Freelance Digital Product Manager

About us

Smooth Sailing designs software for humans. They help start-ups and innovation teams with their product management and help them out with product design.

We believe user research is the key to creating a valuable, feasible and likable digital product.
We've created some interesting stories about what we think is important in the world of design, enjoy the reading!

We are currently growing and therefore looking for an experienced Product manager to join our ship. Someone who keeps their head cool while synthesizing business, user and technological contexts.

You’ll be working remotely with the existing design team of several specialists with different backgrounds.

You will work closely with Hannes, the Lead Designer, focusing on helping clients in their struggles to get to great digital products.

What will you be doing?

Understand the existing (product) organization and situation of our clients

Listen & ask questions about marketing and sales, pricing, business vision, product vision, user research, documentation, prototyping, user validation, measurement, governance, team and roadmap

Perform user research and choose the right method for each case

• Interviewing
• Shadowing
• Analyzing metric (e.g. mix panel, amplitude or google analytics)
• Describing user problems into How Might We's

Formulate needed changes

• For product vision, user research, documentation, prototyping, user validation, measurement, governance, team and roadmap
  
• In the form of processes: meetings, documentation and roles
• Saying ‘no, that is not a good idea’ and be able to explain why in a diplomatic way

Install these changes at the business and tech side

• MVP definitions
  
• Inject product knowledge: lean, user centered design, research, the mom test, sales vs product, etcetera.
• Creating documentation together: feature passports
• Having conversations with CTO's and developers
• Manage a design team changes and help them to support the new product organization
• Set-up and follow up the appropriate documentation

What skills will help you with that

Don’t hesitate to apply if you don’t fulfil 100% of the requirements. Superheroes don’t exist, people with passion and talent do!

People skills

• You communicate clearly in English (via digital channels and in real life)
• You have the ability to understand and adapt to client context
• You actively search for user input and challenge the information you find; you don't hesitate to ask questions if things are not clear
• You now how to implement changes within organizations with different degrees of resistance in a diplomatic way
• You are able to adapt to different processes and you feel comfortable working with startup clients with different challenges and contexts
• You document everything and in such a way that everybody can understand what is happening and why
• You do what you promise and you take ownership of tasks. You always aim for the best quality within the constraints of timing and budget
• You actively and consistently strive to expand your knowledge

Product skills

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a similar role
• Experience with the process of creating digital products
• You can research the needs of users and validate a concept with them
• You have excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Knowledge of usability and comprehensive knowledge of digital design
• Comprehensive knowledge of product metrics
• You are well organized and manage your work efficiently

Bonus points

• You have created a product roadmap before
• You can speak and write in Dutch (for some of our clients)
• Experience with business processes and models
• Start-up experience
• You have a background in either business management, design, software development, or psychology

Also important

You live and work in the range of time zones CET-02:00 and CET+02:00. If you are not a Belgian citizen, you will always be hired as an independent subcontractor.

What will you be offered?

• At Smooth Sailing you will be working in a small team with great people (that's what everyone says). We make time for weekly feedback moments and pick the projects you work on based on your skill level and learning path.
• We offer money in the bank every month and all the sleep you need. You choose when and where you work.
• We provide you with the necessities for doing a good job: a laptop, a phone, a personal learning path, meal vouchers and proper assurance.
• 5 weeks of paid holidays
• Occasional (onsite) team events

Divers team = Good products

We care about people, we want the diversity of the world to be reflected in the DNA of our company. That's why we welcome people of any gender, race, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, with or without disabilities.

We believe different points of view lead to better products. And more diversity in all ranges results in a better team.

So, don’t hold back on applying!

Next steps

Interested? Mail work@smoothsailing.be and tell us about your favorite digital product or platform and what problem it solves. Please don’t forget to attach your cv.