Product Manager, Innovation

Position Description

We are looking for an Innovation Product Manager to join our team and lead research and development initiatives for our convenience store technology platform. The ideal candidate will have a passion for innovation and design thinking, curiosity about new technologies including AI. You should be enthusiastic about exploring new technologies and shaping the future of the fuel and convenience industry. Experience in payments, loyalty, R&D, design thinking, or technology development is highly valued, and an interest in emerging trends will be key to our success.

Position Location:

Remote, United States

Reports To

Sr. Director, Head of Product

What We’re Looking For

Innovation Product Design and Development

• Drive the R&D and innovation initiatives for our platform, including ownership of a strategic roadmap focused on innovation and design.
• Design and enable a roadmap around the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning into PAR products, focused on driving customer outcomes.
• Conduct user research, trend analysis, and future-state visioning to uncover opportunities for transformative products that elevate the convenience store experience.
• Act as the "voice of the future" for product features, advocating for bold ideas that enhance the consumer journey and drive industry change.
• Collaborate with external partners, such as technology providers and industry partners, to foster co-innovation and bring promising ideas to life.
• Lead design efforts to explore and develop forward-looking concepts, working closely with design, engineering, and customer-facing teams.
• Guide the product team through ideation, prototyping, and implementation, ensuring alignment on product vision and technical execution.
  
  

Delivery

• Write proposals, product requirement documents, and innovation briefs to support the development of new initiatives.
• Engage throughout the development lifecycle to ensure the successful transition of innovative ideas from prototype to production, and perform acceptance testing of completed work.
  
  

Administration

• Maintain roadmap items related to innovation and R&D, ensuring alignment with broader platform initiatives and strategic goals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, customers, and partners to understand their needs and ensure our innovation agenda is impactful.
• Collaborate with other product managers to align innovation initiatives with ongoing platform work and prioritize based on feasibility and strategic importance.
• Work with engineering and design leadership to plan resource allocation for R&D activities and communicate roadmap updates to internal stakeholders.
  
  

Additional Skills

• 2-5 years as a product manager or in a similar role focused on innovation, R&D, or expansive product development.
• Experience in the convenience store, retail, or technology industries, with a passion for exploring how technology can enhance the customer experience.
• Strong background in design thinking, user-centered design, and a demonstrated ability to turn insights into tangible product ideas.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, exploratory environment with a focus on emerging trends and new concepts.
• Ability to interact with senior management and stakeholders with confidence.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to oversee initiatives across multiple teams and ensure successful delivery.
• Comfortable getting hands-on and diving into the details of product development, including collaborating directly with designers and engineers.
• Familiarity with prototyping, experimentation, and software development processes.
• Ability to work US east coast hours while coordinating with distributed teams.
  
  

Unleash your potential: What you will be doing and owning:

In this role, you will drive the development of transformative products, combining insights from customers, technology advancements, and design methodologies. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities, building an innovation roadmap, and bringing industry-defining products to life. You will also help determine new areas of focus for our platform beyond payments and loyalty. You will work closely with engineering, design, business stakeholders, and external partners to ensure successful implementation of ideas into scalable solutions. Your creativity and forward-thinking approach will be instrumental in advancing the state of the art within the convenience store industry.

Interview Process

• Interview #1: Phone Screen with Talent Acquisition Team
• Interview #2: Video interview with the Hiring Manager (via MS Teams)
• Interview #3: Video interview with the Team (via MS Teams)
  
  

Perks And Benefits Hot Off The Grill

• Unlimited PTO (Exempt Employees)
• 3 weeks/ year of Vacation/ PTO (Non-exempt Employees)
• Healthcare Benefits
• Fitness/ Wellness Reimbursement ($400/year)
• Internet Stipend (Remote employees)
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• 401k Match
  
  

Compensation Range: $125K - $175K