfolio optimization opportunities.
• Monitor OE (Original Equipment) fitment and vehicle registration trends to predict future replacement tire (RE) market demands by segment (PCR, SUV, LT).

1. Executive Reporting & Presentation

• Synthesize complex market data, GFK reports, and product benchmark findings into clean, visual, and highly comprehensive internal reports.
• Present market dynamics, structural trend shifts, and proactive strategic proposals to top management on a regular and ad-hoc basis.

Level of Accountabilities

• Individual contributor working with a high degree of ownership and curiosity.
• Works with limited supervision, demonstrating proactive problem-solving and analytical acumen.
• Cross-functional collaboration with Senior Planning Manager, Product Managers, Sales & Marketing teams, and external industry associations.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Statistics, or a related analytical field required.
• Experience: 0 to 3 years of experience in market research, business intelligence, data analysis, or product marketing. (High-potential fresh graduates with strong analytical skills are welcome).
• Technical Skills:
• Advanced Excel skills (Required): High proficiency in Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/INDEX-MATCH, and data manipulation is mandatory.
• Proficiency in MS Office: Advanced skills in PowerPoint (ability to create executive-ready presentation decks) and Word.
• Experience with GFK data systems or market research databases is a strong plus.
• Proficiency or familiarity with SAP or ERP systems is preferred.
• Soft Skills & Attributes:
• Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written) to articulate complex market/technical information to diverse internal audiences.
• Superior organizational and time management skills with a keen eye for data accuracy.
• Comfortable with domestic travel for field product observations, dealer interviews, and industry conferences (approx. 10%).
• Tire or automotive industry experience is a plus, but a passion for mobility and analytical curiosity is required.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Hankook Tire is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.