Manager, Product Management

Job Summary Reporting to the VP, Application Development in a multi-faceted, multi-location academic setting, the Manager, Product Management will lead cross-functional teams to design, build, and roll out products that deliver the vision and strategy across American Career College (ACC), West Coast University (WCU), and Administration value streams. The Product Manager plays a critical role in shaping, prioritizing, and delivering digital capabilities across a designated value stream. This role serves as the bridge between business stakeholders, engineering teams, and cross-functional partners to ensure the delivery of high-quality products that serve both company and client needs. The ideal candidate understands end-to-end SDLC, collaborates deeply with technical teams, and takes full ownership of product outcomes. They operate with a service-first mindset, demonstrating a strong sense of accountability and a commitment to building scalable, reliable digital solutions. Essential Functions and Responsibilities Product Strategy & Delivery - Develop and maintain the product roadmap for assigned value streams; align priorities with business objectives and enterprise strategy. Convert high-level business goals into epics, features, and clear, actionable user stories with acceptance criteria. Lead backlog prioritization using business value, technical feasibility, and operational impact. Partner with engineering leads, architects, and QA to plan sprints, refine features, and ensure alignment with SDLC best practices. Maintain continuous visibility into delivery progress, risks, and release plans. Take full accountability for product outcomes, including delivery timelines, quality standards, and business results Stakeholder Engagement - Serve as primary point of contact for executive leaders across the organization, business units, customers & development teams, ensuring requirements are understood, validated, and translated effectively for delivery teams. Facilitate requirements workshops, cross-team alignment sessions, and dependency planning. Manage expectations proactively and communicate roadmap changes, timelines, and delivery milestones. Technical & SDLC Alignment - Work closely with engineering teams to understand system behaviors, integrations, and technical constraints. Bridge the gap between business requirements and technical implementation. Provide guidance on functional design, API requirements, data flows, and edge cases. Ensure work adheres to SDLC controls, documentation practices, and quality standards. Participate in backlog refinement, sprint reviews, and UAT planning. Ownership & Accountability - Ensure business value realization, promoting a company- and client-first mindset across the team. Foster accountability and ownership within the product team deliver sustainable outcomes. Measure product outcomes using KPIs and feedback loops; drive continuous improvements post-launch. Ensure timely resolution of defects, production issues, and operational gaps. Act as the voice of the product, driving clarity, accountability, and results. Preferred Education, Certifications and Licensures Master's degree in computer science, information systems, electronics engineering, voice/data communications, public/business administration, or a related field preferred. Preferred Experience and Skills Required Education, Certifications, and Licensures Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, electronics engineering, voice/data communications, public/business administration, or a related field required. Required Experience and Skills 5+ years of product management experience in a software/technology environment Strong understanding of SDLC, agile methodologies, and enterprise software systems. Experience leading onshore–offshore QA delivery and managing vendors/partners. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills. Basic understanding of data analysis and metrics Can engage in technical conversations and understand system implications Proven ability to work across business and technical teams, balancing priorities effectively Working knowledge of FERPA, accessibility (WCAG 2.2), and secure test data practices. Experience with CampusVue, Salesforce CRM, Oracle HCM and Great Plains, Canvas or generic LMS desired, but not required. (Preferred) Previous experience with higher education strongly preferred. Demonstrates a high level of understanding of enterprise architecture discipline. Has in-depth knowledge of current and planned Information Technology systems portfolio. Demonstrates a high level of business knowledge. Ability to manage and work effectively in a highly ethnic and culturally diverse student and associate community. Excellent analytical and organizational skills. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Must be able to communicate technical matters into messages that can be broadly understood across the organization. Strong customer service skills. Ability to self-direct, self-pace, multi-task and function well under pressure of deadlines and conflicting priorities. Willingness to work a flexible schedule. Ability to travel/drive locally on a weekly, daily and/or on an as needed basis. West Coast University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all associates. #J-18808-Ljbffr West Coast University