Position Summary:
At Rainforest Alliance, we believe in customer-centricity. The Product Development Department operating within the Data and Technology Unit is at the forefront of driving transformative growth and impact in the fields of sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and ecosystem conservation.
With a strategic focus on innovation, collaboration, and a customer-centric approach, this dynamic department plays a crucial role in crafting and delivering cutting-edge products. From end-to-end product lifecycle management to scalable solutions, the team spearheads initiatives that align with overarching business goals. Through interdisciplinary stakeholder consultation, continuous improvement, and strategic partnerships, the Product Development Department stands as a catalyst for achieving the organization's mission.
As a key member of the Product Development team within the Data and Technology Unit at Rainforest Alliance, the Senior Product Manager for Shared Services will lead the strategic direction and execution of innovative products and solutions. Focused on driving transformative growth and impact in sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and ecosystem conservation, this role is pivotal in shaping the organization's customer-centric approach and overarching business goals.
Our shared services cover various areas such as customer registration, legal agreements, CRM, case management, self-service support, HR, and financial systems. Additionally, we oversee the Rainforest Alliance Claims Platform, which allows our partners to request approval for our marks and sustainability claims.
Responsibilities:
Develop and articulate a compelling product vision for Shared Services, outlining the 3-5 year product strategy and long-term goals in alignment with Rainforest Alliance's mission and business objectives.
Lead and mentor a team of three Associate Product Managers, providing guidance and support in their professional development and daily activities.
Represent Shared Services in cross-departmental workshops, act as a proactive problem solver, identifying underlying challenges and driving collaborative solutions within the team and across departments.
Collaborate with key stakeholders, including business leaders, customers, and product team members, to gather input and validate product concepts, ensuring the accuracy of the business requirements and alignment with organizational priorities and stakeholder expectations.
Lead cross-functional efforts to conceptualize and ideate innovative solutions that address stakeholder needs and market opportunities, leveraging insights from customer research, industry trends, and internal expertise.
Champion a user-centric approach to product development, advocating for the integration of customer feedback and usability testing throughout the product lifecycle.
Drive the creation of detailed product concepts and roadmaps, outlining features, functionality, and user experience considerations and ensuring alignment with technical feasibility and resource constraints.
Foster a culture of creativity and experimentation within the product team, encouraging innovative thinking and exploring new ideas to drive continuous improvement and differentiation in the market.
Communicate the product vision and concept effectively to internal and external stakeholders, using storytelling and visual aids to inspire buy-in and enthusiasm for the product roadmap and strategy.
Monitor industry trends and the competitive landscape, stay abreast of emerging technologies and best practices in product development, and integrate relevant insights into the product vision and concept development process.
Undertake any other duties as assigned by the department or organizational leadership.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in product management or related fields, with a proven track record of delivering successful products and driving strategic initiatives.
Expertise in business process management, strong analytical skills, and the ability to identify and address underlying issues and challenges.
Experience working within an Agile team framework and familiarity with Customer Journey Mapping and System Design (UI/UX) principles.
Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment.
Strong influencing and facilitation skills, with a demonstrated ability to reconcile stakeholder interests and drive consensus towards a shared vision.
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively across cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Self-motivated and results-oriented, with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
Prior experience working with voluntary standards within the agriculture/forestry sectors is highly desired.
Strong emotional intelligence, with the ability to remain composed and focused under pressure.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with keen attention to detail and clarity in conveying complex ideas.
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Job Level: 2A
Deadline: May 12th, 2024
Notes: Only candidates authorized to work in The Netherlands will be considered.
The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.
Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.
As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.
At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.
Why
To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.
How
Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together.
The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability and any other protected group.