Knuddels aims to make social networks truly social again, focusing on genuine human connection. The product team drives ideas to market using modern methods and AI tools for analysis, detailed development, and successful delivery. They are seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead a product team, ensuring value creation for the community and business, and driving product success through qualitative user research and a high standard of quality. The role requires a passion for implementation and seeing AI as an essential tool for smarter work and achieving business goals.

Must Have

• Lead a cross-functional team, responsible for performance and business goals
• Ensure consistent roadmap implementation and maintain focus through clear prioritization
• Conceive and conduct qualitative research (interviews, usability tests) to find user insights
• Translate user insights into clear requirements
• Maintain high product quality from idea to market success
• Act as a role model and mentor, sharing knowledge and supporting team development
• Proven experience in leading product or cross-functional teams
• Several years of experience leading complex software projects to market success
• Ability to make data-driven decisions for business goals
• Strong focus on product quality and attention to detail
• Proficiency in qualitative UX research (methodology, execution, analysis)
• Active and intelligent use of AI tools for efficiency and process integration

Perks & Benefits

• Up to 100% remote work
• Trust-based working hours
• Option for 10 unpaid flexible vacation days in addition to 30 days of vacation
• Open, respectful, and cooperative culture
• 10% of working time for further education
• Access to coaching pool, in-house workshops, and regular feedback
• Focus on own B2C product with direct community impact
• Excellent technical equipment
• Subsidy for a mobile air conditioner for fully remote workers
• Office in prime Karlsruhe location with free breakfast buffet
• Daily freshly cooked lunch
• Fully air-conditioned office with a huge rooftop terrace
• Subsidy for gym/sports club

Job Description

At Knuddels, we have set ourselves the goal of making social networks truly social again and focusing on genuine human closeness and valuable connections.

Our product team is the heart of this. We see ourselves not only as a think tank but, above all, as those who really bring these ideas to life. We rely on modern working methods and actively and pragmatically use AI tools to accelerate our processes – from analysis to detailed elaboration to successful shipping and market success.

What we are missing now is you: a person who takes over the leadership of a product team and brings our projects to completion with clarity and positive commitment. You ensure value creation for our community and our business.

You are passionate about gaining real insights through qualitative user research and pouring these findings with attention to detail into products of the highest quality. You love to implement things and see AI not as a buzzword, but as an essential tool that you use daily to work smarter and achieve our business goals.

If you want to work in an environment where your argument counts more than your status, then we are looking for exactly you!

Your Responsibilities

In this role, you take on leadership and focus on empowering your team and leading excellent products to success.

• Team Leadership: You lead a cross-functional team and are responsible for its performance and the achievement of business goals. You create the framework in which your team can do excellent work.
• Commitment and Delivery: You ensure the consistent implementation of the roadmap and help your team maintain focus through clear prioritization. This way, we jointly achieve ambitious goals and real value.
• The Voice of Our Users: As a methodical expert, you independently conceive and conduct qualitative research (e.g., interviews, usability tests) to find the "why" behind the data. You translate these insights into clear requirements.
• High Quality Standards: You are enthusiastic about products that convince in detail. Quality assurance is an integral part of the entire process for you – from the idea to final market success.
• Mentorship and Development: You act as a role model and mentor. You enjoy sharing your knowledge, giving constructive feedback on our processes, and actively supporting the professional development of your team members.

What we offer you?

• Flexibility that adapts to your life: Up to 100% remote work, trust-based working hours, and the option for 10 unpaid "Flexi-Urlaubstage" in addition to 30 days of vacation.
• Real Cohesion: We live an open, respectful, and cooperative culture in which we support each other.
• Growth according to your ideas: Use 10% of your working time for further education and benefit from our coaching pool, in-house workshops, and regular feedback.
• Focus on our own product (B2C): You immediately see how your contribution is received by our community and help bring people closer together.
• Excellent Equipment: We provide you with excellent technical equipment. If you work fully remotely, we also subsidize a mobile air conditioner.
• Office in a prime location (Karlsruhe): With a free breakfast buffet, freshly cooked lunch daily, fully air-conditioned, and a huge rooftop terrace.
• We want to support your health: Subsidy for gym/sports club.
• All benefits can also be found at jobs.knuddels.de

What we do not offer?

• Dusty corporate structures
• Working on business customer projects (We are a B2C company)
• A far-fetched third bullet point if we can only think of two :)

Job Requirements

We are looking for competencies and potential, not a perfect resume. If you feel this is a good fit, please apply, even if you don't meet every point 100%.

• You have leadership experience: You have proven experience in the technical (and ideally disciplinary) leadership of product teams or cross-functional teams.
• You are strong in implementation: You have several years of experience in leading complex (software) projects from idea to market success and making data-driven decisions to achieve business goals.
• You have an eye for quality: You bring a high standard of product quality (attention to detail) and possess the ability to create clarity in the team and ensure commitment.
• You are proficient in UX Research: You have solid, practical expertise in qualitative UX research (methodology, independent execution, and analysis).
• You use AI intelligently: You actively use AI tools (like Gemini, Perplexity, etc.) to make your work more efficient and have ideas on how we can meaningfully integrate AI into our product processes.

Your Path to Us

We design our application process to be transparent and at eye level:

1. First acquaintance: A relaxed video call (approx. 30 min.) to introduce ourselves and align expectations.

2. Applicant Day (remote or on-site): You experience the product team live. You work on practical case studies and discuss the results directly with your future colleagues. This gives us all an authentic insight into the collaboration.

3. Final interview: We jointly reflect on the insights of the day and clarify any remaining questions.

We look forward to getting to know you!