Product Manager - AI & Transformation

Job description / Role

As the Project/Product Manager for AI and Innovation at Apparel Group, you will lead strategic initiatives centered around the integration of AI and innovative technologies into the company's product offerings, customer experience, and operational processes. Your role will focus on identifying AI-driven solutions, managing product development, and overseeing projects that enhance digital transformation across the group's retail ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities:

AI Strategy & Roadmap:
- Define and implement Apparel Group's AI strategy, driving initiatives to integrate AI and machine learning across various functions including customer experience, supply chain, and merchandising.
- Develop a comprehensive roadmap for AI-driven projects, ensuring alignment with the company's broader digital transformation goals.

Product Management:
- Lead the development of AI-enabled products and services, from concept through to launch. This includes personalization tools, predictive analytics, chatbot implementation, and automation solutions.
- Conduct market research to identify AI trends and innovations relevant to the retail industry, bringing in fresh perspectives that align with the Group's business goals.
- Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of innovative product initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams including IT, marketing, sales, and operations.

Innovation Project Management :
- Oversee the execution of AI-driven projects and innovations, ensuring timely delivery, resource allocation, and risk management.
- Establish clear project goals, timelines, and budgets, coordinating with internal stakeholders and external vendors to deliver solutions that enhance the group's retail operations and customer engagement.
- Implement agile project management practices, driving continuous improvements, and iterative development for AI products.

Data-Driven Decision Making:
- Leverage AI and advanced data analytics to create actionable insights that support business decision-making. This includes demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, customer behavior analysis, and product recommendations.
- Ensure that all AI solutions are designed to capture and analyze data for business intelligence and ongoing optimization.

Innovation & Technology Enablement:
- Foster a culture of innovation by exploring new technologies, fostering collaboration with startups, tech partners, and internal innovation labs.
- Drive the adoption of cutting-edge tools such as natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning algorithms within the retail and fashion space
- Facilitate innovation workshops and sprints to generate new AI use cases for the business.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with IT, digital, and data science teams to ensure AI projects are integrated smoothly into the company's existing digital infrastructure.
- Collaborate with retail operations, marketing, and merchandising teams to ensure that AI products and innovations directly support business objectives and customer experience enhancements.

Vendor & Partnership Management:
- Identify and manage relationships with AI vendors, tech partners, and external consultants to bring in specialized expertise and scalable solutions.
- Evaluate third-party AI tools and platforms, assessing their fit within Apparel Group's ecosystem, and negotiating contracts as needed.

Experience:
- 5+ years of experience in project/product management roles with a focus on AI, innovation, or digital transformation.
- Proven experience in delivering AI-powered products, solutions, or projects, particularly in a retail or consumer-facing industry.

Skills:
- Strong understanding of AI technologies including machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics.
- Excellent project management skills with a focus on agile methodologies, product lifecycle management, and innovation management.
- Ability to translate complex AI concepts into practical applications that enhance retail operations and customer experiences.
- Strong business acumen with a passion for innovation in the retail sector.

Education:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Data Science, Business Administration, or a related field with a focus on AI/technology

About the Company

The Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate residing on the crossroads of a modern economy - Dubai, UAE. The mercurial growth in the last 17 years has been by acquiring a host of world class fashion labels from around the world - Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo & Tim Hortons just to name a few.

Today the group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its over 1530 stores, 75 International brands and employing 12,000 multi cultural staff in over 4 continents. Apparel believes in turning dreams in to reality and we give everyone - our customers, our stakeholders, our employees - an equal opportunity to do so.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.