Director Research & Development
We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Director of Product Research & Development to lead the strategic management and commercial success of our global software product portfolio for the Public Transportation of Passengers. In this pivotal role, you will own the product portfolio P&L and guide the full lifecycle of our products - from innovation and development to go-to-market and sunset.
You will oversee three key functional areas: Product Management, Product Strategy & Innovation, and Product Development— ensuring strong alignment between customer needs, business goals and technical excellence.
Key Accountabilities:
- Strategic Ownership & Portfolio Leadership
- Own and manage the full software product portfolio P&L, driving commercial performance and growth.
- Define and continuously evolve the product portfolio strategy in alignment with market trends and needs recognising the company objectives.
- Present robust business cases including market analysis, revenue potential, development budgets, and ROI for strategic decision-making.
- Maintain a global product status report and drive actions based on insights into product maturity, competitiveness, and market presence.
- Market and Customer Insight
- Secure monitoring of market trends, emerging technologies, and competitor activity to anticipate changes and drive innovation.
- Engage directly with customers, partners, and internal stakeholders to identify pain points, value opportunities, and product USPs.
- Translate insights into clear product strategies and investment decisions.
- Product Lifecycle & Roadmap Execution
- Oversee the entire product lifecycle including ideation, development, launch, enhancements, and phase-outs.
- Ensure alignment and execution of individual product roadmaps, verified with key stakeholders.
- Champion best practices in prioritization, lifecycle management, and product governance.
- Go-to-Market & Commercial Enablement
- Lead R&D contributions to go-to-market efforts including pricing strategy, pilot customer programs, and feature positioning.
- Ensure all product-related information and assets are available and aligned for Sales, Marketing, and Professional Services.
- Support customer onboarding and adoption strategies through well-integrated product readiness.
- Development Leadership & Technical Excellence
- Drive the execution of product development initiatives with high standards in architecture, UI/UX, QA, and scalability.
- Ensure effective collaboration between product and service teams.
- Promote reliable delivery, continuous improvement, and cross-functional coordination.
- People & Culture Leadership
- Lead and coach a high-performing leadership team across product management, strategy, and development.
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning within the broader R&D organization.
- Prioritize talent development, capability building, and succession planning.
Qualifications & Experience
The ideal candidate has strong product management experience combined with a principal understanding of how to form a software product portfolio around a specific domain. You excel in analytical and strategic thinking and thrive in cross-disciplinary environments. Moreover, you contribute with the following qualifications:
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration, Software, IT Management, or Engineering.
- Solid experience in product management, strategy, and development—ideally in B2B software environments.
- Proven P&L responsibility and success in driving product-led growth.
- Strong grasp of product management principles, modern software development methodologies, and innovation practices.
- Familiarity with software architecture and technical debt management.
- Experience leading teams across multiple locations.
- Excellent communication skills; fluency in English required, German is a plus.
- High integrity and a proven track record in driving transformation.
