Product Manager - Last Mile Planning - 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 we shop continues to evolve, our Digital team keeps us at the cutting edge. Driven by our innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking culture, we’re constantly looking at ways to create differentiated, omni-channel experiences for our customers and build the next generation of digital retailing.

About the role

This role plays a pivotal part in Coles’ logistics transformation, leading the rebuild of the last‑mile planning and execution technology stack to create a best‑in‑market, tech‑enabled grocery delivery network. The Product Manager owns the technology roadmap for last‑mile planning platforms, with responsibility for order allocation, capacity planning, time‑window promises and route design across a complex multi‑node network.

A core focus of the role is driving algorithmic and system‑integration enhancements by partnering with engineering, operations, and external vendors to improve routing performance and ensure seamless connectivity between planning tools, TMS, and execution systems. The position applies advanced optimisation techniques, including VRP modelling, dynamic slotting, and cost‑to‑serve analysis, to enable scalable workflows and support new service offerings such as same‑day and next‑day delivery.

The role also leads change across the organisation, managing an Associate Product Manager and influencing cross‑functional teams to embed new capabilities and uplift last‑mile operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

The role exists to deliver the transformation of Coles’ last-mile planning capability through technology, optimisation, and leadership. Key responsibilities include:

Product Ownership: Define and maintain the product vision, roadmap, and backlog for last-mile planning systems (capacity, slotting, routing, allocation).

Technical & Analytical Expertise: Apply advanced optimisation techniques (e.g., VRP, dynamic slotting, cost-to-serve modelling) and ensure integration of planning tools with TMS and execution systems.

Delivery & Change Leadership: Lead end-to-end execution of initiatives from discovery to delivery, managing an Associate Product Manager and influencing cross-functional teams to embed new planning capabilities.

Operational Enablement: Ensure solutions are scalable and operationally viable; embed new customer, store, and driver features into planning workflows.

Performance & Continuous Improvement: Use planning and execution data to identify, size, and prioritise cost-out and network optimisation opportunities; define and track key metrics (e.g., cost-per-order, route utilisation, on-time delivery).

Key Experience Required

• 6+ years in senior product management, program management, or transformation roles within logistics, supply chain, or technology environments.

OR

• Proven experience managing last-mile delivery, route planning, or transport management systems (TMS), ideally in grocery, retail, or eCommerce.
• Background in network design, capacity planning, or vehicle routing optimisation (VRP).
• Hands-on experience with large operational datasets, analytics, and benefit case development.
• Demonstrated success working with optimisation/VRP vendors and internal engineering teams.
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills, including influencing cross-functional teams and presenting to senior executives.

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: 174389

Employment Type: Full time

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