Lead Product Manager

Lead Product Manager

The Lead Product Manager leads product management for one or more products within an assigned portfolio, which are critical to the organization's mission and are deeply technical in nature. The Lead Product Manager is responsible for collaborating with cross-functional partners to define a product vision and roadmap that align with a Program-level strategy. The Lead Product Manager upholds product management excellence in the realm of civic technology, operating within the specific constraints of the MBTA.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Define product-level vision(s) in collaboration with cross-functional peers in Program, Research, UX Design, and Engineering in accordance with Program-level strategy, outcomes, and investment priorities. Incorporate strategic goals into team priorities and roadmaps.
• Build and execute on a roadmap for multiple products or a single complex product. Develop, document, and clarify the problems the product solves for, and maintain a prioritized product backlog in alignment with strategy.
• Serve as lead resource to Product Managers by providing guidance and subject matter expertise on product management practices, roadmap development, prioritization, stakeholder engagement, and product delivery.
• Plan and lead cross-team coordination for complex product initiatives.
• 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, tech 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(s), and how to communicate about those things with the product team and with MBTA leadership.
• Mitigate risk for product development initiatives by proactively identifying potential risks, developing mitigation strategies, and incorporating risk planning into the product development process.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions. Supervision No direct reports.

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Six (6) years of experience in product management and/or development defining or contributing to product-level vision(s) in collaboration with cross-functional peers, delivering multiple products or a single complex product, and developing, documenting, and clarifying problems.
• Experience providing formal or informal leadership to product teams in complex technology settings.
• Experience contributing to a multi-year product strategy or planning processes.
• Experience developing a product roadmap, quarterly roadmapping process, and/or standardized product management processes.
• Ability to present a product management case study relevant to the role.
• Experience identifying and mitigating delivery or product risks in complex technology environments.
• 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.

Substitutions

• 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.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Experience in public sector, transportation agency, and/or civic technology team.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or providing functional leadership to product teams.
• Experience establishing product management standards, frameworks, or best practices across multiple teams or products.
• Experience facilitating product portfolio planning or prioritization activities.

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, all persons hired will require a U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting the position and employees will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
6. Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.
7. Safety Sensitive Positions: Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.
8. On-call or 24/7 Positions: Employees working in this classification must be available to respond to page