Product Manager

About the Opportunity

If you thrive on diving into product challenges and transforming them into solutions that engage customers, this position might be ideal for you.

First Table seeks a Product Manager energized by driving projects forward. In this role, you'll influence a bustling consumer marketplace, tackle genuine issues for diners and restaurant partners, and clearly observe how your decisions translate into results.

Company Overview

Operating from our headquarters in Queenstown, New Zealand, First Table has been pioneering hospitality technology for over ten years, with active markets in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.

We offer a dining discovery platform that links diners with restaurants via a shared passion for food. Our innovative technology assists restaurants in filling early dining slots and provides diners compelling incentives to explore new venues, from early bird deals to last-minute reservations, making dining discovery simple and rewarding.

Our core values—Win-Win-Win, Own It, and Grow Together—shape our interactions with colleagues, restaurant partners, and diners alike, fostering a positive and collaborative workplace.

Role Overview

As a Product Manager, you will own a specific segment of the First Table product suite, collaborating closely with product, design, and engineering teams to define what we build, why it matters, and how to measure success.

Reporting to the VP of Product & Engineering, you will engage deeply with customers, analyze data, challenge assumptions, and make pivotal decisions to drive your product area forward.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and take accountability for a dedicated product area, understanding key metrics and driving improvements.
• Identify and clearly articulate customer and business challenges to determine optimal solutions.
• Gain in-depth knowledge of diners and restaurant partners through direct customer insights and product usage data.
• Analyze product data to discover opportunities, validate assumptions, prioritize features, and assess impact.
• Weigh impact, effort, risks, and timing; confidently decline or narrow scope to enhance outcomes.
• Maintain a well-structured backlog, author precise requirements, and collaborate with design and engineering to clarify ambiguities and ensure smooth delivery.
• Develop hypotheses, conduct experiments and A/B tests, evaluate outcomes, and use insights to guide next steps.
• Communicate clearly and directly with stakeholders regarding decisions, progress, trade-offs, and potential risks.
• Leverage AI tools throughout research, data analysis, prototyping, and documentation to accelerate idea generation and improve workflows.

Candidate Profile

• Proven product management experience within digital product environments, handling meaningful owned initiatives.
• Background in marketplaces, ecommerce, B2C, or high-traffic consumer product sectors.
• Track record of end-to-end ownership of product problems with measurable results.
• Strong execution capability, skilled in clarifying ambiguity and turning priorities into shipped features.
• Data-driven decision-maker, adept at using analytics to investigate issues and measure outcomes.
• Experienced in experimental methodologies and A/B testing, from hypothesis formation to actionable learning.
• Solid prioritization skills and confidence to challenge, say no, and trim scopes when appropriate.
• Technical proficiency sufficient to collaborate effectively with engineering and manage trade-offs.
• A customer-centric approach, excellent communication skills, and adeptness in using AI in daily workflows.

Experience with two-sided marketplaces, growth initiatives, conversion optimization, bookings, hospitality, travel, or other transactional consumer products is especially valuable.

Why Work With Us

• Flexible, high-trust hybrid working environment based in Auckland or Queenstown supporting independent work styles.
• Opportunity for genuine product ownership from discovery through delivery and impact measurement.
• Direct influence on user experiences affecting both diners and restaurants daily.
• Engagement with complex marketplace challenges across user behavior, restaurant performance, booking conversion, and experimentation.
• Collaboration with a seasoned product, design, and engineering team while enjoying autonomy.
• Integration of AI-enabled tools to accelerate innovation and improve product cycles.
• Chance to shape the product's growth trajectory across international markets.
• Contribute to a beloved consumer brand known across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.

Additional Benefits

• Complimentary First Table bookings.
• Regular team recognition and social events.
• Join a purpose-driven and award-winning brand.

Application Process

Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV and a brief cover letter outlining their enthusiasm for the role and relevant experience, especially examples of personally managing a product from problem identification to delivered outcomes.