Head of Product Management

Head of Product Management, 1. image

OVERVIEW

Fairtrade is the most recognized and trusted sustainability label, working to make trade fairer for people and planet.
 
For more than three decades, Fairtrade has been making an impact on the way trade works. We believe that every farmer and worker should have access to a better way of doing business, and a better way of living. 
 
Fairtrade International is an independent non-profit organisation representing more than two million small-scale farmers and workers worldwide. It owns the FAIRTRADE Mark, a registered trademark that appears on more than 37,000 products. Beyond certification, Fairtrade International and its member organisations (three producer networks and 19 national Fairtrade organisations) partner with producers and businesses, engage consumers, and advocate for a fair and sustainable future.

PRINCIPAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fairtrade Digital Leadership: 

·       As part of the Fairtrade Digital Leadership team assist in defining the strategy and team structure

·       Engage with Fairtrade Stakeholders and communicate the progress and roadmap for the implementation of the strategy. This includes the creation of communication materials and the presentation to working groups and leadership teams. 

·       Participate in system-wide working groups on data governance, contractual frameworks for data use within the Fairtrade system, and traceability related topics. 

Product Team Leadership

·       Own the product roadmap, balancing long‑term innovation with short‑term delivery needs. 

·       Ensure product decisions are grounded in measurable business value, using data and stakeholder input to guide trade‑offs.

·       Build and mentor product management team with strong execution discipline.

·       Partner closely with engineering, design, marketing, and commercial teams to deliver products that meet customer and business needs.

·       Establish and refine product development processes, ensuring clarity, speed, and cross‑functional alignment.

·       Communicate product strategy, priorities, and performance to executive leadership and key stakeholders.

·       Evaluate market trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to identify new opportunities.

·       Oversee product performance metrics, ensuring accountability for results and rapid iteration when needed.

·       Manage product portfolio investments, prioritizing resources for maximum impact.

Traceability

·       Technical Product Owner for traceability systems. 

·       Translate high-level Business Requirements into concrete technical concepts that are ready for implementation by technical teams. This may include the creation of design sketches, process diagrams, and functional specification. 

·       Liaise with Commercial Traceability Group in identifying the business case and value for future traceability solutions

·       Evaluate existing traceability technology solutions against business requirements

·       Define technical pathway for delivery of traceability solutions

Perform other duties and tasks, consistent with the skills and expertise as required 

SKILLS REQUIRED


 Level of education: The position holder will have a Degree in Computer Science or Equivalent

Years of professional experience: A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a relevant area of work.

Job Specific Competencies/Knowledge:

·       Ability to ensure product decisions are grounded in measurable business value, using data and stakeholder input to guide tradeoffs.

·       Ability to define and communicate a compelling product vision and strategy, aligning with organizational goals.

·       Experience in building and maintaining a product roadmap, balancing long-term innovation with short-term delivery needs.

·       Skilled at engaging stakeholders and presenting progress, roadmaps, and strategic updates to leadership teams.

·       Technical fluency in digital/traceability systems

Personal Qualities 

·       High emotional intelligence, collaboration, and resilience

·       Services oriented, outgoing and friendly

·       Strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

·       Ability to work in pressurised situations

·       Very good organizational and work prioritization skills (E)

·       Highly collaborative and supportive approach when providing assistance (E)

Software Tools:

·       Devops

·       Miro

·       Microsoft 365 suite



 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  • This is a full-time position (38,5 hours per week) within Fairtrade International.
  • Based in Bonn, Germany with remote working options
  • The office language is English.
  • Salary as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Wholesale and Foreign Trade Industries for North Rhine Westphalia Group VIb and over tariff payments
  • Holiday Bonus and 13th salary 
  • 30 days of holidays per year (for fulltime employees)