Product Manager

We are seeking an experienced Product Manager to join our team at Airtel Digital, a leading digital services company that provides innovative solutions to customers across India. As a Product Manager, you will be responsible for defining and delivering digital products that meet the evolving needs of our customers, drive business growth, and stay ahead of the competition.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in product management, with a focus on digital products, and a proven track record of success in leading cross-functional teams to launch successful products. You will be working closely with various stakeholders, including engineering, design, marketing, and sales teams to develop and launch products that delight our customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the product strategy for Airtel Digital's digital services, including Digital TV, Airtel Xstream, and Airtel Broadband, ensuring alignment with the company's overall business goals and objectives.
• Conduct market research and analyze customer feedback to identify opportunities for product innovation and improvement, and develop user personas, customer journeys, and product roadmaps to guide product development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and marketing, to develop and launch new products and features that meet customer needs and drive business growth.
• Develop and manage product requirements documents (PRDs), product specifications, and product roadmaps, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned and informed throughout the product development process.
• Work closely with the engineering team to ensure that products are developed with high-quality, scalability, and reliability, and that agile development methodologies are followed.
• Develop and manage product metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), and product dashboards, to measure product success and inform data-driven decision-making.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop go-to-market strategies, product launches, and marketing campaigns that drive customer acquisition and engagement.
• Work closely with the sales team to ensure that products are aligned with customer needs and that sales teams are equipped to effectively sell and support products.

Requirements:

• Mid-Senior level experience in product management, preferably in the digital services or telecom industry.
• Strong understanding of digital products, product management, and product development processes.
• Experience in leading cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and marketing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex data sets and develop actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in the telecom industry, specifically with digital TV, broadband, or mobile services.
• Knowledge of agile development methodologies, scrum, and Kanban.
• Experience with cloud-based technologies, SaaS, and API-based integrations.
• Familiarity with data analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, Tableau, or Power BI.

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to work on innovative digital products that are transforming the Indian digital services landscape.
• A dynamic and fast-paced work environment that encourages experimentation, learning, and growth.
• A collaborative and supportive team culture that values diversity, inclusion, and feedback.
• A comprehensive compensation package, including salary, bonus, and stock options.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development, including training programs, mentorship, and career progression.

If you're a motivated and experienced Product Manager looking to lead the development of innovative digital products, we'd love to hear from you. As a Product Manager at Airtel Digital, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the company's growth and success, and be part of a team that is shaping the future of digital services in India.

Qualification for Product Manager at Airtel Digital

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Computer Science, Electronics, or Telecommunications) or Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from a reputable institution
• Relevant certifications in product management, digital marketing, or data analysis are a plus

Experience:

• Mid-Senior level experience in product management, preferably in the digital or telecom industry
• Proven track record of launching and managing successful digital products or services
• Experience in managing cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and marketing

Key Skills:

• Product Development:
  • Experience in developing and launching digital products, including mobile apps, web applications, and APIs
  • Strong understanding of product development methodologies, including Agile and Scrum
  • Ability to work with engineering teams to define product requirements and develop product roadmaps
• Market Analysis:
  • Experience in conducting market research and analyzing customer needs and preferences
  • Ability to identify market trends, opportunities, and threats
  • Strong understanding of competitor analysis and market sizing
• Business Acumen:
  • Experience in managing product P&L, including revenue growth, profitability, and cost optimization
  • Strong understanding of business metrics, including customer acquisition costs, lifetime value, and return on investment
  • Ability to develop and manage business cases for product investments
• Leadership and Collaboration:
  • Experience in managing cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and marketing
  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with ability to motivate and inspire team members
  • Ability to collaborate with stakeholders, including sales, customer success, and product teams

Technical Skills:

• Programming: Proficiency in programming languages, including Java, Python, or C++
• Data Analysis: Experience with data analysis tools, including Excel, SQL, and data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI
• Product Management Tools: Familiarity with product management tools, including JIRA, Asana, or Trello
• Cloud Platforms: Experience with cloud platforms, including AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure

Soft Skills:

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to articulate complex ideas and product visions
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and make informed decisions that align with business objectives
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing market conditions, customer needs, and business priorities
• Customer Focus: Strong customer focus, with ability to understand and prioritize customer needs and preferences

Industry Knowledge:

• Digital Industry: Strong understanding of the digital industry, including trends, opportunities, and challenges
• Telecom Industry: Familiarity with the telecom industry, including network technologies, data plans, and customer behavior
• Regulatory Environment: Understanding of the regulatory environment, including data protection, privacy, and security regulations

Tools and Software:

• Product Management Software: JIRA, Asana, Trello, or similar tools
• Data Analysis Tools: Excel, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools
• Design Tools: Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, or similar tools
• Communication Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar tools

Location and Work Requirements:

• Location: Haryana, India
• Work Arrangement: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 9 hours a day
• Travel: Occasional travel, up to 20% of the time, for meetings, conferences, or product launches

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary: A competitive salary range, commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off
• Opportunities for Growth: Opportunities for professional growth and development, including training, mentorship, and career advancement
• Dynamic Work Environment: A dynamic and collaborative work environment, with a team of experienced professionals and a passion for innovation.

• Develop and execute product strategies that drive business growth, revenue, and customer engagement for Airtel Digital's products and services in the competitive telecom industry, utilizing strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, marketing, and sales, to identify market opportunities, define product requirements, and prioritize features that meet customer needs and business objectives, ensuring seamless product launches and lifecycle management.
• Conduct market research, competitor analysis, and customer feedback to inform product decisions, identify trends, and stay up-to-date with industry developments, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize product performance and customer experience.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success, analyzing metrics such as customer acquisition, retention, and revenue growth to inform data-driven decisions and optimize product strategies.
• Work closely with the engineering team to translate product vision into actionable requirements, ensuring that products are developed with high-quality, scalability, and reliability, and are aligned with Airtel Digital's technical roadmap and architecture.
• Develop business cases, product roadmaps, and requirements documents that outline product vision, goals, and objectives, effectively communicating product plans and progress to stakeholders, including senior leadership, teams, and external partners.
• Manage product launches from concept to go-live, ensuring successful product introductions, and post-launch reviews to identify areas for improvement and optimize future product launches.
• Foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including sales, marketing, and customer support teams, to ensure product-market fit, identify opportunities for growth, and drive product adoption.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor activity, assessing their impact on Airtel Digital's products and services, and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Collaborate with the design team to develop user-centered design principles, ensuring that products are intuitive, user-friendly, and meet customer needs, and align with Airtel Digital's brand guidelines and design standards.
• Develop and manage product budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation plans, ensuring effective resource utilization and ROI-driven decision-making.
• Drive a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement within the product team, encouraging feedback, iteration, and innovation to optimize product performance and customer experience.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and company policies, maintaining the highest standards of integrity, security, and data protection.
• Represent Airtel Digital in industry forums, conferences, and meetings, showcasing the company's products and services, and establishing thought leadership in the telecom and digital industries.
• Build and maintain a deep understanding of customer needs, preferences, and pain points, leveraging customer insights to inform product decisions and drive customer-centric product development.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for new products and features, working closely with marketing and sales teams to drive awareness, adoption, and revenue growth.
• Manage and prioritize product backlogs, ensuring that products are developed with the right features, functionality, and user experience, and are aligned with business objectives and customer needs.
• Collaborate with data analytics teams to develop data-driven product insights, analyzing customer behavior, market trends, and product performance to inform product decisions and optimize product strategies.
• Ensure seamless product integration with existing systems, processes, and infrastructure, working closely with IT and engineering teams to minimize disruptions and optimize system performance.

Selection Process – Airtel Digital, Product Manager (Mid‑Senior, Haryana)

• Initial Resume & Portfolio Review

• Recruiters scan for 5+ years of product ownership, preferably in telecom, digital services, or large‑scale B2C platforms.

• Emphasis on demonstrable impact: revenue growth percentages, user acquisition numbers, churn reduction, or launch of flagship features.

• Portfolio must include at least two end‑to‑end product cycles with clear articulation of problem, hypothesis, metrics, and outcomes.

• HR Screening Call (30‑45 min)

• Conducted by Airtel Digital’s Talent Acquisition partner based in Gurgaon.

• Focus on motivation for joining Airtel, alignment with the company’s “Digital First” vision, and willingness to relocate or commute to the Haryana hub.

• Verification of eligibility to work in India, notice period, and compensation expectations (range disclosed for mid‑senior level).

• Candidates are asked to describe a recent product decision that required trade‑off between speed‑to‑market and technical debt.

• Technical/Product Deep‑Dive Interview (60‑90 min, virtual)

• Led by a senior Product Manager from the Airtel Digital Core Services team.

• Structured into three segments:

  • Product Sense: Candidate is given a real‑world Airtel scenario (e.g., “Design a feature to reduce data‑plan churn among tier‑2 city users”). Expected to walk through user research, personas, JTBD, and prioritization framework (RICE, MoSCoW).
  • Execution & Metrics: Discussion of go‑to‑market plan, sprint planning, KPI selection (DAU, ARPU, NPS), A/B test design, and post‑launch analysis.
  • Technical Acumen: Not coding, but probing understanding of APIs, data pipelines, and integration with Airtel’s legacy OSS/BSS systems. Ability to converse fluently with engineering leads is assessed.

• Analytical Case Study (Take‑Home, 4‑6 hrs)

• Candidates receive anonymized data set (user activity logs, revenue buckets, churn indicators).

• Deliverable: a concise slide deck (max 10 slides) outlining problem statement, analytical approach (SQL/Excel/PowerBI), insights, and recommended product roadmap.

• Evaluation criteria include clarity of hypothesis, rigor of analysis, visual storytelling, and feasibility of recommendations within Airtel’s technology stack.

• Leadership & Stakeholder Management Interview (45‑60 min, in‑person at Haryana office)

• Panel includes Head of Product, a senior Engineering Director, and a Business Operations lead.

• Questions target cross‑functional collaboration: handling conflicting priorities between network ops and digital experience teams, influencing senior leadership without direct authority, and navigating regulatory constraints specific to Indian telecom.

• Behavioral probes follow the STAR method, with emphasis on “scale‑up” experiences (e.g., launching a product to >5 M users within 6 months).

• Culture Fit & Vision Alignment Session (30‑45 min, virtual)

• Conducted by the People & Culture team.

• Discussion of Airtel’s core values: Customer Obsession, Agility, Ownership, and Innovation.

• Candidates share examples of how they have championed a “digital‑first” mindset in previous roles, and how they would contribute to Airtel’s roadmap for 5G‑enabled services.

• Final Executive Round (60 min, in‑person)

• One‑on‑one with the VP of Digital Products.

• Focus on strategic thinking: long‑term product vision for Airtel’s digital ecosystem, potential disruption from OTT players, and how the candidate would prioritize investments across network, content, and fintech services.

• Opportunity for candidate to ask high‑impact questions about Airtel’s roadmap, partnership models, and upcoming market launches in North India.

• Reference Checks & Background Verification

• HR contacts 2‑3 professional references, preferably former managers who can speak to product leadership, delivery speed, and stakeholder influence.

• Background verification includes education, employment history, and any compliance checks relevant to telecom regulations.

• Offer Presentation & Negotiation

• Formal offer sent by the Talent Acquisition lead, detailing base salary, performance‑linked variable, equity component (if applicable), and relocation assistance for Haryana.

• Candidate meets with HR to clarify benefits, learning & development budget, and onboarding timeline.

How to Prepare – Targeted Guidance for Airtel Digital’s Product Manager Role

• Deep‑Dive into Airtel’s Digital Portfolio

• Study the latest Airtel Xstream, Airtel Payments Bank, and 5G trial initiatives.

• Map out recent press releases (last 12 months) to understand product launches, partnership announcements, and market positioning in North India.

• Master Telecom‑Specific Metrics

• Be fluent in ARPU, churn rate, average revenue per user (ARPU) segmentation, network utilization, and OTT‑vs‑operator traffic share.

• Prepare to discuss how you would improve these metrics through product interventions.

• Practice Structured Product Cases

• Use frameworks like “Problem‑Solution‑Metrics” and “Jobs‑To‑Be‑Done” on telecom‑centric prompts (e.g., “Reduce data‑plan over‑usage penalties for rural users”).

• Time yourself to deliver a complete answer within 15‑20 minutes, mirroring the interview cadence.

• Polish Data‑Analysis Storytelling

• Re‑create a mini‑analysis using publicly available telecom datasets (e.g., TRAI reports).

• Build a slide deck that tells a narrative: hypothesis → methodology → insight → product recommendation.

• Focus on clean visualizations (bar charts, cohort analysis) and concise bullet‑point conclusions.

• Simulate Cross‑Functional Negotiation

• Draft role‑play scripts where you must convince a network engineer to prioritize a low‑latency feature over a legacy upgrade.
  – Highlight your ability to translate business impact into technical requirements and vice‑versa.

• Refresh Agile & Product Lifecycle Knowledge

• Review Airtel’s public statements on “Scrum‑of‑Scrums” and “Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)” adoption.

• Prepare examples of how you have run multi‑team sprints, managed PI planning, and delivered MVPs in regulated environments.

• Prepare Leadership Stories Aligned with Airtel Values

• Customer Obsession: a story where you turned a negative NPS trend into a growth opportunity.

• Agility: an instance of pivoting product scope within a two‑week sprint due to market feedback.

• Ownership: a case where you took end‑to‑end responsibility for a product’s post‑launch performance.

• Innovation: an example of introducing a new technology (AI‑driven recommendation engine) into an existing product line.

• Stay Updated on Indian Telecom Regulations

• Review recent TRAI guidelines on data privacy, inter‑connectivity fees, and 5G spectrum allocation.

• Be ready to discuss how regulatory constraints shape product roadmaps and risk mitigation strategies.

• Mock Interviews with Telecom‑Savvy Peers

• Pair up with a colleague who has experience in telecom product roles; conduct full‑cycle mock interviews covering product sense, analytics, and leadership.

• Record feedback, iterate on storytelling speed, and refine metric articulation.

• Logistics & Mindset for the Haryana Office

• Familiarize yourself with the Gurgaon‑Haryana tech corridor, commute options, and local work culture.

• Prepare a concise “relocation readiness” statement (even if you already reside nearby) to demonstrate commitment to the regional hub.

• Finalize a Tailored Portfolio

• Include a one‑page “Impact Dashboard” for each highlighted product: problem, solution, KPI before/after, and a brief note on cross‑functional collaboration.

• Ensure the deck is PDF‑compatible, visually consistent, and can be shared quickly during the case‑study debrief.

• Prepare Thoughtful Questions for Executives

• Draft 3‑4 strategic questions about Airtel’s roadmap for integrated digital services (e.g., “How does Airtel envision the convergence of telecom infrastructure with fintech ecosystems in the next 3‑5 years?”).

• Demonstrates forward‑thinking and genuine interest in shaping the company’s future.

By following this structured preparation roadmap, candidates can align their experience with Airtel Digital’s rigorous selection criteria, showcase deep domain expertise, and position themselves as the next product leader driving growth in Haryana.

• Company Overview

• Airtel Digital is the technology‑driven arm of Bharti Airtel, focusing on end‑to‑end digital services that span broadband, OTT, fintech, cloud, and IoT solutions.

• Operates across 22 Indian states, with a strategic hub in Haryana that serves as the command centre for North‑India digital rollout and product innovation.

• In FY 2023‑24, Airtel Digital contributed over ₹12,000 crore to the group’s total revenue, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 % in the digital services segment.

• Core Digital Offerings

• Airtel Xstream – a streaming platform delivering 4K HDR content, regional language originals, and live sports; currently hosts more than 30 million active users nationwide.

• Wynk Music – India’s leading music‑streaming service with a catalog of 70 million tracks, personalized AI‑driven playlists, and a partnership with major Indian record labels.

• Airtel Payments Bank – a full‑service digital bank offering zero‑balance savings accounts, micro‑loans, and QR‑based merchant payments; the platform processed over ₹2 trillion in transactions in FY 2023.

• Airtel Business Cloud – hybrid cloud infrastructure powered by partnerships with Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, delivering over 5,000 enterprise workloads across manufacturing, retail, and logistics.

• IoT Solutions – end‑to‑end device management for smart agriculture, logistics tracking, and smart city initiatives, with more than 1 million connected devices deployed in the North‑India region.

• Strategic Presence in Haryana

• The Haryana office is located in Gurugram’s Cyber City, occupying a 150,000 sq ft campus that houses product development, data analytics, and customer experience teams.

• Serves as the regional hub for the rollout of 5G‑enabled broadband services across the state’s 22 districts, targeting 10 million new broadband connections by 2026.

• Hosts a dedicated “Digital Innovation Lab” that collaborates with local startups, IIT‑Delhi, and Haryana’s Department of IT to pilot AI‑driven agritech solutions for wheat and rice farmers.

• Operates a state‑of‑the‑art Network Operations Center (NOC) that monitors over 150,000 km of fiber optic cable in real time, ensuring sub‑2‑second latency for enterprise customers.

• Leadership & Governance

• Headed by Mr. Ramesh Kumar, Vice President – Digital Services, who previously led the launch of Airtel Xstream and spearheaded the acquisition of a 30 % stake in a leading Indian fintech startup.

• The Haryana unit reports directly to the Group’s Chief Digital Officer, ensuring alignment with the company’s “Digital First” vision and rapid decision‑making cycles.

• Board‑level oversight includes a dedicated Digital Ethics Committee that reviews AI model fairness, data privacy compliance (aligned with India’s Personal Data Protection Bill), and responsible innovation.

• Technology Stack & Innovation

• Cloud‑Native Architecture – micro‑services built on Kubernetes, with CI/CD pipelines powered by Jenkins and GitLab, enabling 30 % faster release cycles.

• Data Analytics – a unified data lake on Amazon S3, leveraging Snowflake for real‑time analytics, supporting predictive churn models that have reduced churn by 12 % in the last fiscal year.

• AI & Machine Learning – in‑house recommendation engine for Xstream using TensorFlow, delivering a 22 % increase in average watch time per user.

• Cybersecurity – SOC‑2 Type II certified operations, with a 24/7 Security Operations Center employing over 200 analysts and automated threat‑intelligence feeds from global threat‑sharing platforms.

• Employee Experience & Culture

• Learning & Development – over 500 hours of internal training annually, including certifications in AWS, Google Cloud, and Data Science, with a 95 % employee participation rate.

• Innovation Incentives – quarterly “Hackathon‑X” events where cross‑functional teams prototype solutions; winning ideas receive seed funding of up to ₹10 lakhs and fast‑track to product rollout.

• Work‑Life Integration – flexible hybrid work model, on‑site wellness zones, and a dedicated “Digital Wellness” program offering mental‑health counseling and mindfulness sessions.

• Diversity & Inclusion – women constitute 38 % of the Haryana workforce, with a targeted mentorship program that has produced 12 senior women leaders in the past three years.

• Community Impact & CSR

• Digital Literacy – partnered with Haryana’s Education Department to train 250,000 students and teachers on digital tools, resulting in a 30 % increase in e‑learning adoption in rural schools.

• Rural Connectivity – launched the “Airtel Village Connect” initiative, installing solar‑powered broadband towers in 150 villages, delivering broadband speeds of 25 Mbps to over 1 million residents.

• Sustainability – the Gurugram campus operates on a 40 % renewable energy mix, with a 3‑MW solar rooftop and aggressive e‑waste recycling that has diverted 95 % of electronic waste from landfills.

• Market Position & Competitive Edge

• Holds a 28 % share of the broadband market in North India, outpacing the nearest competitor by 6 percentage points.

• Recognized by Forbes India as a “Top 10 Digital Innovator” in 2023, citing its AI‑driven customer service chatbot that resolves 78 % of queries without human intervention.

• Strategic alliances with Google, Microsoft, and Paytm enable co‑development of bundled digital services, creating a differentiated value proposition for both consumer and enterprise segments.

• Future Roadmap (2025‑2028)

• Deploy 5G‑enabled edge computing nodes across 50 new sites in Haryana, targeting ultra‑low latency for AR/VR applications in education and manufacturing.

• Launch “Airtel Digital Marketplace” – a platform for third‑party developers to offer SaaS solutions integrated with Airtel’s API ecosystem, projected to host 2,000+ apps by 2027.

• Expand IoT portfolio to include smart‑grid management solutions for Haryana’s power distribution companies, aiming for a 15 % reduction in transmission losses.

• Scale the “Green Fiber” program, replacing 60 % of existing copper lines with fiber that utilizes recyclable materials, aligning with the group’s net‑zero carbon target for 2030.

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Monitored at Haryana

• Net Promoter Score (NPS) – consistently above 68, the highest among regional digital hubs.

• Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) – growth of 9 % YoY, driven by bundled digital services and value‑added subscriptions.

• Service Uptime – 99.96 % across broadband and cloud services, surpassing the industry benchmark of 99.9 %.

• Employee Retention – 87 % annual retention rate, reflecting strong engagement and career progression pathways.

• Collaborations & Ecosystem Partnerships

• Joint venture with Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation (HSEDCL) to co‑create smart‑city pilots in Faridabad, focusing on traffic management and public Wi‑Fi.

• Academic partnership with IIT‑Delhi’s Centre for Digital Innovation, facilitating research on quantum‑ready cryptography for secure financial transactions.

• Co‑branding with Mahindra & Mahindra for connected vehicle solutions, integrating Airtel’s 5G network with Mahindra’s electric fleet telemetry.

• Recognition & Awards

• Best Digital Transformation Initiative – Indian Telecom Awards 2023, for the rollout of AI‑powered customer care across the North‑India region.

• Gold Medal for Sustainability – GreenTech India 2024, acknowledging the campus’s renewable energy adoption and e‑waste management.

• Employer of Choice – Technology – Great Place to Work India 2024, based on employee feedback on innovation culture and career growth.

• Organizational Values Embedded in Daily Operations

• Customer‑Centricity – data‑driven insights guide product enhancements, ensuring every feature addresses a measurable user need.

• Agility – cross‑functional squads adopt Scrum methodology, delivering incremental releases every two weeks.

• Integrity – strict adherence to GDPR‑aligned data handling policies, with quarterly audits and transparent reporting to stakeholders.

• Collaboration – open‑door policy for idea sharing, supported by internal collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Confluence, fostering seamless communication across product, engineering, and operations.

• Talent Ecosystem in Haryana

• Access to a talent pool of over 30,000 tech graduates from nearby institutions such as IIT‑Delhi, NSIT, and Maharshi Dayanand University, enabling rapid hiring for specialized roles in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering.

• Active participation in local tech meetups, hackathons, and university career fairs, positioning Airtel Digital as a preferred employer for emerging tech talent.

These bullet points collectively paint a detailed, data‑rich portrait of Airtel Digital’s operations, culture, and strategic significance within Haryana, providing prospective candidates with a clear understanding of the organization’s scope, impact, and future direction.