Lead Product Manager

Software Guidance & Assistance, Inc., (SGA), is searching for an Lead Product Manager for a CONTRACT assignment with one of our premier Regulatory clients in DMV Area .
Hybrid - 3x a week (Rockville, MD/Tysons, VA/Washington, D.C.)

Major Purpose:
The Lead Product Manager owns the vision and strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for multiple products and/or complex products. Responsibilities include defining the roadmap as well as planning and managing products and product features through the product development process. This role manages the product backlogs for a product group while prioritizing work and making product-related decisions based on the needs and expectations of users and stakeholders. This role identifies and manages work with a high level of autonomy. They manage multiple product designs at any given time while partnering closely with the business to understand pain points and develop strategy.

Essential Job Functions:
User Insight & Product Definition

• Develops deep understanding of the business and product areas within the product group, as well as the relevant data that can be used to inform key decisions
• Defines multiple products and/or complex products and identifies gaps and user needs by creating vision, strategy, and requirements documents for product(s)
• Utilizes available data or commissions new research to identify user needs
• Performs experiments and organizes primary research to uncover additional user value

Product Portfolio Management

• Develops, manages, and owns the product roadmap for multiple products and/or complex products
• Makes trade-off decisions for multiple products in a product group
• Demonstrates expertise across multiple products which facilitates discovery and drives enterprise capabilities
• Builds partnerships with relevant stakeholder teams
• Coordinates with interdependent teams and influences leadership to drive efficiencies
• Builds and leverages solid working relationships with business and product stakeholders, UI/UX, architecture, and technology teams to facilitate product and user success
• Participates in the intake process for their product domain

Product Planning & Prioritization

• Leads the product planning process across multiple products and/or complex products by overseeing the development of requirements documents (user stories, acceptance criteria, use cases) for products or product releases
• Maintains a prioritized backlog based on defined user value, aligning with product strategy and resource capacity; uses data and analytics to prioritize the product backlog appropriately
• Works closely with UI/UX to set the direction for the design of the user experience for their products
• Determines and monitors release goals, prioritization, implementation, and iteration plans for their products according to user value
• Resolves problems that are escalated during the process

Product Development

• Facilitates the development process by reviewing demos with the technology team and validating acceptance criteria for multiple products and/or complex products
• Provides UX/UI approval for the assigned products
• Tracks the development work and drives resolution of escalated issues and bugs for their products
• Identifies issues that will keep their products from delivering on time or at the right level of quality, assesses alternatives to resolve, builds a plan for resolution, and directly resolves or communicates to leadership

Launch

• Leads large and sometimes highly complex product launches by working with relevant stakeholders to develop launch plans
• Identifies, reviews, and resolves issues and blockers in partnership with team members that may delay the launch or impede the success of product(s)
• Coordinates formal UAT where necessary
• Develops product documentation and training materials for users in support of product launches
• Tracks and reports on product launch metrics, utilizing feedback to drive associated actions and product iteration
• Leads post-launch reviews and drives incorporation of feedback in future product releases

Operate

• Works with internal and external teams and users to identify, classify, and resolve product and product group-level user issues
• Identifies new and innovative methods and metrics for tracking product success, works with the technology team to improve reports and monitoring
• Works with stakeholder teams to actively monitor metrics
• Tracks performance trends and gathers user feedback to determine product group-level gaps, development opportunities, and if necessary, product end-of-life plans
• Represents team in product group-level discussions with stakeholders
• Attends business reviews, providing critical input and expert insights to inform the business cases, business strategy, and development of new products

Team Development & Continuous Improvement

• Provides coaching and guidance to more junior-level product management team members
• Works with cross-functional leaders and experts to establish best practices and identify opportunities to improve the product development and delivery process
• Follow, understand, and apply relevant industry trends, research, and best practices in technology and product management

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Business Administration or similar advanced degree
• CSPO Certification
• Experience in the Financial Services industry
• Strong financial acumen
• Experience collaborating closely with senior leadership
• Experience providing guidance and direction to cross-functional resources

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Communications, or related field (or equivalent work experience in a related field)
• 7 years of experience in one or more of the following: product management, project management, business analysis, program management, or product marketing
• 5 years of experience in product and/or experience management
• Strong writing ability
• Strong business acumen
• Experience with Agile software development
• Experience working cross-functionally in a large organization
• Experience working closely with senior leadership
• Experience translating data into quantifiable actions/deliverables

SGA is a technology and resource solutions provider driven to stand out. We are a women-owned business. Our mission: to solve big IT problems with a more personal, boutique approach. Each year, we match consultants like you to more than 1,000 engagements. When we say let's work better together, we mean it. You'll join a diverse team built on these core values: customer service, employee development, and quality and integrity in everything we do. Be yourself, love what you do and find your passion at work. Please find us at .

SGA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of Race, Color, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Religion, National Origin, Disability, Veteran Status, Age, Marital Status, Pregnancy, Genetic Information, or Other Legally Protected Status. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, and our services, programs, and activities. Please visit our company to request an accommodation or assistance regarding our policy.

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