Hi there! Have you noticed that the restaurant industry is changing?

We are PAR and our purpose is:

To deliver solutions that connect people to the restaurants, meals, and moments they love.

At PAR Technology, our relentless drive for innovation and unwavering commitment to customer success are at the heart of everything we do. We lead the restaurant and retail industries by ensuring that our products—from point of sale systems to loyalty programs, digital ordering, restaurant operations solutions, payment services, and hardware—work "better together." This unified approach, fueled by over 40 years of experience, amplifies our ambition to not just meet but exceed the evolving needs of our global clientele. By optimizing integrations into all leading restaurant solutions, we're not just creating technology; we're crafting a future where operations are streamlined, experiences are enhanced, and every interaction is an opportunity for growth.

Position Description: 

We are looking for an Innovation Product Manager to join our team and lead research and development initiatives for our convenience store technology platform. The ideal candidate will have a passion for innovation and design thinking, curiosity about new technologies including AI. You should be enthusiastic about exploring new technologies and shaping the future of the fuel and convenience industry. Experience in payments, loyalty, R&D, design thinking, or technology development is highly valued, and an interest in emerging trends will be key to our success.

Position Location:

Remote, United States

Reports To: 

Sr. Director, Head of Product

What We’re Looking For:

Innovation Product Design and Development

Drive the R&D and innovation initiatives for our platform, including ownership of a strategic roadmap focused on innovation and design. Design and enable a roadmap around the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning into PAR products, focused on driving customer outcomes. Conduct user research, trend analysis, and future-state visioning to uncover opportunities for transformative products that elevate the convenience store experience. Act as the "voice of the future" for product features, advocating for bold ideas that enhance the consumer journey and drive industry change. Collaborate with external partners, such as technology providers and industry partners, to foster co-innovation and bring promising ideas to life. Lead design efforts to explore and develop forward-looking concepts, working closely with design, engineering, and customer-facing teams. Guide the product team through ideation, prototyping, and implementation, ensuring alignment on product vision and technical execution.

Delivery

Write proposals, product requirement documents, and innovation briefs to support the development of new initiatives. Engage throughout the development lifecycle to ensure the successful transition of innovative ideas from prototype to production, and perform acceptance testing of completed work.

Administration

Maintain roadmap items related to innovation and R&D, ensuring alignment with broader platform initiatives and strategic goals. Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, customers, and partners to understand their needs and ensure our innovation agenda is impactful. Collaborate with other product managers to align innovation initiatives with ongoing platform work and prioritize based on feasibility and strategic importance. Work with engineering and design leadership to plan resource allocation for R&D activities and communicate roadmap updates to internal stakeholders.

Additional Skills:

3-5+ years as a product manager or in a similar role focused on innovation, R&D, or expansive product development. Experience in the convenience store, retail, or technology industries, with a passion for exploring how technology can enhance the customer experience. Strong background in design thinking, user-centered design, and a demonstrated ability to turn insights into tangible product ideas. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, exploratory environment with a focus on emerging trends and new concepts. Ability to interact with senior management and stakeholders with confidence. Strong organizational skills, with the ability to oversee initiatives across multiple teams and ensure successful delivery. Comfortable getting hands-on and diving into the details of product development, including collaborating directly with designers and engineers. Familiarity with prototyping, experimentation, and software development processes. Ability to work US east coast hours while coordinating with distributed teams. 

Unleash your potential: What you will be doing and owning:

In this role, you will drive the development of transformative products, combining insights from customers, technology advancements, and design methodologies. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities, building an innovation roadmap, and bringing industry-defining products to life. You will also help determine new areas of focus for our platform beyond payments and loyalty. You will work closely with engineering, design, business stakeholders, and external partners to ensure successful implementation of ideas into scalable solutions. Your creativity and forward-thinking approach will be instrumental in advancing the state of the art within the convenience store industry. 

Perks and Benefits Hot Off the Grill:

Unlimited PTO (Exempt Employees) 3+ weeks/ year of Vacation/ PTO (Non-exempt Employees) Healthcare Benefits Fitness/ Wellness Reimbursement ($400/year) Internet Stipend (Remote employees) Employee Stock Purchase Program 401k Match

PAR is proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. We also provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you’d like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant, please visit the US Department of Labor's website.