Product Operations Lead

Product Operations Lead About Us At Nextlane , we don’t just develop software solutions – we create the future of the automotive industry. We are a company that combines advanced technology with a clear vision: simplifying and digitizing every step of the automotive customer journey, empowering manufacturers and dealerships to thrive in a constantly evolving market. We believe in the value of every team member, offering opportunities for you to develop and contribute to meaningful solutions. So… What does it mean to be a #Nextlaner? Be part of a growth-oriented culture . Collaborate with colleagues from all over the world. Believe in the Power of ideas and the diversity of thought . Be committed to provide an environment where you can learn, grow, and collaborate on projects that make a global impact. Our success is measured not just by results, but also by the growth and satisfaction of those who are part of our company. At Nextlane, you’ll have the opportunity to innovate , push boundaries , and work on solutions that are transforming the automotive world. Your Responsibilities: As a key member of the team, you will be responsible for: Product Governance & Lifecycle Management Maintain governance across the product lifecycle, including readiness, releases, adoption, early access, general availability, and retirement. Maintain a centralised catalogue of products, certifications, integrations, APIs, and platform capabilities. Improve operational visibility, lifecycle tracking, and readiness governance across Product and Engineering. Support go/no-go readiness reviews covering QA, support readiness, certifications, dependencies, and customer impact. Certification Governance Own tracking and governance of OEM, regulatory, invoicing, hosting, security, and integration certifications. Maintain visibility of certification owners, renewal dates, dependencies, risks, and delivery status. Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure certification readiness and escalation management. Analytics, Reporting & Forecasting Build and maintain executive-grade Power BI dashboards covering product usage, release health, lifecycle status, certifications, backlog KPIs, and operational performance. Develop operational reporting, forecasting models, and portfolio insights to improve decision-making and execution visibility. Improve KPI consistency, operational reporting quality, and data transparency across Product and Engineering. Use AI-assisted reporting and automation to improve operational efficiency and governance scalability. Cross-Functional Coordination Support governance cadences, operational reviews, readiness reviews, and executive reporting processes. Coordinate across Product, Engineering, QA, Support, OEM Services, Security, Finance, and GTM teams. Improve alignment between roadmap commitments, operational readiness, certification dependencies, and customer obligations. What This Role Is Not This role does not replace Product Managers, Project Managers, or Delivery Managers. It exists to improve governance, readiness discipline, operational visibility, lifecycle management, and executive reporting across the Product & Technology organisation. What We're Looking For: Experience & Background Experience in Product Operations, operational governance, consulting, or transformation-focused operational roles within SaaS or enterprise software environments. Strong preference for candidates with consulting backgrounds combined with hands-on operational experience. Experience operating in complex, multi-product, cross-functional environments. Operational & Analytical Capability Strong understanding of product lifecycle governance, readiness processes, SaaS operating models, and operational KPI frameworks. Strong experience in: Power BI dashboarding Data modelling Forecasting KPI reporting and operational analytics Strong analytical mindset with the ability to convert operational data into executive insights and decision support. Experience with AI-assisted reporting, automation, or operational analytics strongly preferred. Communication & Collaboration Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. Comfortable working across Product, Engineering, QA, Support, Security, Finance, and GTM functions. Able to operate effectively in fast-changing, transformation-driven environments. Languages English: Fluent. Second European language preferred. Our Recruitment Process: 15-minute introductory call with our Talent Acquisition Specialist. Interviews with Product, Engineering, and Executive Leadership stakeholders. Case study / operational scenario discussion. Final cultural fit interview. What We Offer: We understand that flexibility and trust are essential for our teams. Here are some of the benefits we offer: 🏡 Hybrid Work: Rotational model, 2 days onsite, three days remote. 💰 Annual Payments: 14 payments per year (12 monthly payments + 1 summer bonus + 1 Christmas bonus in November). 🍽️ Meal Voucher: €10.20 per working day. 🌴 Vacation: 23 vacation days, plus 24th or 31st December off. 🗣️ Language Training: Access to group classes in Spanish, English, or French. ⚕️ Private Medical Insurance: Multicare coverage. Teambuilding: Join us for memorable afterworks and team activities! Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging At Nextlane, we are committed to creating a space where everyone feels valued and respected . We firmly believe that diversity in experiences and backgrounds strengthens our culture and drives innovation. Support for people with disabilities . If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, let us know so we can provide the best possible experience. Equal opportunities for all: We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Join Nextlane and become part of the technological revolution in the automotive industry. Discover why we are a great place to develop your talent! Locations Portugal - Sintra Remote status Hybrid About Nextlane At Nextlane, we connect every part of the automotive value chain—dealers, OEMs, dealer groups, and technology partners—through one open, secure, and smart platform for automotive retail software. Our platform removes fragmentation by unifying DMS and CRM workflows into one connected Sales and After-Sales ecosystem—ensuring consistent data, smoother integrations, and more efficient operations across sales, service, and back-office teams. AI is increasingly embedded across our solutions, enhancing how dealers and OEMs work every day. New AI-driven capabilities improve quality, automate routine tasks, and strengthen data accuracy—bringing more intelligence and speed to sales and after-sales processes. Built on a cloud-native architecture, the Nextlane Platform delivers the scalability, security, and performance modern dealerships and OEMs need. It connects our DMS and CRM solutions with OEM systems and third-party apps, ensuring compliance, uptime, and future-ready innovation. With 700 experts supporting 10,000 dealerships in 11 countries and integrating 60+ OEM brands, Nextlane is Europe’s largest connected automotive software platform—accelerating digital transformation and continuous operational improvement. Our growing Partner Ecosystem brings together leading third-party innovators to extend platform value—helping dealerships automate workflows, boost performance, enhance customer experiences, and stay ahead of industry change. Coworkers +700