Should I list years of experience, or just skills?

Ideally both. Years give a baseline, but skills matter more. "3+ years of product management" plus "can write clear product specifications" is stronger than years alone. Avoid gatekeeping: some career-changers make excellent PMs.

Where do I mention language requirements?

In the Must-Have section under "communication." If your team operates in German but English is acceptable, say so. If you need German AND French for stakeholder management, state both. Bilingual or trilingual ability is valuable in Switzerland—call it out if it matters.

What Pensum should I offer?

80–100% is standard for a full-time PM role. If you're flexible, say "80–100% negotiable based on experience." If you want someone to share the role with another PM or take on side projects, clarify that. Document Pensum in your employment contract.

Job Description Template: Product Manager

This template helps Swiss employers write a clear Product Manager job description. It covers role scope, day-to-day responsibilities, must-have and nice-to-have skills, and what compensation and benefits to mention. Adapt it to your company size, product stage, and location (specify canton or city as standard in Swiss recruitment).

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A Product Manager owns the vision, strategy, and execution of a product or feature. They sit at the intersection of technology, business, and user needs. In a Swiss SME, this role often requires hands-on collaboration across small, agile teams.

This template gives you a starting point. Adjust job title, Pensum percentage, location detail, and compensation based on your company and market. Language requirements belong in the opening paragraphs or requirements section.

About the Role

Write a short paragraph explaining what the Product Manager will own. Name the product, platform, or feature area. Describe the user base or market context if it helps.

Keep this concrete: for example, "You will lead our B2B SaaS invoicing module, used by 2,000+ SME clients" is clearer than "You will drive product strategy."

Define product vision and roadmap in collaboration with leadership and stakeholders
Gather and prioritise user feedback, market research, and business requirements
Work closely with engineering, design, and marketing to ship features on time
Track product metrics and health; report on progress and outcomes to the team
Own the product backlog and sprint planning cadence
Represent the user voice internally and advocate for user-centric decisions

Must-Have Requirements

List skills and experience that are truly non-negotiable. Focus on demonstrated ability, not years of service. For a Swiss hire, note if German, French, or Italian fluency is essential.

Avoid over-specification. If you need someone who has shipped a SaaS product, say that. If you need a specific industry background, state it clearly.

3+ years of product management or equivalent product ownership experience
Strong written and spoken communication in [German / French / Italian / English]; specify which language(s) your team uses daily
Ability to gather requirements, prioritise ruthlessly, and say no to scope creep
Comfortable with product analytics and data-driven decision-making
Experience working in cross-functional teams (engineering, design, sales, or customer success)
Familiarity with Agile or similar iterative development practices

Nice-to-Have Requirements & What We Offer

Nice-to-have items attract stronger candidates but shouldn't eliminate good ones. Then list your offer: Pensum as a percentage (e.g. 80–100%), location (canton and city), salary range in CHF annually, and key benefits.

Swiss employers typically state 13. Monatslohn, LAMal/health insurance support, holiday days, and home-office or flexible-work policy. Be transparent about whether you offer stock options, professional development budget, or other perks.

Experience in B2B SaaS, fintech, or regulated industries (a plus, not required)
Exposure to user research or UX design principles
Background in a Swiss or EU market (knowledge of local business context is valuable)
Pensum: 80–100% (full-time or negotiable)
Location: [City], [Canton] (specify your office and any remote flexibility)
Salary: CHF [X]k–[Y]k annually, commensurate with experience; 13. Monatslohn included

Frequently asked questions

Should I list years of experience, or just skills?: Ideally both. Years give a baseline, but skills matter more. "3+ years of product management" plus "can write clear product specifications" is stronger than years alone. Avoid gatekeeping: some career-changers make excellent PMs.
Where do I mention language requirements?: In the Must-Have section under "communication." If your team operates in German but English is acceptable, say so. If you need German AND French for stakeholder management, state both. Bilingual or trilingual ability is valuable in Switzerland—call it out if it matters.
What Pensum should I offer?: 80–100% is standard for a full-time PM role. If you're flexible, say "80–100% negotiable based on experience." If you want someone to share the role with another PM or take on side projects, clarify that. Document Pensum in your employment contract.

General information for Swiss employers, not legal advice. Have a lawyer confirm anything with legal consequences.