Associate Product Manager - Hawthorn East

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

As the way Australians shop continues to evolve, our Data and AI Team keep Coles at the forefront of modern retail. We combine data, artificial intelligence, and applied engineering to reimagine how our stores, supply chain, and digital channels operate — creating smarter, more connected, and seamless experiences for our customers and team members.

Operating as a centralised development and enablement function within Coles Technology, the team unites product, engineering, and platform capabilities to deliver the intelligence layer of the enterprise. We serve every part of Coles — from computer vision applications that enhance in-store experiences and reduce loss, to forecasting, optimisation, and decision-support solutions that drive efficiency, accuracy, and agility across our supply chain, retail operations, and corporate functions.

The scale and impact of this work are significant. Coles serves millions of customers each week across more than a thousand stores nationwide, and our AI and data capabilities provide the intelligence that underpins how we plan, move, sell, and serve. By combining deep data capability with applied AI and modern engineering, we’re enabling Coles to become a truly AI-enabled enterprise, transforming how we operate and how Australia shops every day.

About the role

For this exciting position within our Data and Artificial Intelligence team, we are seeking an individual to support the Product Manager in delivering AI/data products, assumes the lead role in investigating and defining user stories and business needs. A Key focus will be on analysis and product documentation while learning core product skills.

Working closely with the Group Product Manager (Data and AI), your main responsibilities will include the following but not be limited to the below: 

• Supports the Product Manager in delivering AI/data products, assumes the lead role in investigating and defining user stories and business needs. Key focus on analysis and product documentation while learning core product skills.
• Responsible for delivering on roadmap milestones that are aligned to OKRs.
• Defines backlog with their squads, partners with the domain stakeholders to ensure the backlog aligns with the business and product strategies. Frame the product backlog with bigger picture thinking that is anchored to the domains strategic priorities and long-term vision.
• Works closely with Engineering Manager, development squad and vendor partners to manage delivery, dependencies and risk.
• Support the delivery of product strategy and roadmap to achieve business goals and objectives, whilst handling multiple demands and competing priorities.
• Assist to gather, manage and prioritise product requirements as inputs to squads. Translate business needs into clearly defined epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Prepares communications to key domain stakeholders on progress of initiatives under guidance from product managers.
• Ensure alignment between product features and business value drivers.
• Prepares communications to key domain stakeholders on progress of initiatives under guidance from product managers.
• Work within team to deliver on product features and roadmaps, including requirement definition, business reporting, input of documentation for governance processes, product & process mapping etc.

About you and your skills

• Previous experience with Data and AI products in a large-scale enterprise setting
• Foundational knowledge of data science, machine learning concepts and generative AI models. Agentic AI systems experience preferred. 
• Exposure to Data Tools such as PowerBI and cloud and data platform awareness (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake).
• Must have ability to demonstrate customer-centric approach to product delivery
• Effective influencer and able to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to build and leverage relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable requirements.
• Excellent communication and organisation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary agile team.

Commercial Skills

• Exposure to agile ways of working, Agile certification beneficial. Experience using Jira/Atlassian suite.
• Understanding of product management fundamentals (project lifecycle, MVP definition etc.)
• Ability to write clear user stories and acceptance criteria under guidance from Product Manager. 
• Ability to connect product features to business outcomes (e.g. labour optimisation, sales uplift etc.)
• Strong communication skills to bridge conversations between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, willingness to seek feedback from Product Managers.
• Demonstrated learning agility (quick to grasp new AI concepts, tools, and methodologies).

Education

• Bachelor or higher degree in business, information systems, computer science, engineering, science or other relevant STEM field.

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email inclusionrecruitment@coles.com.au

Job ID: 174676

Employment Type: Full time