Associate Product Manager

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Type: permanent

Location: Gateshead

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"At KCS we've introduced a flexible hybrid work policy, where employees spend three days in the office and two days working from home. This approach promotes a balanced work environment that combines office collaboration with the comfort and convenience of remote work."

At Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), we are looking for a dynamic and innovative Associate Product Manager to shape the next generation of AutoWork Online. This is your opportunity to take ownership of a cutting-edge product, collaborate with senior leadership, and help us deliver world-class solutions that will redefine the automotive service industry.

At KCS, we’re on a mission to empower businesses to operate efficiently, profitably, and sustainably with our fully integrated business management solutions. We design, implement, and support high-performance systems that enable our customers to source effectively, stock efficiently, sell profitably, and service competitively. Our solutions are trusted by companies across the globe, and we are constantly evolving to meet new market demands.

We believe in innovation, collaboration, and a growth mindset. Our culture is one of openness and learning, where every team member is encouraged to grow both personally and professionally.

As the Associate Product Manager for AutoWork Online Next Gen, you’ll be at the forefront of product innovation. You will:

Own the Product Backlog: Manage the development pipeline, ensuring that the highest-impact features are prioritised. Collaborate with key stakeholders, including the President of SME Automotive, to continuously refine the product based on customer feedback and market insights. Drive the Product Roadmap: Maintain and execute a product roadmap aligned with strategic goals. Participate in sprint planning and Agile practices to ensure timely delivery of features that meet market demands. Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with engineering, design, sales, and marketing to ensure seamless communication and efficient product development. Lead ideation workshops to generate innovative solutions and drive product success. Market & Competitive Insights: Conduct regular market research to stay ahead of trends and competitors, ensuring that AutoWork Online continues to lead the market.

Key Responsibilities:

Backlog & Prioritisation: Backlog Ownership: Manage the product backlog, ensuring development teams are prioritising high-impact features. Collaborate with stakeholders, including the President SME Automotive, to refine and adjust the backlog based on customer insights and market conditions. Requirements Gathering: Partner closely with the President SME Automotive during the requirement gathering process to capture business needs and customer feedback. Translate this information into actionable product requirements. Cross-Product Collaboration: Actively collaborate with other product teams across the KCS group to drive resource efficiency and identify cross-pollination opportunities for maximum value.

  1. Roadmap & Execution: Product Roadmap: Assist in maintaining and updating the roadmap in Aha!, ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives gathered from cross-functional teams. Sprint Planning & Agile Practices: Collaborate with engineering, participating in sprint planning and other Agile ceremonies to ensure timely delivery of features. Feature Delivery: Work across teams to ensure product features meet performance, quality, and timing expectations.

  2. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with the President SME Automotive: Work closely with the President SME Automotive to gather customer insights and market trends, ensuring the product aligns with the evolving automotive landscape. Customer & Stakeholder Communication: Capture and translate customer feedback into the product roadmap, ensuring the product continues to meet market needs. Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with engineering, design, sales, and marketing teams to facilitate effective product delivery. Ensure timely communication between departments. Lead Ideation Workshops: Facilitate ideation and business case workshops with internal and external stakeholders to ensure critical information is captured for product success.

  3. Product Development Support: Feature Specifications: Write and maintain detailed product documentation, including user stories and feature descriptions. Data-Driven Decision Making: Use analytics to guide decision-making on feature prioritisation and performance improvements. Problem Solving: Identify and resolve issues that arise during the development process.

  4. Market Research & Competitive Analysis: Understand the Market: Conduct regular market research to understand trends in automotive service platforms. Competitive Positioning: Collaborate with the President SME Automotive to monitor competitor offerings and identify areas for differentiation.

## Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

Experience & Knowledge: Product Management Experience: Minimum 2 years in product management or a related role, preferably within automotive software or digital platforms Agile & Backlog Management: Proven track record of working within Agile frameworks, including backlog refinement and sprint planning. Experience with tools like Aha! or JIRA. Stakeholder Collaboration: Strong background in working with senior stakeholders for requirement gathering, prioritisation, and product ideation. Industry Knowledge: Understanding of the automotive services industry, particularly in digital platforms for service workshops, tyre management, and vehicle inspection tools. Cross-Product Collaboration: Demonstrated success in working across teams and business units to drive efficiency and achieve common goals. Data-Driven Decision Making: Knowledge of data analytics and the use of customer feedback to guide product development and feature prioritisation.

Skills & Competencies: Agile & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong collaboration skills, ensuring seamless interaction between product, engineering, and business teams within Agile workflows.

Backlog & Roadmap Management: Expertise in managing product roadmaps and maintaining organised, prioritised backlogs using tools like Aha! or JIRA.

Problem-Solving & Adaptability: Ability to navigate challenges, identify solutions, and adapt quickly to changing business or technical requirements.

Data-Driven Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse data to drive decisions, identify market opportunities, and enhance product features.

Communication & Stakeholder Management: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present ideas, requirements, and updates to stakeholders at all levels.

## Why Join Us?

• Shape the Future: You’ll be playing a crucial role in evolving a product that is transforming the way automotive service businesses operate. Your work will have a direct impact on KCS’s growth and industry leadership.

• Collaboration at Its Best: You’ll work side by side with the President of SME Automotive and cross-functional teams, gaining invaluable insights from experts across the business.

• Growth Opportunities: We are committed to your professional development. In this role, you’ll have ample opportunities to learn, lead, and grow your career in product management within a rapidly evolving industry.

What you will bring to the team:

• Product Management Experience: You have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in product management, ideally within automotive software or digital platforms.

• Agile Expertise: You’re experienced in working within Agile frameworks, managing backlogs, and prioritising features using tools like Aha! or JIRA

## Company Info

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) is the market leader in developing and delivering fully integrated business management solutions for distributors, suppliers, resellers, wholesalers and merchants. Our mission is simple: to design, implement and support high performance systems that enable our customers to source effectively, stock efficiently, sell profitably and service competitively.

Equal Opportunities

KCS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires us to adjust the recruiting process please do advise us when contacted.

If this role is of interest to you please apply online.

## Health and Safety

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 puts a legal obligation on KCS as an employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees at work.

Employees also have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and of others who could be affected by their actions. Understanding the safety policies and co-operating with the arrangements that are in place is therefore an essential part of your employment.

To all recruitment agencies: KCS does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our careers site or direct to KCS employee. KCS is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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