Product Manager - System Integrations
Are you passionate about driving seamless system integrations and managing supplier/vendor relationships to enhance business operations? Do you have a strong technical background with experience in API integrations, middleware, and automation platforms? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!
About the Role
We are looking for a Product Manager for a distribution business to take the lead on integration strategy, ensuring systems work harmoniously across the business. You will be responsible for managing a team of integration specialists, collaborating with key stakeholders, and engaging with external vendors to implement scalable, high-performing integration solutions. Your leadership will help streamline operations and drive efficiency across our IT landscape.
What we offer:
- Up to £65k basic
- A discretionary bonus scheme based on company and personal performance (defined each year, usually around 10-12%)
- A hybrid work arrangement – 1 day a week in Northampton or Manchester office
- A pension scheme of 5% employer and 5% employee contribution
- Company shares scheme – once a year you can buy shares at a discounted rate and pay for these monthly over 3 years before cashing them in or getting your saved money back.
- Life Assurance
- 33 days holidays (including bank holidays)
- EAP
- Benefits portal providing discounts to many leading brands
Key Responsibilities
System Integration Leadership
- Own the integration platform strategy, ensuring seamless connections between internal and external systems.
- Oversee the development, deployment, and maintenance of integrations, APIs, and middleware solutions.
- Implement best practices for testable APIs, documented contracts, observability, and monitoring to enhance integration reliability.
- Lead build vs. buy decisions and oversee any RFP processes for new integration technologies.
Supplier & Vendor Management
- Collaborate with third-party vendors to evaluate and integrate external solutions effectively.
- Negotiate contracts and service agreements with integration providers.
- Ensure compliance with service-level agreements (SLAs) and vendor performance metrics.
Product & Roadmap Ownership
- Define and execute the integration product vision, aligning it with business objectives.
- Develop and manage a clear roadmap, translating high-level goals into a backlog of actionable work.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including development, infrastructure, and business stakeholders.
Collaboration & Business Engagement
- Act as a key liaison between IT and business stakeholders, understanding requirements and aligning integration solutions with business needs.
- Facilitate workshops to gather technical implementation requirements.
- Represent the department as a workstream lead on large-scale business transformation projects.
What We're Looking For
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong experience in system integrations, API management, and ETL processes.
- Proven track record in managing vendors and external suppliers for IT solutions.
- Hands-on experience with integration platforms (e.g., JAMS, SSIS, middleware, automation tools).
- Proficiency in Agile methodologies and backlog management.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts.
- Experience in defining and measuring business value through integrations.
- Leadership experience in managing technical teams and driving high performance.
Desirable Skills
- Exposure to AI-driven integrations and automation.
- Knowledge of IT governance and compliance within integration environments.
- Familiarity with DevOps and CI/CD practices for integration deployment.
Business Analyst / Product Manager / Project Manager / Systems Analyst