Product Manager

Position Summary: 

Product Manager is responsible for overseeing the development, launch, and continuous improvement of technology products within an organization. This role bridges the gap between business objectives and technical execution, ensuring that products meet market demands and align with the company's strategic goals. The IT Product Manager works closely with cross-functional teams, including software developers, UX/UI designers, and business stakeholders, to define product features, prioritize the product backlog, and manage the product lifecycle from concept to delivery and beyond.

Key Responsibilities: 

The essential functions of this role include:

• Product Strategy & Vision: Develop and communicate a clear product vision that aligns with business goals. Define the product roadmap, outlining key features and milestones.
• Market Research: Conduct market analysis to understand customer needs, competitor offerings, and emerging trends to inform product development.
• Requirement Gathering: Collaborate with stakeholders to gather, analyze, and document detailed product requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with engineering, design, marketing, and sales teams to ensure smooth product development and launch processes.
• Backlog Management: Prioritize product features and tasks in the product backlog, ensuring alignment with the overall strategy and timely delivery.
• Product Development: Oversee the product development lifecycle, from initial concept through to release, ensuring high-quality standards and alignment with requirements.
• Stakeholder Communication: Regularly update stakeholders on product progress, risks, and changes. Facilitate communication between technical teams and business stakeholders.
• User Experience Focus: Ensure that the product provides a seamless and positive user experience, incorporating user feedback into iterative development cycles.
• Performance Monitoring: Track and analyze product performance post-launch, using metrics and user feedback to drive ongoing improvements.

• Education & Experience: 
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or a related field. An MBA or similar advanced degree is often preferred.
• Experience: Several years of experience in product management within the IT sector, with a proven track record of managing successful product launches.
• Skills: Strong understanding of software development processes, excellent project management skills, and proficiency in tools such as Jira, Confluence, and other product management software.
• Soft Skills: Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and drive cross-functional teams. Strong problem-solving abilities and a customer-centric mindset.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

This role may serve as a team lead for an assigned work group.

Competencies: 

1. Technical Acumen

• Understanding of IT Systems and Software Development: Familiarity with software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum), programming languages, and IT infrastructure.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to analyze technical data and metrics to make informed decisions and drive product development.

2. Business Acumen

• Strategic Thinking: Capability to align product development with the company’s strategic goals and market demands.
• Market Analysis: Understanding market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape to inform product direction.
• Financial Management: Competency in managing product budgets, forecasting, and ensuring financial viability.

3. Project Management

• Planning and Execution: Ability to manage product lifecycle processes, including planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Risk Management: Identifying potential risks and implementing strategies to mitigate them.
• Time Management: Prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively to meet deadlines.

4. Communication Skills

• Stakeholder Management: Building and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of product goals and progress.
• Negotiation and Persuasion: Effectively negotiating requirements, timelines, and resources, and persuading stakeholders of the product’s value.
• Presentation Skills: Ability to present complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.

5. Leadership

• Team Leadership: Leading cross-functional teams, inspiring collaboration, and fostering a productive work environment.
• Decision-Making: Making informed, timely decisions that balance technical possibilities with business needs.
• Conflict Resolution: Addressing and resolving conflicts within the team or with stakeholders in a constructive manner.

6. Customer-Centricity

• User Experience Focus: Ensuring that products meet user needs and provide a seamless, positive experience.
• Customer Feedback Integration: Gathering and incorporating customer feedback into the product development process to continuously improve the product.

7. Innovation and Creativity

• Problem-Solving: Identifying innovative solutions to complex technical and business challenges.
• Product Vision: Ability to envision and articulate a clear and compelling product vision that drives innovation and sets the direction for the team.

8. Adaptability

• Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing market conditions, technology trends, and organizational priorities.
• Continuous Learning: Staying updated on the latest industry trends, technologies, and best practices to ensure the product remains competitive.

9. Analytical Skills

• Data Analysis: Proficiency in analyzing data to identify trends, measure performance, and make evidence-based decisions.
• Problem Analysis: The ability to break down complex problems into manageable components and develop effective solutions.

10. Attention to Detail

• Quality Assurance: Ensuring that all aspects of the product meet high standards for quality, reliability, and user satisfaction.
• Documentation: Maintaining detailed and accurate documentation throughout the product development lifecycle.

Travel: 

• 0-25%

Language Skills: 

• This role requires superior verbal and written communication skills in English (Spanish is also preferred)

Physical Demands: 

• This position requires the ability to work with the computer for long period of time.