Product Manager (16-20 yrs)

Position Overview: The Product Manager will play a critical role in the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch.

This individual will be responsible for working closely with Product Owners and User Experience Engineers to deliver products that meet customer expectations and drive business growth.

As a hands-on leader, the Product Manager will also actively contribute to product design, user experience, and product strategy while managing cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Strategy & Vision:

- Define and drive the product strategy, vision, and roadmap, ensuring alignment with the company's overall business goals.

- Conduct market and competitive analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and threats, adapting the product strategy accordingly.

- Develop and prioritize product features based on customer feedback, business value, and technical feasibility.

- Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders to refine product goals and translate them into actionable initiatives.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

- Lead and manage a team of Product Owners and User Experience Engineers, ensuring clear direction and fostering a collaborative work environment.

- Provide mentorship and guidance to Product Owners in defining product requirements, user stories, and backlog management.

- Work closely with User Experience Engineers to ensure seamless integration of design thinking and user-centered design principles into the product development process.

- Facilitate regular communication and collaboration across cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, marketing, and sales.

Hands-On Product Development:

- Actively participate in product development processes, including defining detailed product requirements, designing features, and supporting the engineering team during development and implementation.

- Collaborate with design and engineering teams to create high-quality prototypes, mockups, and product specifications.

- Own the product lifecycle from ideation through to launch, iterating quickly and incorporating feedback to refine product offerings.

- Prioritize product features and technical tasks based on customer needs, business goals, and development capacity.

User Experience & Design Integration:

- Partner with User Experience Engineers to design user interfaces and user experiences that align with the product vision and deliver exceptional usability.

- Ensure that product design decisions are based on user research, usability testing, and feedback from end-users.

- Advocate for a seamless and intuitive user experience throughout the entire product development process.

Stakeholder Management & Communication:

- Communicate product updates, progress, and results to key stakeholders, including senior leadership, sales, and marketing teams.

- Align product development with customer expectations, gathering feedback from customers, partners, and internal stakeholders.

- Manage and report on product KPIs, ensuring that the product's performance is in line with business goals and objectives.

Market & Customer Focus:

- Conduct in-depth research to understand customer needs, pain points, and trends, and incorporate this insight into the product roadmap.

- Maintain a deep understanding of the market landscape and customer behavior, translating insights into product opportunities.

- Work closely with marketing and sales teams to ensure successful product launches and effective go-to-market strategies.

Process Optimization:

- Establish and refine product development processes, ensuring that product teams are working efficiently and collaboratively.

- Use agile methodologies to ensure rapid and iterative development cycles, managing the product backlog and sprint planning.

- Measure the impact of product releases, incorporating learnings into future iterations and product strategies.

Qualifications:

Experience: 16-20 years of experience in product management, with significant experience leading and managing cross-functional teams, including Product Owners and User Experience Engineers.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, Engineering, or a related field; a Master's degree or MBA is a plus.

Skills:

- Proven experience defining, building, and launching successful products from start to finish.

- Strong leadership and team management experience, with a focus on mentoring and developing Product Owners and UX professionals.

- Expertise in user experience design principles, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

- In-depth knowledge of agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.) and product development best practices.

- Strong business acumen, with the ability to align product strategy with business objectives.

- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams and at all levels of the organization.

- Proficiency in product management tools (Jira, Aha!, Confluence, etc.) and user experience tools (Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, etc.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.

Key Attributes:

- Strategic and innovative thinker with the ability to bring new ideas to life.

- Hands-on, proactive, and detail-oriented in all aspects of product management and development.

- Ability to balance business needs with technical constraints and user experience considerations.

- Strong decision-making abilities and a passion for delivering high-quality products.

- Collaborative, with the ability to lead teams and influence stakeholders effectively.