Product Manager (Transit Data) (Boston)

The Technology Innovation Department (TID) at the MBTA is a technology team focused on making the transit system easy for all riders to use. The Product Manager serves as the product owner for a product, setting clear priorities and producing well-scoped requirements. The position collaborates closely with cross-functional partners and leaders to define a product roadmap that aligns with a Program-level strategy towards achieving positive user-facing outcomes and uphold product management excellence in the realm of civic technology, operating within the specific constraints of the MBTA.

• Build strong relationships within the assigned Program area, with relevant stakeholders at the MBTA, and in the industry to ensure that the work is aligned with the agency's mission and industry best practices.
• Serve as the product owner for assigned product.
  • Contribute to product vision in collaboration with cross-functional peers in Program, Research, UX Design, and Engineering in accordance with Program-level strategy, long-term outcomes, and investment priorities.
  • Build and execute on a roadmap for one product.
  • Develop, document, and clarify the problems the product solves for in a roadmap.
  • Maintain a prioritized product backlog in alignment with strategy.
• Translate problems into clear, actionable requirements. Break down epics into smaller increments and tickets, providing relevant user context, use cases, scope, and acceptance criteria.
• Lead the product team through agile ceremonies. Run concise, outcome-oriented meetings and ensure the team has the clarity needed to deliver effectively.
• Leverage quantitative data and user research to prioritize work. This includes prioritizing work from sprint to sprint and maintaining a backlog of tasks in collaboration with research, design, engineering and program teams. Effectively communicate priorities and acceptance criteria across levels and job functions.
• Develop a deep understanding of stakeholder priorities and the applications included in the portfolio. Become familiar with the needs of users and stakeholders, technical architecture and features of the product, and how to communicate about those things with the product team and with MBTA leadership.
• Prioritize the needs of users throughout the delivery process, in partnership with the program and product development teams.
• Proactively identify potential risks to product development initiatives and escalate or develop mitigation strategies as appropriate, incorporating risk planning into their product development process.
• Monitor product development initiatives and collaborate with stakeholders within the department and across the authority.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

• No direct reports.

• Bachelor's degree from accredited institution.
• Two (2) years of experience in product management and/or product development.
• Experience serving as a product owner or equivalent role on a cross-functional team.
• Experience contributing to a product roadmap, quarterly roadmapping process, and/or standardized product management processes.
• Experience translating user needs and stakeholder input into actionable product requirements.
• Ability to present a product management case study relevant to the role.
• As part of the selection process, candidates may be asked to complete job-related technical assessments, which may include a product management case study exercise.

• A high school diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• An associate's degree from an accredited institution and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• A master's degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one (1) year of experience.

• More than four (4) years of experience in product management and/or development.
• Experience in public sector, transportation agency, and/or civic technology team.
• Experience managing a product with technical and/or organizational complexity.
• Experience driving features or improvements end-to-end, managing discovery, prioritization, and delivery for a product team.

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except if participating in an approved high school internship / co-op program.
• Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences.
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a diverse workforce team (or supervise, if required).
• Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if current student or recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection).
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and / or medical Clinic screening, potentially including physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
• Ability to work all shifts and / or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit / operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.
• Intern / co-op staff must be enrolled full or part-time in an accredited educational program and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for the entire duration of the internship / co-op. Additionally, interns / co-ops must have valid work authorization and U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting pre-employment screenings / pre-boarding, working in their positions, and throughout the duration of their program.

Disclaimers and Definitions:

1. General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe a summary, general nature, and complexity of typical job functions and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.
2. Application Completion: It is each applicant’s responsibility to ensure application details are entered completely and correctly, including updated work and education histories (past and current). Incomplete applications may not be considered. Attachments do not substitute for application fields. The recruitment team does not have access to existing employee data / history.
3. Application Deadlines: Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.
4. Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. See job description for role-specific requirements.
5. Work Eligibility: All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States and on an unrestricted basis. The MBTA does not have an employer work sponsorship program. However, if you have unrestricted work authorization, or are sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply. Further, al]]>