Product Manager (Kendo UI) - Maternity Cover

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Manager (Kendo UI) - Maternity Cover Company: Progress Location: Bulgaria Job Type: Full-Time Temporary/Maternity Category: Product Management / GTM Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-25 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive product vision and strategy for Kendo UI, aligning with business objectives and market opportunities.
• Analyze market trends, technology advancements, and customer needs to inform product roadmaps and initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, UX, marketing, sales, and support teams to ensure successful product development and go-to-market execution.
• Define product OKRs, revenue projections, and growth strategies, closely monitoring their achievement.
• Act as a key liaison between customers, partners, and internal stakeholders, representing the Kendo UI product effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is titled "Product Manager," the extensive collaboration with marketing, sales enablement, and GTM planning indicates a strong overlap with GTM Operations and Product Marketing functions. The focus on revenue and growth projections further solidifies its operational significance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and articulate a clear product vision and strategy for Kendo UI, ensuring alignment with overall company goals and market demands.
• Conduct in-depth market analysis to identify emerging trends, competitive landscapes, and new opportunities for product innovation and differentiation.
• Translate market needs and customer feedback into actionable product initiatives, features, and requirements.
• Develop and manage comprehensive product roadmaps, prioritizing initiatives based on business value, technical feasibility, and market impact, in close collaboration with engineering and UX teams.
• Establish and track key product performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives (OKRs), including revenue and growth targets, and drive cross-functional teams towards their achievement.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and UX leads to plan and execute cross-product release plans, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
• Partner with technical support to implement initiatives that enhance customer satisfaction and product usability.
• Develop and execute Go-To-Market (GTM) plans in conjunction with the marketing team, including persona definition, acquisition funnel optimization, sales enablement materials, and release communications.
• Support the sales team by providing product expertise, assisting with new deals, and contributing to customer relationship management efforts.
• Create competitive assessments and define market positioning strategies to ensure Kendo UI's competitive edge.
• Present the product effectively at conferences, customer meetings, and partner events, acting as a compelling storyteller and product advocate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a strategic GTM function, involving close collaboration with sales and marketing for product launches and customer engagement. The emphasis on OKRs, revenue, and growth projections highlights the operational accountability of this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for Product Management roles, though equivalent practical experience may be considered.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in Software Product Management, with a proven track record of successfully bringing software products to market.
• Demonstrated experience in creating and maintaining key product deliverables, including opportunity assessments, product vision, strategy documents, roadmaps, release plans, competitive analyses, and win-loss reports.
• Familiarity with software application development lifecycle methodologies, including Agile, Kanban, Scrum, and Waterfall frameworks.

Required Skills:

• Strong Software Product Management expertise with a deep understanding of product lifecycle management.
• Proven ability to analyze market trends, identify opportunities, and translate them into product strategies and roadmaps.
• Hands-on experience with JavaScript (JS) web technologies such as React, Angular, or Vue.js, ideally from a developer or consultant background.
• Excellent understanding of the web developer persona and their needs, pain points, and workflows.
• Solid grasp of the JS Web market, including current technologies, frameworks, and developer ecosystems.
• Exceptional ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with diverse functional teams, including engineering, UX, marketing, sales, customer support, demand generation, and legal.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate robust relationships with customers, technology partners, and the broader developer community.
• A keen eye for user interface (UI) design principles and a strong commitment to product usability and user experience (UX).
• Proficiency in decision-making, influencing positive outcomes, and seeking diverse opinions to inform strategic choices.
• Fluent in English, with outstanding verbal and written communication skills, capable of clear and concise articulation of complex ideas.
• Skilled in storytelling and delivering engaging presentations to various audiences, from technical teams to executive leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience managing multiple products simultaneously, potentially across different stages of their lifecycle.
• Ability to travel for conferences, customer visits, and industry events as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on JS web technologies, developer persona, and market knowledge within the web development space is crucial. The requirement for strong communication and presentation skills, along with the ability to manage cross-functional relationships, points to a GTM-centric product management approach.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of product strategy development, including market analysis and competitive positioning documents.
• Present product roadmaps, demonstrating prioritization methodologies and alignment with business objectives.
• Include case studies detailing the successful launch of software products, highlighting Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies and cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrate proficiency in defining product OKRs and revenue projections, with evidence of driving teams to achieve these metrics.
• Provide examples of translating customer and market needs into tangible product features and initiatives.

Process Documentation:

• Document the process for gathering and synthesizing market and customer feedback to inform product decisions.
• Illustrate workflows for collaborating with engineering and UX teams during the product development lifecycle.
• Detail the process for developing and executing Go-To-Market (GTM) plans, including sales enablement and marketing collateral creation.
• Present methods for tracking product performance against OKRs and revenue targets, including reporting and analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role with GTM responsibilities, a portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product management, from strategy to launch and performance tracking, is essential. Emphasis should be placed on how product initiatives connect to revenue and market success.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• 📝 Enhancement Note: As no specific salary is provided for this role in Bulgaria, a competitive market rate for a Product Manager with 5-10 years of experience in Sofia, Bulgaria, would typically range from BGN 6,000 to BGN 10,000 gross per month. This estimate is based on publicly available salary data for similar roles in the Bulgarian tech market, considering the company's size and industry.

Benefits:

• Generous remuneration package.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan Enrollment, offering a stake in the company's success.
• 30 days paid annual vacation, providing ample time for rest and rejuvenation.
• An extra day off for your birthday, celebrating personal milestones.
• 2 additional days off for volunteering, supporting community engagement.
• Premium healthcare and dental care coverage, ensuring comprehensive well-being.
• Additional pension insurance, contributing to long-term financial security.
• Well-equipped on-site gym with CrossFit equipment and a climbing wall, promoting an active lifestyle.
• Co-funded Multisport card, offering access to various sports and fitness facilities.
• On-site daycare center for employees' children, providing convenient childcare solutions.
• Flexible working hours, allowing for better work-life integration.
• Free underground parking with designated spaces for bikes, motorbikes, and electric scooters, offering convenient and secure transportation options.

Working Hours:

• Flexible working hours are offered, allowing employees to structure their workday to best suit their productivity and personal needs, while ensuring core business hours are covered for collaboration. A standard full-time week is assumed to be 40 hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The comprehensive benefits package, including health, wellness, and flexible work arrangements, indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance, which is attractive to operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development & Information Technology. Progress provides software for developing, deploying, and managing AI-powered applications and experiences. Company Size: Progress has a significant global presence. While the exact number of employees for this specific maternity cover role's team isn't detailed, Progress as a whole is a substantial organization (likely several thousand employees globally), suggesting a structured yet dynamic work environment. Founded: Progress was founded in 1981, indicating a long-standing history and established presence in the software industry, which often translates to stable processes and experienced leadership.

Team Structure:

• The Product Manager will likely be part of a dedicated product team focused on Kendo UI, which is a component suite for UI development. This team would typically include engineering leads, UX designers, and potentially product marketing managers.
• Reporting Structure: The Product Manager will likely report into a Director or VP of Product Management, with close collaboration across peer Product Managers, Engineering Managers, and Marketing Leads.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core aspect of this role, requiring seamless integration with Sales, Marketing, Customer Support, and Demand Generation teams to ensure successful product lifecycle management and Go-To-Market (GTM) execution.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: The role emphasizes data-driven decision-making, requiring analysis of market trends, customer feedback, usage data, and revenue metrics to inform product strategy and roadmap prioritization.
• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The Product Manager is responsible for defining and optimizing product development workflows, collaborating with engineering on agile methodologies and ensuring efficient delivery of product initiatives.
• Automation & Efficiency Practices: While not explicitly stated, a modern product management role often involves leveraging tools and processes to automate reporting, streamline communication, and improve overall operational efficiency within the product development and GTM processes.

Company Website: https://www.progress.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Progress's long history and focus on AI-powered applications suggest a company that values innovation, technical expertise, and robust product development processes. The emphasis on collaboration indicates a team-oriented culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level within Product Management, with significant strategic responsibilities that touch upon GTM operations. It requires a blend of technical understanding, market acumen, and cross-functional leadership. The maternity cover aspect means it's a defined-term engagement, offering valuable experience without long-term commitment. Reporting Structure: The Product Manager will report to a senior leader within the product organization, likely a Director or VP of Product Management. They will work closely with engineering leads, UX designers, and collaborate extensively with marketing, sales, and customer success managers. Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on revenue and market share through the strategic direction and successful execution of the Kendo UI product roadmap. By defining product initiatives and supporting GTM strategies, the Product Manager influences sales enablement, customer acquisition, and overall business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Gain hands-on experience in defining product OKRs, revenue projections, and GTM planning, enhancing skills in operational strategy and execution.
• Industry Exposure: Deepen understanding of the JavaScript UI component market and the broader web development landscape.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop leadership capabilities through extensive collaboration with diverse teams, honing skills in influence, communication, and stakeholder management.
• Portfolio Enhancement: Contribute to a well-known product suite, adding significant experience to the candidate's professional portfolio, particularly in areas of product strategy and market execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a temporary role, the scope of responsibilities provides excellent exposure to strategic product management and GTM operations, offering substantial learning and career development opportunities within a defined period.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as Hybrid, implying a mix of on-site work at a Progress office in Bulgaria and remote work. The presence of a well-equipped gym, daycare, and ample parking suggests a modern, employee-centric office environment. Office Location(s): The primary location is Bulgaria, likely Sofia, given the prevalence of tech hubs there. The specific office details would be provided upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration indicate a workspace that fosters teamwork, open communication, and knowledge sharing among colleagues.
• Operations Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to standard office technology and potentially specialized product management and collaboration tools used by Progress.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities will exist for direct interaction with product teams, engineering, UX, marketing, and sales professionals, facilitating learning and professional development.

Work Schedule:

• Flexible working hours are a key benefit, allowing for personal scheduling while ensuring alignment with team and business needs. This flexibility is beneficial for managing complex tasks and collaborating across different time zones if necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role, coupled with comprehensive on-site amenities, suggests a forward-thinking work environment that supports employee well-being and productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter or HR call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role, including the maternity cover aspect.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into product management experience, strategic thinking, and understanding of the Kendo UI product and market. Expect questions on product vision, roadmap development, and market analysis.
• Cross-Functional Interview(s): Interviews with key stakeholders from engineering, UX, marketing, or sales to evaluate collaboration skills, ability to work with different functions, and understanding of GTM processes.
• Presentation/Case Study: Potentially a task or presentation requiring the candidate to outline a product strategy, GTM plan, or problem-solution for a scenario related to Kendo UI.
• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss role expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight GTM Strategy: Showcase how your product initiatives have been successfully brought to market, including supporting marketing and sales enablement efforts.
• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify achievements using metrics related to revenue, market share, customer acquisition, or user satisfaction. Use OKRs and KPIs as examples.
• Showcase Collaboration: Provide examples of successful cross-functional partnerships, detailing how you worked with engineering, marketing, and sales to achieve product goals.
• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by product, initiative, or key responsibility area, making it easy for reviewers to navigate and understand your contributions.
• Focus on Kendo UI Relevance: If possible, tailor examples to demonstrate understanding of UI components, developer tools, or the JavaScript ecosystem.

Challenge Preparation:

• Product Strategy Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach setting a vision and roadmap for a product like Kendo UI, considering market trends, competition, and customer needs.
• GTM Planning: Practice outlining a GTM strategy for a new feature or product update, including target audience, messaging, sales enablement, and launch activities.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you've managed competing priorities or resolved conflicts with different teams, demonstrating strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Data Interpretation: Be ready to discuss how you use data (market, customer, financial) to make product decisions and measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the GTM aspects of the role, interviewers will likely assess not only product acumen but also the candidate's ability to collaborate effectively with commercial teams and drive tangible business outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Platforms: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Aha!, Productboard, or similar for roadmap planning, backlog management, and documentation.
• Collaboration Suites: Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive) or Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets) for communication and document sharing.
• Project Management Software: Familiarity with Agile/Scrum tools (Jira, Trello) is essential.
• CRM Systems: Experience with CRM platforms like Salesforce is beneficial for understanding sales processes and customer data.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for understanding website and product usage data.
• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker for data visualization, reporting, and dashboard creation to track product performance and OKRs.
• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for data analysis and reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce or similar for sales pipeline management and customer data.
• Marketing Automation: HubSpot, Marketo, or Pardot knowledge is useful for understanding GTM campaign execution.
• Integration Tools: General understanding of how different systems (CRM, marketing automation, product databases) integrate to provide a unified view of the customer and product.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in tools that facilitate collaboration, project management, data analysis, and GTM execution will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong emphasis on using data, market insights, and customer feedback to guide all product decisions and strategies.
• Customer Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the developer audience, ensuring Kendo UI meets their expectations for usability and functionality.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: A culture that promotes open communication, mutual respect, and effective collaboration across diverse teams (engineering, marketing, sales, support).
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging exploration of new technologies and market opportunities, with a focus on iteratively improving the product and development processes.
• Accountability & Results: A focus on achieving defined objectives, including revenue targets and growth projections, with a clear sense of ownership for product success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where the Product Manager actively partners with engineering for development, UX for design, marketing for Go-To-Market (GTM), and sales for customer engagement.
• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback loops for product development, GTM strategies, and internal processes to drive continuous improvement.
• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that promote sharing insights, best practices, and lessons learned across teams to foster collective growth and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Progress's emphasis on collaboration and individual value suggests a supportive environment where team members are encouraged to contribute their perspectives and work together towards common goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maternity Cover Duration: Adapting quickly to an established product and team within a fixed-term contract requires strong initiative and efficient onboarding.
• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing the diverse expectations of engineering, marketing, sales, and customers to align on product priorities and GTM strategies.
• Market Dynamics: Staying ahead of rapid advancements in web development technologies and competitive offerings in the UI component space.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent messaging and execution across all departments for successful product launches and sustained market presence.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Gain hands-on experience in strategic GTM planning, revenue forecasting, and OKR setting within a large software organization.
• Industry Certifications: Opportunities to attend industry conferences or pursue certifications relevant to product management or specific technologies.
• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from experienced product leaders within Progress, providing guidance on career development and strategic thinking.
• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence product direction, building leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges present opportunities to hone skills in rapid adaptation, strategic alignment, and market analysis, all of which are critical for success in operations and product management roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a product strategy and roadmap for a complex component suite like Kendo UI. How would you incorporate market analysis and customer feedback?"
• "How would you collaborate with marketing and sales teams to create and execute a Go-To-Market (GTM) plan for a new Kendo UI feature? What key elements would you include?"
• "Walk me through a time you had to make a difficult product prioritization decision. What was the situation, your process, and the outcome?"
• "How do you define and track product success using OKRs and revenue projections? Provide an example."

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Progress and the Kendo UI product specifically?"
• "How do you approach building relationships with engineering teams, and what's your preferred development methodology (Agile, Scrum, etc.)?"
• "Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders from different departments to adopt your product vision or strategy."
• "How do you measure the impact of your product decisions on business outcomes like revenue and customer satisfaction?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation by key product initiatives or responsibilities, clearly outlining the problem, your solution/strategy, the execution, and the measurable results.
• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics (e.g., revenue growth, user adoption, market share increase, customer satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the value of your work.
• Showcase GTM: Highlight specific contributions to Go-To-Market activities, such as sales enablement, marketing collateral, or launch plans.
• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with engineering, UX, marketing, and sales, and the outcomes of those collaborations.
• Conciseness: Keep your presentation focused and relevant to the Kendo UI product and the role's responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss not only product management fundamentals but also your strategic approach to GTM execution, stakeholder management, and data-driven decision-making, aligning your experience with Progress's operational needs.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Jobvite.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in Software Product Management, GTM strategy, roadmap development, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements with metrics related to revenue, growth, and customer satisfaction.
• Portfolio Preparation: Gather relevant examples of product strategies, roadmaps, GTM plans, and case studies demonstrating your impact. Focus on quantifiable results and collaborative achievements.
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss specific examples from your experience that align with the job responsibilities, particularly those related to product vision, market analysis, GTM execution, and stakeholder management. Practice articulating your thought process for product decisions and problem-solving.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Progress, its product portfolio (especially Kendo UI), its market position, and its company culture to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment during the interview process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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