Product Manager Brand Partnerships (f/m/x) Photonics & Optics

ZEISS, a leading supplier of optical and optoelectronic technologies, is bundling units outside the divisions in the Photonics & Optics strategic business unit that offer customers a wide range of optical and photonic technologies in highly specialized markets around the world: mobile imaging, hunting & nature, cinematography, microoptics, spectroscopy, planetariums and simulation projection solutions.

We are looking for a technically skilled Product Manager (f/m/x) for our business unit Mobile Imaging and it's licensing business.

As Product Manager for Brand Partnerships, you will be responsible for maximizing brand value, and ensuring the commercial success of ZEISS licensed products within existing strategic partnerships. You will oversee the operational management of products in the mobile imaging sector – primarily smartphones, while expanding oversight into new mobile imaging form factors, such as pocket cameras, action cameras, and related B2C consumer electronics. Your role ensures that all products meet ZEISS’s high standards for quality, user experience (UX), and brand alignment – from development to series release.

Your Role

Strategic evaluation and consultancy role to assess market trends, competitor landscapes, and pricing for licen-see’s mobile imaging product portfolio (smartphones incl. accessories).

Provide market insights and evaluations for merging mobile photography form factors (e.g. pocket camera, action camera, wearable imaging) to ensure a cohesive ZEISS license portfolio.

Analyze, align and review licensee’s input on product strategy documents to ensure cohesive product roadmaps, innovation pipelines, and effective consumer targets.

Drive and track high-priority projects by collaborating closely with licensee partner teams across PM, R&D, Brand and Marketing.

Partner with licensee R&D and tech development to evaluate computational and AI-enabled photography experience to ensure they meet ZEISS Brand signatures.

Analyze the end-to-end digital user experience, including imaging app interfaces and digital workflows, to ensure premium usability.

Review high-level quality metrics and QA reports, and field data provided by licensees to inform future product strategy and improvements.

Analyze sales performance, margin structures, and market share to evaluate the impact of the ZEISS Brand on the products’ commercial success.

Coordinate closely with internal brand and marketing departments to ensure successful, on-brand product launches.

Your Profile

Degree in business administration / business development, product management, marketing or similar.

Several years of proven experience in product management, preferably within the photography, videography, or mobile optical device industry.

Strong background in managing product roadmap, target consumers, and Go-to-Market (GTM) planning.

Familiarity with quality management principles and ability to strategically evaluate product fit beyond pure technical specifications.

Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret market data, competitive product metrics, and user experience (UX) documentation.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of managing relationships with licensee partners.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Experience in brand licensing or similar roles.

Fluent in English and German (Chinese as a bonus).

Ability to international travel up to 15%

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Christian Hohaus