Product Development Manager

Colonial First State; Sydney; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer super access

Discounts on financial services

Wellbeing support

Birthday leave

Job summary

Colonial First State is seeking a Product Development Manager, FirstChoice Modern, for a 12-month contract in Sydney. You will lead Open API delivery, partner onboarding, and supplier governance across product, technology and operations.

The role requires strong cross-functional leadership, wealth-management experience, and the ability to translate strategy into executable delivery plans with a focus on API ecosystems and adviser workflows.

Qualifications

• Strong product development or program delivery experience in wealth/financial services.
• Ability to lead cross-functional delivery teams and influence stakeholders.
• Experience shaping operating models and governance for complex initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for executive updates.

Responsibilities

• Lead the business delivery stream for Open API initiatives across Product, Tech and Operations.
• Partner with technology, architecture and cyber security to shape API requirements and access.
• Develop the partner onboarding model for open APIs including governance and testing.
• Design and implement supplier governance and service structure for API partners.
• Engage adviser practices, licensees and technology providers to translate feedback into requirements.
• Prepare high-quality delivery materials and executive briefings.
• Support operational readiness, including process docs and training inputs.
• Identify opportunities to use AI and automation to improve delivery quality.

Skills

Product development

Cross-functional leadership

APIs

Open architecture

Data integrations

Agile delivery

Stakeholder management

Financial services knowledge

Education

Tertiary qualifications in business/finance/technology

Job description

Are you ready to be part of an organisation that values expertise, passion and diversity? At CFS we know that the foundation of our success lies in our exceptional people. We believe in celebrating individuality, have a passion for high performance and creating an environment where you can unleash your full potential. Our people enable us to make a difference and deliver exceptional experiences to help our customers achieve financial freedom.

Your Team

The Platform Integration & Strategic Partnerships team sits within CFS’s Super & Investments business and works at the intersection of product development, strategic partnerships, adviser experience, technology delivery, governance and platform change. The team supports strategic initiatives that help FirstChoice remain contemporary, competitive and embedded in adviser workflows.

The Product Development Manager, FirstChoice Modern reports to the Director, Platform Integration & Strategic Partnerships. This is a 12-month contract role that will lead and coordinate key product, delivery and operating model outcomes for the FirstChoice Modern program, with a core focus on Open API delivery, partner onboarding, supplier governance and scalable service processes.

Your Responsibilities

Lead the business delivery stream for Open API initiatives under the FirstChoice Modern program, coordinating scope, priorities, delivery milestones, risks and dependencies across Product, Technology and Operations.

Partner with technology, architecture and cyber security teams to shape API requirements, prioritise the API catalogue, define partner access requirements and support readiness for sandbox, consent, permissioning and production release pathways.

Support the development of the partner onboarding model for open APIs, including registration, accreditation, legal and commercial inputs, security assessment, testing, go-live governance and ongoing access management.

Design and implement a new supplier governance and service structure for API partners, covering decision rights, escalation paths, issue management, release communications, performance monitoring and periodic review processes.

Support engagement with adviser practices, licensees and adviser technology providers to validate priority use cases, understand workflow needs and translate feedback into clear product and delivery requirements.

Work with the Project Manager to prepare high-quality delivery materials, decision papers, working group updates and executive briefings that clearly explain progress, risks, trade-offs and recommendations.

Support operational readiness activities, including process documentation, support model design, training inputs, internal handover and hypercare arrangements for pilot and early partner integrations.

Actively identify opportunities to use AI and automation to improve delivery quality, stakeholder communication, analysis and repeatable operating processes.

Your Capability and Experience

Strong product development, product delivery or program delivery experience, ideally within wealth management, superannuation, platforms, advice technology or financial services.

Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional delivery teams and influence stakeholders across business, technology, operations, risk and external partner groups.

Experience shaping business requirements, operating models, governance processes and implementation plans for complex product, platform or technology initiatives.

Strong commercial judgement, analytical capability and problem-solving skills, with the ability to convert ambiguity into structured options, decisions and delivery plans.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare executive-ready updates, decision papers and stakeholder materials.

Experience with APIs, open architecture or data integrations is desirable

Knowledge of adviser workflows, financial planning software, CRM platforms, licensee operating models or platform-to-practice integration needs is desirable.

Experience in supplier governance, vendor onboarding, service management, operational resilience or third-party risk processes is desirable

Comfort working in agile or hybrid delivery environments, including backlog shaping, delivery planning, dependency management and release readiness is desirable

Relevant tertiary qualifications in business, finance, technology, product management or a related discipline is desirable.

What to Expect

At CFS, you'll be working among the very best in the wealth management industry. It's an inspiring environment that encourages development and celebrates success. Other things to look forward to:

• Access to CFS Employer Super, which offers an expansive investment menu and flexible insurance solutions
• Support with financial services, including discounts on home loans and daily bank accounts through our partnership with a leading financial institution
• Access to 24/7 confidential support covering safety, medical and mental health services

Additional leave day to celebrate your birthday

• Life Leave - 3 days per annum to focus on your wellbeing or celebrate a special event
• Exclusive discounts on retail, travel and entertainment

CFS Culture

At CFS we are committed to creating a thriving environment where individuals can flourish. We believe that success is built upon strong teams, and we are dedicated to celebrating uniqueness, championing individuality and supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe that when you can truly be yourself, you can unlock your full potential.

Please note, CFS requires all candidates to have full work rights in Australia.

Where we have preferred candidates, background checks (including Police, Employment, Bankruptcy checks, ASIC banned and disqualified persons) will be completed prior to the final preferred candidate’s employment being confirmed. The outcomes of the background checks do not preclude the preferred candidate, however, they will be assessed against the inherent requirements of the role.

This role is based on Gadigal Land (Sydney).