Associate Product Manager

About the Role

We are looking for an adept Associate Product Manager to join our innovative Unleashed team based in Auckland, New Zealand. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in product management and a strong grasp of Agile frameworks to convert intricate customer requirements into actionable product plans. This role involves working collaboratively with cross-functional groups to deliver outstanding products that fulfill business objectives and customer expectations. You should have a growth-driven mindset focused on delivering excellent results for both Unleashed customers and the Access business.

Key Responsibilities

• Steer and articulate the product vision and strategy ensuring alignment with overall business goals.
• Collect and prioritize stakeholder requirements, translating these into detailed backlogs.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously prioritize the product backlog to keep it transparent and adaptable as needs evolve.
• Conduct market and customer research, analyze relevant data, and monitor industry directions to support product-related decisions and identify new opportunities.
• Track product performance by leveraging key metrics and generate reports on progress.
• Lead or participate in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and related Agile ceremonies throughout the sprint cycle.
• Work closely with development teams to clarify requirements and ensure feature delivery on time.
• Communicate the product roadmap, feature updates, and defects to engineering teams and other business areas as needed.
• Monitor development progress, provide status updates, and escalate risks or challenges swiftly.
• Analyze key product data to guide decision making and maximize delivered value to target customers.
• Guarantee high-quality product standards and deliver exceptional user experiences consistently.
• Maintain open communication lines with stakeholders and effectively manage their expectations.
• Promote a collaborative, innovative, and continuous improvement culture within the team.

Performance Metrics

• Successful sprint completion rates.
• Maintain a backlog groomed at least three sprints ahead.
• Daily backlog reviews and prioritization.
• Measure success based on feature consumption and delivered outcomes.
• Daily management of bugs to uphold excellent customer service.
• Lead Agile ceremonies such as planning, grooming, and releases.
• Create comprehensive documentation at project milestones, including High-Level Solution Designs, Epics, User Stories, and help files.
• Daily risk assessments for ongoing development work.
• Provide progress updates biweekly.
• Daily processing and analysis of incoming customer feedback.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum of three years’ experience working with SaaS software products.
• 3-4 years of demonstrated expertise in product lifecycle management from concept through to end-of-life.
• Strong proficiency in Agile development practices, particularly Scrum.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement and alignment.
• Ability to collect and prioritize needs from varied stakeholder groups effectively.
• Analytical thinker with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to interpret trends and data.
• Basic technical knowledge enabling smooth collaboration with engineering teams.
• Proven leadership capabilities in guiding cross-functional teams toward successful product launches and outcomes.
• Experience with product management software tools such as Azure DevOps (ADO), Aha!, and Productboard.
• Product management certifications are advantageous.