product management research job description

The Complete Guide to Product Manager Job Descriptions

If you’re looking to start a career in product management , you may be wondering what the product manager job description entails.

If you’re already in the industry, perhaps you need a hand navigating the vast and complex world of product manager job ads as you look for your next role. 

Either way, you’ve probably noticed that, confusingly, the product manager job description means different things to different companies. You’ve likely also come across some overwhelmingly long lists of tasks, skills, and requirements.

But don’t let this deter you. We’ve put together this guide to demystify the product manager job description. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to expect from product manager job descriptions—and we’ll also share some advice for deciphering job ads as you embark on your own job search. 

We’ve written this guide with aspiring and existing product managers in mind, but it will also be useful for employers/hiring managers tasked with writing a product manager job description. 

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What is the job description of a product manager?
• The product manager job description: Tasks and responsibilities
• The product manager job description: Skills, requirements, and qualifications
• Product manager job description examples
• Junior product manager job descriptions
• Senior product manager job descriptions
• Deciphering product manager job descriptions when applying for jobs

So: What exactly is the job description of a product manager? Let’s find out. 

1. What is the job description of a product manager?

Product managers are responsible for managing and guiding a product through its entire life cycle.

A product is something a company offers to end users—be it a physical product (for example, recipe and ingredient kits delivered as part of a monthly subscription), a service (such as online education), or some kind of app or software. 

Whatever form the product takes, it’s the product manager’s job to ensure that it’s as successful as possible in line with business goals and end user needs. 

To that end, the product manager conducts research to figure out what customers/end users want from a product, ensuring that the business is building the right thing. They develop an overarching product strategy, define product specifications and requirements, and guide and oversee the design, development, launch, and marketing of the product. 

The product manager role is highly strategic. They ensure that the product evolves in a direction that contributes to the achievement of business goals—defining a long-term vision for the product and overseeing the execution of that vision. 

That’s the product manager role in a nutshell. You can learn more about what a product manager does in our guide . For now, let’s take a closer look at the tasks and responsibilities you can expect to find in a product manager job description. 

2. The product manager job description: Tasks and responsibilities

The exact tasks and responsibilities included in a product manager job description will vary depending on several factors.

For instance, a product manager working solo in a small company may have a much broader spectrum of tasks than a product manager who is part of a large product management team. It also depends on where the product is currently at in its life cycle. 

But, generally, the tasks and responsibilities of a product manager are steeped in the product management process —a seven-step process which takes the product from inception through to development, launch, and iteration. 

Here are some of the most common product manager tasks and responsibilities you might find in a product manager job description:

• Conducting and/or overseeing research to gain a deep understanding of the customer/end user’s needs
• Gathering and managing ideas coming from different sources (e.g. internal stakeholders, business leaders, and customers/end users). This includes building and maintaining an ideas backlog, and keeping stakeholders informed about the status of their ideas and requests
• Developing a product strategy which directly relates to the business strategy
• Defining and writing product specifications. This is usually a document which sets out the product requirements, answering questions such as: What should be built and why? What should the new product or feature achieve? How will success be defined and measured?
• Building and owning the product roadmap —the strategic plan of action for the product, ensuring execution is aligned with strategy
• Prioritization: Taking a closer look at the ideas backlog and deciding which items should be prioritized in line with the product strategy and KPIs
• Defining overall success metrics for the product
• Overseeing the development and delivery of the product; turning items from the backlog into tasks and projects for the development/engineering team
• Writing user stories. User stories are short descriptions of features to be built, written from the perspective of the end user to emphasize the value this particular feature will bring
• Overseeing the creation of product prototypes in collaboration with end users, internal stakeholders, designers, and developers, and gathering and implementing feedback on those prototypes
• Running experiments and using analytics to measure the product’s performance and identify opportunities for improvement
• Setting up processes to capture and organize user feedback

Within and around these product-related tasks, product managers are expected to:

• Liaise with and present to the leadership team to gain approval for product-related initiatives
• Collaborate and build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders, from designers and developers to marketing, sales, customer care, and leadership
• Act as the go-to person for anything and everything concerning the product

We’ve shared a rather long and extensive list of product manager tasks! Note that you might not find all of these responsibilities in every product manager job description. As we mentioned previously, the exact role of the product manager varies depending on the company size, setup, and product type. 

Next up in our exploration of the product manager job description: the skills and qualifications that employers typically look for. 

3. The product manager job description: Skills, requirements, and qualifications

Another important aspect of any job description is skills and qualifications.

When it comes to product manager job descriptions, you’ll find that the role requires technical know-how and business acumen coupled with a range of soft skills—with skills like communication, problem-solving, and critical and strategic thinking taking top priority. 

We’ve written about the top product manager skills in this guide , and we’ll run through the most important skills and qualifications that tend to feature in product manager job descriptions now.

We’ll divide them in terms of hard skills, soft skills, and qualifications and other requirements.

The product manager job description: Hard skills

• Proficiency in the most popular product management tools
• Thorough understanding of the product life cycle and the product management process
• Ability to run A/B tests and other experiments
• Ability to analyze and interpret data
• An understanding of web technologies and programming languages (i.e. the technical side of product development)
• An understanding of UX principles
• Ability to conduct customer and market research
• Developing proof of concepts and prototyping
• Ability to build and manage a product roadmap

The product manager job description: Soft skills

• Communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
• The ability to problem-solve 
• The ability to prioritize
• Strategic thinking
• A knack for storytelling
• Excellent time management
• Confident decision-making
• The ability to manage multiple projects and priorities at once

The product manager job description: Qualifications & other requirements

• A background in marketing, software engineering, business administration, project management, or something similar
• A product management certification (learn more about how to get one in our full product management certification guide )
• Experience in a specific industry (for example, finance, healthcare, e-commerce, media, etc.) 

Bear in mind that this isn’t a hard-and-fast, universal set of product manager requirements—nor would you be expected to meet every single one of them when applying for a product manager job.

As always, different companies will prioritize different skills and qualifications depending on the exact role they’re hiring for. 

4. Product manager job description examples

The best way to understand product manager job descriptions is to look at real-world examples. So: let’s evaluate a real product manager job ad that is live at the time of writing. 

Product manager job description example: Home Depot 

Our first example is a job ad for a remote product manager , posted by Home Depot. 

This product manager job description reads:

“The product manager position is responsible for delivering business value to drive sales, improve efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction through the production of quality products. Within their designated enterprise product line, PMs focus on delivering incremental value by driving product changes and working closely with a team of developers, designers, and business partners. They support in-depth business reviews, communicate and present across all levels of the organization, and support cross-functional product teams.”

For this particular role, the main tasks, responsibilities, and key accountabilities have been divided as follows: 40% strategy and planning, 30% delivery and execution, and 30% people. 

Within these categories, the product manager will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

Strategy and planning (40%):

• Translate business goals and end user needs into product strategy
• Identify goals, metrics, and analytics to determine product value
• Continually make recommendations and refinements to the product backlog based on learnings
• Conduct end user research to help identify user stories and determine Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
• Monitor the competitive landscape

Delivery and execution (30%):

• Ensure the product is aligned with company, stakeholder, and end user priorities to drive sales, improve efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction
• Formulate, test, and refine assumptions and hypotheses through user research and testing
• Identify pros, cons, issues, obstacles, dependencies, and value associated with features and enhancements
• Participate in standups, iteration planning sessions, product demos, and retrospectives

People (30%):

• Foster collaboration with team members (engineering, user experience designers, etc.) to drive value and collectively identify and resolve impediments
• Act as a proponent of modern software development practices
• Advocate for the end user and stakeholder by empathizing with and understanding user needs 
• Manage cross-functional team and stakeholder expectations to execute on product strategy
• Exhibit active listening, facilitate sessions, and clearly communicate at all levels

Under preferred qualifications and desired skills, knowledge, and competencies, the Home Depot product manager job description lists:

• 1-3 years of relevant work experience
• Demonstrated experience with modern software development product management practices and agile methodologies
• Experience working in a fast-paced, fluid environment where priorities shift on a regular basis
• Experience conducting user research and testing to understand needs
• Business insight
• Collaboration and communication
• Ability to build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions
• Adaptability
• Organizational savvy (the ability to maneuver comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics)

The estimated salary range for this role is $80,000-$180,000. You can see how this compares to the average product manager salary in our dedicated guide . 

This is just one real-world example of a product manager job description. For further examples—and to get a feel for how the product manager job description varies from company to company—search “product manager” on job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn .

Next, we’ll look at job descriptions for junior and senior product managers. 

5. Junior product manager job descriptions 

Those new to the field might start with a junior product manager role. 

The tasks of a junior product manager aren’t much different from those of a product manager. However, being less experienced in the field, junior product managers will usually support more senior product managers rather than acting completely independently. 

You’ll notice that junior product manager job descriptions place much more emphasis on soft skills and an ability to learn on the job. This is an entry level role, after all, so it’s important that the requirements reflect this. 

So what are the typical features of a junior product manager job description? Let’s take a look at a real-world example. 

Junior product manager job description example: PacerPro

PacerPro is a market-leading workflow automation and experience capture tool for US federal court filings. At the time of writing, they are hiring for a junior product manager.

The junior product manager description reads:

“The [junior product manager] role is suited for a quick learner and creative thinker who wants to develop innovative products for managing complex litigation. You need experience in a project management role, strong communication and organization skills, and an interest in the intersection of legal practice and data.

In your role, you will be one of the first product team members, reporting to the Director of Product . You will work with PacerPro’s product, design, and engineering teams to help develop and maintain legal technology products for our customers, expand our product offerings, and widen our customer base.” 

For this particular role, the junior product manager’s responsibilities include:

• Helping to define the company’s product vision and strategic roadmap, including setting objectives and key results
• Working with UX/UI designers to develop wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes
• Analyzing customer and industry data to uncover and understand user requirements, organization goals, and technical capabilities and apply them to functional concepts
• Generating user stories with acceptance criteria and creating supporting documentation
• Coordinating with sales and engineering teams to ensure functional and visual design quality at each step of the software development process

The  requirements focus primarily on soft and transferable skills, including:

• Strong critical thinking skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop practical subject matter expertise in unfamiliar areas
• Clear, concise, and prompt written and oral communication for a variety of audiences
• Organized approach to projects requiring data entry, organization, and/or analysis
• Ability to simultaneously manage and execute multiple projects and competing priorities

In this example, the junior product manager job description is much broader than the product manager job description, with less specific requirements in terms of technical expertise and experience.

Good news for entry-level product managers looking to land their first job in the field!

6. Senior product manager job descriptions

After product manager, the next step in the product manager career path is usually senior product manager. 

The senior title means different things to different companies, so the exact tasks featured in senior product manager job descriptions can vary greatly.

Still, the senior product manager typically continues to have a hands-on role in executing the product management process. They may also manage junior product managers and focus more heavily on strategy. 

Let’s explore how a senior product manager job description might look with an example. 

Senior product manager job description example: Audible

A subsidiary of Amazon, Audible is an online podcast and audiobook service. At the time of writing, they are hiring for a senior product manager. 

The senior product manager job description reads:

“Audible is seeking a Senior Product Manager who will develop global product strategies, build and launch unequaled customer-centric experiences in a variety of geographies. This role is part of the Global Expansion & Growth team, within the Product Organization, and is pivotal to accelerating Audible global growth and ensuring that we deliver exceptional experiences to our customers across the globe.”

The ideal candidate:

• Has a track record of defining, building, and launching high-quality consumer-facing products
• Has a demonstrated ability to evaluate opportunistic and innovative ideas, and create product roadmaps that drive customer delight and business results
• Obsesses over customer needs and leverages quantitative and qualitative data to back up assumptions and drive decisions
• Knows how to gain trust and build consensus among diverse stakeholders
• Proactively identifies and communicates risks, and adapts their communication style to suit the audience

The tasks and responsibilities listed in this senior product manager job description focus heavily on delivering customer-centric solutions, identifying and tapping into market opportunities, and driving growth at scale. 

The senior product manager should:

• Envision, define, build, and launch unequaled experiences that pioneer new ways to reach global customers in a variety of geographies
• Extend global products into localized experiences that meet the local customers’ needs and tap into market-specific opportunities
• Learn the needs, pain points, and behavior of International Audible users and develop strong intuition about solutions that will work for them
• Frame and lead discussions with key business and technical stakeholders to assess opportunities, make data-driven recommendations, and build consensus ahead of important investment decisions

As is the case with most senior product manager roles, this position requires at least five years’ experience in a product management role (ideally customer-facing), a degree (the field of study isn’t specified), and demonstrated experience in agile, lean product management processes. 

As you can see, there is lots of overlap between junior, mid-level, and senior product manager job descriptions in terms of day-to-day tasks.

The main difference is that junior product manager job descriptions focus on soft skills and learning on the job, while mid-level and senior product manager roles require more technical expertise and, oftentimes, a more strategic focus. 

Learn more about the role in our dedicated guide to the senior product manager .

7. Deciphering product manager job descriptions when applying for jobs

Throughout this post, we’ve explored the skills, requirements, and tasks you can typically expect to find in product manager job descriptions, ranging from junior to mid-level to senior roles. 

If you’re an aspiring product manager considering your first role, or a product manager looking to step into a senior position, it’s important to bear in mind that you don’t need to tick every single box in the job ad .

When composing job descriptions, employers will often write up their wishlist with the “perfect” candidate in mind. But, in reality, it’s unlikely that any one candidate will satisfy all criteria. 

So: When applying for jobs and reading through product manager job descriptions, don’t let those seemingly-never-ending (and sometimes impossibly specific) lists of requirements deter you. If you can demonstrate most of the required soft skills and a good handful of the hard skills, you can confidently put yourself forward for the role. 

To learn more about product manager job descriptions, we recommend browsing job sites for roles across different industries, company types, and seniority levels.

You’ll begin to get a feel for what the product manager job description means to different companies—and get an idea of the kinds of roles and sectors that spark your interest and best speak to your career aspirations. 

Want to learn more about a career in product management? Check out the following:

• What is the difference between a product manager and a product owner?
• What’s the difference between a product manager and a project manager?

What Does a Product Researcher Do?

Find out what a Product Researcher does, how to get this job, salary information, and what it takes to succeed as a Product Researcher.

The role of a Product Researcher centers around gathering and analyzing data to understand market needs and trends, thereby informing the development and improvement of products. This position requires a keen eye for detail and a methodical approach to collecting insights from various sources, including customer feedback, competitor analysis, and market studies. By synthesizing this information, Product Researchers play an instrumental role in shaping product strategies, ensuring that offerings are well-aligned with consumer expectations and industry shifts. Their work supports teams across the organization, from design to marketing, providing a foundation for informed decision-making and innovative product development.

Product Researcher Job Duties

• Identify market trends and consumer preferences to determine product opportunities and enhancements.
• Develop and implement research methodologies and data collection plans to gather reliable and valid data.
• Analyze competitor products, pricing, and market strategies to benchmark and position new products competitively.
• Collaborate with product development teams to translate research findings into actionable product specifications and features.
• Facilitate focus groups and user testing sessions to gather feedback on product concepts and prototypes.
• Prepare detailed reports and presentations summarizing research findings, insights, and recommendations for stakeholders.
• Assess the viability and potential impact of new product ideas using SWOT analysis and other strategic evaluation tools.
• Monitor and report on post-launch product performance to identify areas for improvement and future research directions.

Product Researcher Salary & Outlook

Factors influencing a Product Researcher’s salary include industry experience, specialized knowledge in market trends and consumer behavior, proficiency in data analysis tools, and the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies. Additionally, the complexity of products handled and success in previous product launches can significantly impact earnings.

• Median Annual Salary: $86,625 ($41.65/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $163,000 ($78.37/hour)

The employment of product researchers is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.

This surge in demand for Product Researchers is driven by the escalating need for innovative products, personalized customer experiences, and competitive market strategies. Companies increasingly rely on data-driven insights to inform product development, necessitating skilled researchers to analyze trends, user feedback, and market demands.

Product Researcher Job Requirements

Education: A Product Researcher typically holds a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree, often in fields like Marketing, Business Administration, or a related discipline emphasizing analytical skills, market analysis, and consumer behavior. Coursework in statistics, research methodologies, and product development is highly beneficial. Advanced degrees may focus on specialized research methods or industry-specific knowledge, enhancing one’s ability to understand market trends and consumer needs effectively. Academic projects or internships that offer hands-on experience in market research are advantageous.

Experience: Product Researchers typically possess a blend of on-the-job experience and participation in specialized training programs. Ideal candidates have a background in market analysis, consumer behavior studies, and competitive research. Experience in utilizing data analysis tools and methodologies to inform product development strategies is crucial. On-the-job training often supplements formal training, providing hands-on experience with specific research tools and techniques. Successful researchers are adept at synthesizing information from diverse sources to guide product innovation and positioning.

Certifications & Licenses: No specific certifications or licenses are typically required for the job of a Product Researcher.

Product Researcher Skills

Market Analysis: Product Researchers leverage this skill to pinpoint market opportunities and threats by examining trends, consumer behavior, and competitor strategies. The ability to identify what resonates with target audiences ensures products meet market demands, enhancing their commercial success potential.

Consumer Behavior Understanding: By analyzing how target demographics engage with products from initial interest through to purchase, Product Researchers can craft development and marketing strategies that align with customer motivations and buying patterns. This insight is pivotal in creating products that deeply connect with consumers, boosting satisfaction and sales.

Competitive Intelligence: Through a detailed examination of market trends, consumer preferences, and competitor actions, Product Researchers can uncover avenues for innovation and differentiation. A thorough data analysis approach is crucial for informed product development, grounded in a deep understanding of the competitive landscape.

Trend Forecasting: Anticipating shifts in market trends and consumer preferences enables Product Researchers to steer the development of products that meet future needs. This forward-looking perspective aids in strategic decision-making, keeping product lines relevant and competitive.

Data Mining: By exploring large datasets to discover patterns, trends, and correlations, Product Researchers can shape product development strategies and uncover market opportunities. This analytical skill is key to identifying consumer behaviors and preferences, influencing product innovation and market positioning.

Prototyping Evaluation: A detailed examination of prototypes assesses both aesthetics and functionality, ensuring products not only adhere to design specifications but also fulfill user needs effectively. This critical feedback refines the development process, resulting in practical, market-ready innovations.

Product Researcher Work Environment

A Product Researcher typically operates in a dynamic environment where the blend of technology and creativity is paramount. Their workspace is often equipped with the latest tools and software necessary for data analysis, market trend tracking, and product evaluation. This role may enjoy the flexibility of hybrid work models, allowing for a balance between office presence and remote work, catering to the need for deep focus sessions as well as collaborative team meetings.

The culture within which a Product Researcher thrives is one of continuous learning and innovation, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and open communication. Companies often support professional development through workshops, courses, and conferences to stay ahead in fast-evolving markets. Interaction with various departments is frequent, necessitating strong interpersonal skills.

Health and safety protocols are adhered to, especially in physical office settings, ensuring a comfortable and secure work environment. The pace can be fast, driven by product launch timelines and market demands, yet the emphasis on work-life balance remains a priority.

Advancement Prospects

A Product Researcher can ascend to senior roles within research, such as Senior Product Researcher or Research Manager, by demonstrating expertise in consumer behavior analysis and product market fit. Specializing in quantitative or qualitative research methodologies can open doors to niche areas within product development and strategy.

Transitioning into product management is a viable path for those adept at translating research insights into actionable product features. This requires a deep understanding of the product lifecycle and user experience design.

Leadership roles in innovation or user experience (UX) design are also attainable. Excelling in cross-functional collaboration and strategic planning is crucial for these positions. Product Researchers with a knack for identifying emerging trends may find opportunities in strategic planning or consultancy, advising on product innovation and market entry strategies.

What Does a Law Office Manager Do?

What does a material expeditor do, you may also be interested in..., how to become a saas account executive: step-by-step guide.

What Does a Deposit Operations Specialist Do?

16 computer teacher skills for your career and resume, what does a project supervisor do.

Jira Software

Project and issue tracking

Content collaboration

Jira Service Management

High-velocity ITSM

Visual project management

• View all products

Marketplace

Connect thousands of apps and integrations for all your Atlassian products

Developer Experience Platform

Jira Product Discovery

Prioritization and roadmapping

You might find helpful

Cloud Product Roadmap

Atlassian Migration Program

Work Management

Manage projects and align goals across all teams to achieve deliverables

IT Service Management

Enable dev, IT ops, and business teams to deliver great service at high velocity

Agile & DevOps

Run a world-class agile software organization from discovery to delivery and operations

BY TEAM SIZE

Small Business

BY TEAM FUNCTION

Software Development

BY INDUSTRY

Telecommunications

Professional Services

What's new

Atlassian together.

Get Atlassian work management products in one convenient package for enterprise teams.

Atlassian Trust & Security

Customer Case Studies

Atlassian University

Atlassian Playbook

Product Documentation

Developer Resources

Atlassian Community

Atlassian Support

Enterprise Services

Partner Support

Purchasing & Licensing

Work Life Blog

Support for Server products ends February 15, 2024

With end of support for our Server products fast approaching, create a winning plan for your Cloud migration with the Atlassian Migration Program.

Assess my options

Atlassian Presents: Unleash

Product updates, hands-on training, and technical demos – catch all that and more at our biggest agile & DevOps event.

• Atlassian.com
• Product Management
• Product Manager

Product Manager: The role and best practices for beginners

Get a clear picture of the product manager’s role and responsibilities, tips to rocking the job, and more.

Browse topics

First, a confession: Ten years ago, when I was invited to apply for a product manager position at Atlassian, I didn’t know what product management  was. This wasn’t unusual. While product management has existed in one form or another for a number of decades, the “product manager” title only started picking up steam less than 20 years ago. And still, I encounter talks at conferences called “What Does a Product Manager Do?” (Actually, I sort of gave  one of these talks .)

What is a product manager?

A product manager is the person who identifies the customer need and the larger business objectives that a product or feature will fulfill, articulates what success looks like for a product, and rallies a team to turn that vision into a reality. After 10 years of studying the craft of product management, I’ve developed a deep understanding of what it means to be a product manager.

The confusion about what a product manager is likely stems from the recency of the role. Where practitioners of more established crafts, like design and engineering, have been able to segment themselves by their specialization, product managers are still defining what the role should be.

Martin Eriksson, product leader extraordinaire and founder of ProductTank, initially summed up product management in a simple Venn diagram that sits the product manager at the intersection of business, technology, and user experience. Fifteen years ago, Ben Horowitz, CEO of Opsware, called the product manager the “ CEO of the product .” 

I agree with both Eriksson and Horowitz, but not always with how their definitions are interpreted. People see Eriksson’s diagram and think that product managers manage the product between all three disciplines (UX, technology, and business). Really, though, he's saying product managers need to balance all three needs and make hard decisions and trade-offs. People hear Horowitz’s analogy and think product managers have some kind of special authority. They don’t. But, like a CEO, product managers set the goals, define success, help motivate teams, and are responsible for the outcome.

Product manager responsibilities

Specific responsibilities vary depending on the size of the organization. In larger organizations, for instance, product managers are embedded within teams of specialists. Researchers, analysts, and marketers help gather input, while developers and designers manage the day-to-day execution, draw up designs, test prototypes, and find bugs. These product managers have more help, but they also spend more time aligning these stakeholders behind a specific vision.

On the flip side, product managers at smaller organizations spend less time getting everyone to agree, but more time doing the hands-on work that comes with defining a vision and seeing it through.

Broadly speaking, though, a good product manager will spend his or her time on a handful of tasks. 

Understanding and representing user needs.

Monitoring the market and developing competitive analyses.

Defining a vision for a product.

Aligning stakeholders around the vision for the product. 

Prioritizing product features and capabilities.

Creating a shared brain across larger teams to empower independent decision-making.

Product manager vs. product owner

Whether or not a team is adhering to a certain agile practice (and which one), can further muddy the waters when it comes to what a product manager does. For instance, if a team is practicing scrum , then they also need to have a product owner.

While a product manager defines the direction of the product through research, vision-setting, alignment, and prioritization, the product owner should work more closely with the development team to execute against the goals that the product manager helps to define.

Here’s how that tends to break out:

Involved in day-to-day activities

But responsibilities can shift a bit when team makeups and practices shift. For instance, if the team isn’t doing Scrum (say, they’re doing kanban  or something else), the product manager might end up doing the prioritization for the development team and play a larger role in making sure everyone is on the same page. On the other hand, if the team is doing Scrum, but doesn’t have a product manager, then the product owner often ends up taking on some of the product manager’s responsibilities.

All of this can get really murky really quickly, which is why teams have to be careful to clearly define responsibilities, or they can risk falling into the old ways of building software, where one group writes the requirements and throws it over the fence for another group to build. When this happens expectations get misaligned, time gets wasted, and teams run the risk of creating products or features that don’t satisfy customer needs.

Best practices and tips for being a great product manager

Just as there isn’t only one kind of team, one of the most exciting aspects of the product manager role is that there isn’t only one way to do it. During the last two decades, the craft has exploded both in popularity and approach. Unlike designers who have successfully segmented themselves into interaction designers, graphic designers, motion designers, and so on, product managers, as a whole, are still wrestling with how to label their different strengths.

To complicate matters, people are only beginning to pursue product management as their intended discipline. Where older generations “fell into product management” from engineering, design, finance, or marketing, younger generations are starting their careers with product management in mind.

That said, there are a handful of skills and practices that any good product manager will need to develop.

Prioritize ruthlessly

A colleague recently likened product management to being a politician. It’s not far off. The product manager and the politician both get an allotted amount of resources. Each role requires the practitioner to make the best use of those resources to achieve a larger goal, knowing that he or she will never be able to satisfy everyone’s needs.

At any one time, the product manager might have to decide between a feature that might make one big customer happy but upset 100 smaller customers; maintaining a product’s status quo or steering it in a new direction to expand its reach and align with larger business goals; or whether to focus on the bright and shiny or the boring and important.

Clearly understanding the costs and benefits of each choice guides the product manager toward the right decision.

Know the lay of the land

Product managers need to know the lay of the land better than anyone else. They very rarely start with a clean slate. More than likely, product managers are dropped into something that already has momentum. If they start executing without taking the time to get their bearings, they’ll make bad decisions.

Good product managers pump the brakes and start by asking questions. If you’re just starting a product management job, take the first couple of months to talk to as many customers as you can. Talk to as many internal stakeholders as you can. Understand the business model. Understand the history. Understand how different people are influenced. Understand how decisions are made. Only then, can you start making a few decisions of your own.

Empower your team to make their own decisions

Product managers can’t make every decision. Believe me. I’ve tried. At the end of the day, I nearly always have unread messages. I’m often double and triple booked. And I could spend all day answering questions and never finish.

But touching every decision isn’t the product manager's job—at least it shouldn’t be. One of the keys to great product management is empowering your team to make their own decisions by creating a shared brain—or a way of making decisions and a set of criteria for escalating them. When someone asks a product manager a question about a decision they could have made themselves, nine times out of 10 it’s because that person doesn’t have enough context to make the decision themselves. Great product managers build that context.

Learn to influence without authority

I know a junior product manager that is nearly universally respected by her team even though initially many of its members would have traded her in for a more seasoned leader given the choice. How did she change their minds? She took each person on the 30-person team out for coffee and listened to them.

Influence comes in many forms. Listening to people and understanding how they’re influenced is the first part. Figuring out how to get them on board with your point of view is the second. Becoming a great storyteller—even when you don’t have any data to back up your point—will take you a long way. Some people won’t be convinced until they see you do the work. Understanding which levers to pull with which person is the key to leading without any direct authority.

Develop a thick skin

Making tradeoffs will inevitably make people unhappy. The trick is to first make the right tradeoffs, and then be able to explain why you made the decision you did. If you’re good at explaining your decision, someone can still not like it, but more often than not, they’ll respect the way you made it. And even if they don’t, great product managers figure out a way to deal with it.

Great product managers

For me, the really great product managers are one in a million. They’re the people who can do all of the above and set incredible product visions. It’s the rare breed that’s forward-thinking, highly influential, and can walk people through the rationale behind a decision and convince them—even without data. People like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk come to mind.

We idolize these people, in part, because it’s satisfying to put a face and a name on a big accomplishment. But 99 percent of the time, great products aren’t made by a single great thinker. They’re made by teams of good people doing really good work. The job of the product manager is to develop his or her unique way of guiding that work.

Try Jira Product Discovery for free

Prioritize, collaborate on, and deliver new product ideas — and build for impact.

Sherif Mansour has been in software development for over 20 years. He is currently a Distinguished Product Manager for Atlassian. As a long-tenured Atlassian, he has responsible for Confluence, trying to solve problems across all of Atlassian’s cloud products and establishing a new product incubator inside Atlassian. Sherif also played a key role in developing new products at Atlassian such as Stride, Team Calendars and Confluence Questions. Today, he leads product strategy for Atlassian’s newest product, Team Central. Sherif thinks building simple products is hard and so is writing a simple, short bio.

Learn scrum with Jira Software

A step-by-step guide on how to drive a scrum project, prioritize and organize your backlog into sprints, run the scrum ceremonies and more, all in Jira.

Your first week as a product manager

Should you study the tech stack your first week on the job? Take the team out for lunch? Whatever you do, make sure to spend time with your customers.

• Integrations
• Learning Center

What is a Product Manager’s Job?

• Table of Contents
• The Ultimate Guide to a Product Manager's Job
• What is a Product Manager?
• Product Manager Skills

A Good PM vs. a Great PM

Embrace prioritization, responsibility without authority.

• Getting Started in Your Role
• Communication with Your Stakeholders

Frustrating Aspects of the Job

• Continuing Your Product Manager Education
• Download Book

No two product managers are alike. They hail from varied backgrounds. They emphasize different aspects of the role and have different styles and interpersonal skills. Some are freshly minted college grads. Some are grizzled veterans making a career change from more technical disciplines. Others are lifers, with war stories and anecdotes to spare.

With so much diversity and range amongst their ranks, pinning down a prototypical product manager is impossible. But you’ve got to start somewhere, keeping in mind the role is vastly different depending on the company; here’s a semi-definitive guide to this oft-misunderstood profession.

What does a product manager job description look like? Ask ten product managers to describe their jobs, and you’re likely to hear ten different answers. Unlike a schoolteacher or a police officer, “product managers” don’t have a distinct and consistent job description simply because the responsibilities of product managers vary quite a bit across industries and businesses.

Whatever their specific responsibilities, all product managers share a core function: drive the development of products and ultimately be responsible for the success of those products.

We’ve defined a product manager’s job at the highest-level — they drive the development of products — but what exactly does that mean? What do product managers do? Does it change if they’re in B2B vs. B2C?

Let’s delve deeper into the product manager’s job.

Strategic direction

Product managers are information gatherers, defining the strategic direction of their products through the lens of knowledge they acquire about:

• Their business’s strategic goals
• The market’s demands and opportunities
• The technological and financial resources available to them to make the product a reality.

Once they have analyzed all this data and determined a strategic direction, the product manager’s job is to communicate this strategy to many stakeholders and to earn buy-in from decision-makers. They then ensure the appropriate teams understand their roles and have the tools they need to execute the product strategy moving forward.

Communicate, coordinate, and persuade

Despite having a consensus on the strategy, the implementation doesn’t just magically happen. Product managers have to fight for attention from development teams, lobby for resources and convince sales and marketing to give their products appropriate love and care.

Without manufacturing momentum, windows of opportunity can close, and competitors can make significant gains. Product management must keep the train moving forward, even though they don’t have any engines of their own.

But this shouldn’t be confused with managing the minutiae of the implementation itself. Product managers are also often asked to play the role of project manager and facilitator. But really, “how” the team delivers is up to them. Product managers are a part of that conversation.

The Technical Product Manager Variant

There is a particular type of product manager known as a “ technical product manager .” Other specialized product management titles exist, but this is by far the most common.

Before diving into the specifics of what a technical product manager does, there is an underlying question of whether or not product managers must be technical to do well in the role. There are many viewpoints on the subject. If you’re managing a software or hardware product, then technical skills are seen as a big plus.  

The title comes with its own particular set of expectations and responsibilities. A technical product manager is expected to possess significant, practical knowledge about programming, system design, and the like. They should be conversant in the technical solution stack the product uses and hold their own in discussions with the technical team. Their experience helps them avoid the pitfalls of requesting things that are infeasible or too large of an ask for the allotted development cycle. The technical product management role is a common stepping stone for former developers, tech support staff, and architects looking to move into the product management field. 

Technical product managers typically exist in larger product management teams. They sometimes own responsibility for a particular part of the product but are also often deployed on an ad hoc basis to manage the technical aspects of different initiatives.

Product management requires a combination of specific hard skills and soft people skills to effectively shepherd a product through the various phases of its lifecycle.

Product development processes:

A concrete understanding of the role and product development processes and frameworks is essential. Before finessing the interpersonal dynamics of working with a product development team, product managers must be able to speak their language, comprehend the expectations, and know the scope of their job versus that of project managers, UX professionals , architects, and the like.

Pricing principles:

Product managers also need a solid understanding of fundamental business and economic policies. Pricing often falls on their shoulders. If they’re unable to turn the underlying unit economics into a profitable and scalable business, they’ll have a pretty short career.

Prioritization:

Prioritization is at the core of product management. Assessing the relative value and impact of each potential feature, technical debt, project, and initiative, and creating a coherent strategy is the most critical part of the job. A coherent strategy includes being able to say no when the time comes, as well as recognizing the need for a pivot or strategic shift if applicable.

Communication:

On the softer side, communication lies at the heart of any successful product manager. They must be a cipher and be comfortable speaking with all sorts of people filling different roles. They speak with customers, internal teams, and stakeholders. Product managers must get along with engineers and relate to the perspectives of stakeholders.

Conveying a strategy and vision, along with specific plans and their rationale, is vital. Product managers must build consensus, break down (or at least work across) organizational silos , and win over stakeholders to get their job done. More than other roles, product managers deal with the various personality types of individuals that can play a part in a product’s success and growth, or in its crash and failure.

We’ve linked below a great webinar on the Essential Skills all Product Managers Must Master . The discussion covered what a product manager is not, soft skills PMs need to embrace, and the tools of the trade all product managers should know.

Without an official certification, specific college degree, or formal training program that authorizes someone as an “approved product manager,” there are a variety of backgrounds in the product management space. For some, this ambiguity is a cherished element of the role. Some are glorified techies, whereas others are all about the market and positioning. Then you have some that are business analysts with some clout, while others are customer-centric idea powerhouses.

How can you tell who’s performing well as a product manager ? Great product managers manage to combine all the traits we mentioned earlier. They are universally conversant across many disciplines. They’re also engaged and experienced enough to dive deep into any topic when required.

They can balance the strategic and tactical , without resenting having to delve into either. Most importantly, product managers challenge every assumption and ask “why?” at each opportunity; even if they feel the pressure to “ship” and visibly deliver new products.

Countering Complacency as a Product Manager

Another sign of a great product manager is the refusal to settle for mediocrity. All too often, products are considered “done” once they have the basic functionality envisioned in the strategy and are seeing steady revenue and growth.

Product managers must also acknowledge they can’t do everything if they want to achieve greatness. Ask any product manager what some of the most important skills are that get used on the job regularly, and they’ll tell you communication and prioritization. Often, you’re communicating your prioritization.

Prioritizing Product Features

Great product managers also know how to sidestep one of the biggest pitfalls of the profession: offering up opinions instead of relying on data. Product managers never base decisions on “gut feel” or “instinct” alone. While instinct might spark exploration, ultimately, all decisions should be grounded in cold, hard facts.

Luckily product managers don’t have to start from scratch when it comes to deciding how to prioritize features. There are a plethora of prioritization frameworks to select from based on personal preference and corporate goals .  For example, stakeholders can be forced to make hard trade-off decisions using the buy-a-feature method. Or some quick-and-easy wins can be identified by relying on the value vs. complexity framework.

Here’s a popular quick overview of how the popular prioritization framework MoSCoW works.

Best of all, there’s no need to pick a single framework and stick with it. Different ones can be employed at different times, providing a fresh way to gain some clarity about what should jump to the front of the queue.

Prioritizing Your Time

Prioritization doesn’t just apply to lists of features and enhancements. It’s relevant when evaluating how they spend their own time , as well. Product managers need time for essential things and deep thinking. Updating status reports and dashboards don’t qualify. There are some productivity hacks to improve the situation . Follow the 4 D’s: do it, delegate it, defer it, or delete it is a good one for any product manager trying to get back some time.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of product management is that while product managers are responsible for the outcome of the product, they have very little actual power over the process.

Those responsible for implementation, sales, marketing, support, and other key functions don’t work for product managers. They seldom share the same manager. Often the organizational chart doesn’t see a common boss until it gets up to the CEO. Thus, the work can get messy and sometimes political.

To be effective product managers, they must project soft power to achieve their goals and secure success for their products. Product managers must be persistent in building consensus. So everyone involved understands why decisions have been made and are on board with them.

Understand the voice of the customer

Unfortunately, the reality is that there are plenty of times when people don’t cooperate. They want to design by committee. Or there are personality clashes causing problems and delays. At these strenuous times, the voice of the customer is powerful. Customer input can be a product manager’s best friend. Even when it’s incorrect, it is still the customer’s truth. Perception is the reality when it comes to a customer’s opinion.

By fueling the decision-making and priority-setting processes with customers’ own words, product managers can employ evidence-based judgment. It can also be used as the number one defense when roadmaps come under attack .

A newly hired product manager will find themselves “drinking from the firehose” before they’ve even had time to unpack their tchotchkes. In this kind of cross-functional role, there is so much to do all at once. And so much groundwork to lay before it can get done.

Sometimes new product managers may have the urge to make a splash and big impression right out of the gate. But acting too hastily might hurt their credibility before they’ve even had a chance to build it up .

A savvier move is creating a strong foundation for future success by not trying to come in and take over. There are an established culture and pecking order to be unpacked. Identify and understand the players before being overturned.

Learn your product inside-out

Beyond that, intimate knowledge of the current product is an absolute necessity. Product managers should know how it works, why it works that way, and how customers are using it. Spending time with customer service, shadowing sales calls, and meeting actual customers are always right moves in those early days on the job.

Onboarding for product managers isn’t always great and there often isn’t a pre-baked script to follow.

While there are lots of things new product manager hire should consider doing in the first month , some are absolute musts. To get the lay of the land, product managers should strive to meet as many coworkers as possible, reserving any judgment for the moment and merely probing and listening. Bonus listening and learning opportunities are sitting in on customer calls or interviewing friendly customers.

Of course, executing a personal strategy doesn’t just happen. It takes planning and time that is often in short supply. That’s why product managers shouldn’t shortchange themselves. There’s value in setting aside enough time all year long to take care of the tasks likely to fall by the wayside once they get into the thick of it all.

Mapping user journeys

One way product managers can fully understand how their products fit into the lives of their customers is by creating a journey map . This journey begins long before users start using their products. That’s why it’s an excellent exercise for a product manager new on the job.

Journey maps look at user personas versus buyer personas . They contemplate how users first learn about a product’s existence and their path to purchase. The road to purchase includes marketing awareness and education about a product’s value proposition.

From there, the journey map spans the actual acquisition of the product; training, onboarding, and initial usage. Looking at all these steps can uncover friction points. Product managers can address those through new or improved functionality, documentation, proactive support, and customer services.

Journey maps also include the mature stage of usage and how products fit into the everyday routines of their users, revealing additional opportunities for enhanced user experience. It’s also key to finding the most promising possibilities for extending the product to become more useful and loved by users.

A product manager can have the perfect strategy, an exciting roadmap, and reams of market research and data. But that alone doesn’t guarantee success. In business, nothing moves forward without building consensus and managing the expectations of your team of stakeholders . Remember, you are building someone else’s vision, and that you need the help of all of your stakeholders to achieve that. Refine, adapt, accept what you cannot change, and most importantly, over-communicate. Here’s a quick infographic that differentiates two common ways to communicate with your team and stakeholders.

Listening to Your Stakeholders

Product managers must hear and appreciate the concerns and motivations of stakeholders. Their unique perspectives and opinions help shape the company’s overall point of view, while their demands can’t be ignored in plans for the product.

Just as important as speaking the dialects of each constituent group involved in their product’s development, product managers must also be able to understand those dialects. Of course, this requires excellent listening skills. Because information gathering and analysis are such an essential part of the job, any product manager job description must include excellent research and listening skills.

Product managers also need to understand the subtleties of each dialect — both to be sure their teams genuinely appreciate their respective roles. So product managers themselves can quickly identify a potential issue before it becomes a real problem.

Product Managers use narratives to tie everything together because it creates an emotional investment in the outcome. With persuasive storytelling , stakeholders build empathy with users. They see the full benefits a product can deliver and how it fits into the broader context. They begin to care about how the story will end, and they’re willing to help it end happily.

Speaking with Stakeholders

A large component of a product manager’s job is to coordinate among many disparate groups of constituents. Their constituents might be executives, sales reps, customers, development or manufacturing teams, marketing personnel, etc. A product manager ensures that all of these groups understand their roles and are working toward a common strategic goal.

But these groups often speak their own dialects. Executives think and talk in terms of quarterly projections, investor returns, and satisfying industry analysts or Wall Street. While engineers talk about software code and other technical details.

Successful product managers must speak fluently in all of these business dialects for a clear articulation of expectations from each team in a mutually understood context.

Clear two-way communication between product managers and stakeholders is a must for developing and strengthening these relationships. Even if they don’t all like each other, respect and credibility are the minimum threshold required for a functional organization and product development process. To effectively integrate stakeholders, they should be engaged at every point in the process. During the planning phase, it’s best to make them aware of where things are heading and why with a roadmap (which is different than a release plan). Theme based roadmaps are especially useful for storytelling as it rolls up features into the larger, “Why?” theme.

This time spent communicating with stakeholders is both a tone-setter for future discussions as well as an opportunity to get contradicting input early on.

4 Things to Remember About Stakeholder Communication

• Consensus comes from winning over and convincing stakeholders that your roadmap plan is rock solid.
• The narrative must address outstanding concerns.
• The emotion product managers most want to trigger is excitement.
• Focuses on the big picture promise of the product or feature.

If a product manager can’t create and deliver a story that has those elements then they need to go back to the drawing board. It will be too hard to get stakeholders on board. It’s even harder to get them motivated to spend a little more, work a little harder, and take a few more risks.

Maintaining professionalism can be tough. There are plenty of frustrating events in the life of a product manager, and many of them are entirely out of their control.

Here are some product managers struggle with:

• Company vision can be blurred and change quickly so it can be hard to have a proactive strategy when you’re often charged with reactive tasks under small time constraints.
• You’re always under a pressure cooker from the engineering and design teams in a way that can test your confidence and make you feel like an imposter.
• Internal politics are a large part of the role and for many, it can distract from the parts of the role they like better.
• Product managers should be sure they don’t let their emotions get the better of them. Otherwise, they might lose all their hard-won credibility. It’s often prudent to bite your tongue. Product managers shouldn’t find themselves letting any of these things they want to say out loud slip in the workplace, no matter how frustrated they get.
• Too often, product managers assume if it’s anything they can do, it’s something they should do. But these tasks are usually a poor utilization of their unique skillset and could be offloaded to someone else.
• There will always be chaos. Some product managers thrive under the organized-chaos and enjoy it.
• You will need to be an expert in the product. Everyone will turn to you for answers and you will need to consistently come up to bat with your reasoning.

A product manager’s education is never complete. There are always more things to learn and more people to learn from. As the profession has matured, many resources have sprung up to support both newbies and veterans.

When product managers want to delve into the world of self-improvement and career development, there is a slew of books on the topic, providing tips, pointers, and insights from experts.

For those looking for something a little shorter and more timely, a bevy of blogs is the go-to resource for diving into a different topic or learning lessons from the travails of others.

If audio ingestion of product management wisdom is preferable, product management podcasts may be the answer. They’ll turn an uninteresting commute into a learning platform or that refreshing afternoon walk into a master class.

And if instant gratification, memes, and inspirational quotes are just what the doctor ordered, Twitter is always there to deliver. These female product management thought leaders make for great follows. There are also many Slack communities for product managers to chat with their peers.

There are days you’ll love the role and days you’ll wonder why you do it. It’s worth the while when all the pieces come together because even with those challenges it’s one of the best jobs out there. You get to use all your skills, be a vital asset to your team, and use both sides of your brain.

Share on Mastodon

• Contact sales

Start free trial

What Is a Product Manager? (Job Description Examples and Salary)

Table of Contents

What is a product manager, what does a product manager do, product manager job description, product manager vs. project manager, product manager vs. product owner, product managers love projectmanager.

Whether you’re interested in hiring a product manager or becoming one yourself, it’s important to take the time to understand both the role and the field of product management.

A product manager plays an integral role in the development of a product plan while also managing the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) cycle. We’ll go over a product manager’s job description to learn more about the responsibilities, skills and tools a product manager should know. But first, let’s start by defining what a product manager is.

A product manager oversees the product lifecycle and leads a product development team. To streamline the product life cycle, product managers have a series of responsibilities such as managing their teams’ workload, helping the team prioritize what matters the most and launching products to market quickly and under budget.

Product managers are responsible for many things. For one, they lead the team to deliver an end product, meaning they are the ones who come up with the strategy to do so. This is called a product roadmap.

The product manager is responsible for managing the product life cycle that oversees the delivery of the product. They’re also in charge of determining the defining feature of the product, often working with the project manager, sales team and customer success team.

Related: Best Task Management Software of 2023

Think of the product manager as an organizational role. Beyond the responsibilities laid out above, the product manager also leads the marketing efforts for the product which involves forecasting and profit analysis. To do this, product managers use product management software and task management software to stay organized and productive.

Product managers have a lot on their plate. ProjectManager is work and project management software that helps product managers organize and execute project tasks. Our task list is more than a to-do list; it’s a robust tool that connects with every other feature in the tool to organize your work, assign tasks and monitor progress. Product managers can also use our task list for their own work to stay on top of deadlines. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Establishes a Vision

The product manager comes up with a product vision and follows up with a strategy. The idea is, again, to create benefits and value for a customer. To establish the vision, the product manager analyzes the market and competitive conditions to strike a clear path toward the business value of the product.

Creates a Plan for the Product Team

The product manager also defines what the product team delivers and creates a project timeline and schedule for implementation. That means making a release plan, which features actionable feedback and ideas, as well as prioritizing product features.

Leadership Style

The leadership of a product manager is cross-functional. They work with nearly everyone, including engineering, sales, marketing and support teams. Therefore, a product manager must have the communication skills to listen and articulate to a wide spectrum of individuals in different disciplines. The product roadmap is a key tool for this purpose and keeps teams aware of updates throughout the product life cycle.

Role One responsibility of a product manager includes developing products through market research. They then combine those findings with general requirements, specifications, timetables, pricing and plans to complete development and marketing strategies.

Main Responsibilities

Product managers are often required to do the following:

• Know customer needs through research and market data
• Develop product lines and appraise new ideas for market viability
• Assess competition by comparing products
• Create product marketing communications objectives
• Work with the sales director to create product sales strategies
• Work with customers and sales to evaluate sales call results
• Create long- and short-term product sales forecasts and analyses for management
• Review inventory levels and production schedules for product availability
• Bring new products to market with return-on-investment analysis
• Market new products with sales, advertising and production teams
• Determine product pricing based on market research, production costs and anticipated demand
• Schedule and assign operational requirements to follow up on work results
• Manage the product team, including coaching and disciplinary actions, planning, monitoring and job appraisal
• Continue professional and technical education, attending workshops, seminars, etc.

The product manager is also expected to have knowledge in the following areas:

• Product management and product development
• People management and customer research
• Requirements analysis including pricing and planning
• Competitive analysis
• Sales planning and inventory control
• Financial planning and strategy

Product Manager Salary

In terms of compensation, the base salary for a product management position ranges greatly depending on position, region and industry. In the U.S., average pay is $114,000 a year but can increase to over $1 million for a CPO or similar executive position.

The title of a product manager is unique. Though often confused with a project manager, product managers have different responsibilities and roles.

Product managers lead projects, like project managers, but their projects always involve developing a product to deliver to a customer base. This involves market research, project planning , cross-functional team leadership and more. Read on to learn everything you need to know before hiring, or becoming, a product manager.

Related:  Product Manager vs. Project Manager

While there are some duties both titles share, a product manager and a product owner are different roles. For example, a product manager is in a strategic position as they work on the product’s vision, company objectives and the market. Product owners, on the other hand, take the product manager’s strategy and make it actionable for cross-functional teams to execute.

Product managers focus on long-term strategy. They’re responsible for looking at the market and discerning trends, identifying new outcomes for the product, supporting the sales team and making sure that the product meets the needs of the value streams. That means they’re going to work on product marketing, work with sales, budgeting, customer care and so forth.

The product owner is almost exclusively a position for projects run in an agile environment. They are more tactical than a product manager and work closely with the teams who deliver the product. They also work with stakeholders and are responsible for attending meetings with teams, organizing demos on the product, doing analysis to make sure that the requirements are ready to be worked on and are involved with testing.

Once you hire or are hired as a product manager, you need to prove yourself in the job. No matter your level of proficiency, the key to strong performance is the right tool. ProjectManager is award-winning software that organizes your work to boost efficiency, a valuable tool for product managers.

Manage Product Marketing With Kanban Boards

When planning a marketing push, you can organize the parts effortlessly. From designing assets to coordinating with customer support with the visual workflow tool kanban boards. Customizable columns can be set up to reflect your production cycle and cards allow you to create tasks, which can be described, tagged, prioritized and assigned. You get real-time transparency into the process.

Track Progress and Performance With Real-Time Dashboards

For a closer look at how your marketing and sales are doing, use our real-time dashboards. They track six metrics, from time to cost and more, all without any setup required. We collect the data and crunch the numbers. All you have to do is look at the colorful graphs and charts to know where you are in real time at a glance.

Use Multiple Project Views

Your product owner might work in an agile framework, but the product manager or management may want a more traditional structure to monitor the project. That’s why we offer multiple project views. Besides the kanban board, there are dynamic task lists and a calendar that does more than just save important dates. Of course, we have Gantt charts, the workhorse of any project. Our Gantt charts are online and easy to edit, allowing you to link dependencies, set milestones and filter for the critical path. Once you set a baseline, you can track project variance to keep on schedule.

Product managers have a lot of responsibilities and work with huge volumes of data, which is why they need a management tool that can help them collect, assess and report on those findings. ProjectManager is a cloud-based software that has real-time dashboards and online Gantt charts to monitor, report and schedule, respectively. See how it can help your product management by taking this free 30-day trial.

Deliver your projects on time and under budget

Start planning your projects.

Everything You Need to Write a Product Manager Job Description

Whether you’ve hit an initial growth spurt and are looking for your first product manager or you’re building out a dedicated team, it’s crucial that you have the right people in place to lead product development. 

Product managers play a major role in making or breaking product releases, so the designated individual or individuals must be able to set long-term growth goals, roadmap the product life cycle, pitch and prioritize features and set and analyze metrics that can help develop and course correct products throughout their life cycle.

As with any role, to attract the right people, you need to write a job description that resonates with top talent, which brings us here today.

If you know where to start your research, feel free to click the links below to jump ahead. Otherwise, read on.

Access our entire library of templates for your open roles.

Table of Contents

• What Does a Product Manager Do?

Five Product Manager Job Description Examples

Product manager job description template, product manager salary information, what does a product manager do.

Product managers are similar to project managers in that they are responsible for coordinating multiple teams to meet deadlines and ensure quality results. Unlike most project managers, however, product managers play a pivotal strategic role.

Simply put, product managers are tasked with guiding product development throughout the lifecycle, from initial concept to release and maintenance. While the exact nature of the role will vary by company, most product managers have several core responsibilities:

Product Ideation

Good ideas can come from just about anywhere, and product managers are responsible for finding and acting on them. From analyzing current market trends and competitor offerings to interviewing internal stakeholders and customers, product managers are tasked with identifying and developing ideas that will eventually become new products or features. As such, the product manager must have a deep understanding of user needs, business objectives and available resources.

Product Development

It takes a village to build a great product, and the product manager is the mayor. She must liaise with multiple teams within the business, most often software engineers, UX designers, sales, marketing and senior leadership. Every team plays a valuable role in product development, and it’s the job of the product manager to ensure that all those moving pieces are headed in the same direction.

Feature Management

Scope creep can derail even the best laid plans, so product managers must be vigilant in prioritizing features that will provide the most value to both end users and the business and eliminating anything that won’t pay long-term dividends. This often involves moderating disagreements, which can require significant managerial experience.  

Product Release

Actually building the product is just the first step. Next comes the release, and this is where having a great product manager on your side can make all the difference. This is another area where the product manager must collaborate with a host of teams. From the technical requirements involved with actually launching the product to coordinating with sales and marketing, an efficient and organized release is crucial to product success.

For smaller companies, a product manager does not generally become a designated role until the business faces significant pain points with scaling product development and implementing a cohesive vision.

Often times, it makes the most sense to hire internally for this role because it can be difficult to find someone externally who has the experience needed to grow your specific product.

We’ve gathered five great product manager job descriptions examples from our seven online communities . While these are examples of real job postings, we’ve redacted some information to protect the privacy of the companies that posted them.

Keep in mind that we’ve created a generalized product manager job description template below the examples to further help you write the most effective product manager job description.

Product Manager Job Description: Example 1

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on Product Manager who can help us define our product vision and lead its execution. In this role you will lead the design and implementation of systems and products that maximize the program’s impact and optimize their operations. These systems will use advanced data analytics, predictive modeling, and business logic to deliver optimal pricing & inventory management recommendations.

You will combine strategic and business thinking, analytical thinking, analytical and technical knowledge to generate insights, turn them into system design and see them through implementation. You will ensure smooth execution, analysis, and optimization of global pricing and inventory management initiatives. Additionally, you will have exposure and visibility to senior executives and cross-functional leaders.

Responsibilities:

• You will manage the short and long-term roadmap for all pricing, revenue, and inventory management applications.
• Work closely with key internal partners, including software engineering, data science, and strategy to guide prioritization and make sure that product development is focused and impactful.
• Solicit ideas and feedback, gather requirements, write specs, craft wireframes and workflows, and coordinate cross-functionally.
• You will translate business needs into requirement specifications for integration with cross-functional systems.
• Partner with other [redacted] to streamline system integrations and improve existing business processes.
• You will drive strategic product decisions via evaluation of a meticulous retrospective and prospective analysis of product and revenue performance.
• Educate [redacted] members on new functionality and scheduled features.

Requirements:

• BA/BS in Engineering or Economics/Physics/Psychology/Math (MS is a plus).
• 3+ years of product management or product marketing experience at a consumer or enterprise technology company.
• Someone with product design, software development, or interaction design experience.
• Data first philosophy but can also make decisions in ambiguous situations
• Additional experience in [redacted].
• Ability to initiate and drive projects to completion with autonomy.
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate with technical and non-technical partners across all levels of the organization.
• Experience with JIRA, Confluence, Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Slides).
• Familiarity with SQL, Python, is a plus.

Product Manager Job Description: Example 2

[redacted] is seeking an experienced Product Manager for the growth of its [redacted] Team. The successful candidate will be responsible for bringing new product lines to customers in an engaging and functional way, while collaborating with other product stakeholders. The Product Manager will work creatively and pragmatically to write out product user stories that will be key in the product development process. Knowledge of the product development lifecycle is vital to this role. If you understand the [redacted] market and the [redacted] tools that are being used in that space, we are interested in speaking with you.

You have a proven track record of taking ownership and delivering results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Your excellent interpersonal, presentation, written and verbal communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills contribute to your continued success in this role as you demonstrate your remarkable Agile/Scrum coaching competency. You maximize customer value and business impact by ensuring the team is focused on shipping the right product to users. Your day to day will include but not be limited to the following.

• Collect and prioritize product data by conducting customer interviews
• Gather and analyze data on competing products to determine where to compete effectively and present recommendations to the Head of Product
• Plan product roll outs with clear guidelines and documentation supporting product releases
• Oversee the product line’s life cycle and anticipate any problems and communicate those to the team and organization/customer if needed
• Manage product metrics that will be clearly defined with new product lines
• Oversee the planning and delivery of product releases across multiple teams
• Bring new products to market by analyzing proposed product requirements and product development programs; preparing return-on-investment analyses; establishing time schedules with Engineering Team and Head of Product
• Provide information for management by preparing short-term and long-term product feature documents and metrics
• Connect and raise awareness around your team’s product through active and ongoing communication with key cross-functional stakeholders to ensure alignment

Qualifications:

• BA or BS undergraduate degree
• 3+ years of product management experience
• Significant experience working for a [redacted] company
• Proven track record in launching new products/services
• Solid project management experience within an Agile framework
• Demonstrated success in handling end-to-end product lifecycle and ability to drive product planning, development, and launch

Product Manager Job Description: Example 3

Reporting to our VP of Product, you will own the execution of our product roadmap and discovery process, and solve interesting problems. As our Product Owner, you'll be responsible for setting the development roadmap for product enhancements and executing on that roadmap. You will develop and drive business requirements. You'll work with product managers to translate market trends, customer needs, and competitive intelligence into innovative deliverables that solve customer problems, and evangelize those innovations internally and externally.

As our Product Owner, you'll be responsible for:

• Translate a product vision and strategy into tactical plans
• Define, measure and improve key product metrics
• Align cross-functional stakeholders across the organization, from Sales and Operations to Marketing and Executives
• Rigorously leverage data and analytics to drive decisions, features and design
• Collaborate with Leadership, Engineering, Marketing, Finance and Accounting on new and ongoing initiatives
• Work with Customer Success to ingest customer feedback and develop future improvements
• Present recommendations and accompanying analyses to leadership
• Wear many hats and potentially work on a variety of other PM projects

So what kind of person are we looking for in this role? We have a pretty unique culture here at [redacted], and the person who will be successful in this role will be:

• Results-Driven: Must have a proven record of driving results in high-growth companies and must have an inner drive to succeed
• Work Independently and with a Team: Some people work best individually and some as part of a team. The ideal candidate is a chameleon who can succeed both on their own and work within a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Time Management Guru: The Product Owner role is one that will pull you in multiple directions and you must be able to prioritize and manage your time. The ideal candidate will naturally be able to differentiate urgent, important, and urgently important tasks.
• 3-5 years of product management background with success stories, preferably in [redacted].
• Ability to build alignment around the product roadmap. You should have an assertive, direct communication style with a flair for inspiring and motivating others.
• Experience leading substantial aspects of product management. That means identifying opportunities, defining a product roadmap, creating business cases, driving execution activities, and measuring results.
• Experience translating objectives into specific tactical plans. You’ll need to define, measure, and improve key product metrics.

Product Manager Job Description: Example 4

At [redacted], individuals fully own their roles and are charged with meaningfully driving results. We work fast and continuously optimize our products to reach [redacted].

We recently expanded our product offering [redacted]. Now, we’re looking for an experienced Product Manager (PM) to grow the product in ways that differentiate us from the competition and drive value for our users. When we say ‘grow the product’, we’re talking 5x [redacted]! We’ve built an eager and smart team to support our [redacted] product, and we know this will be an exciting opportunity for someone to own the strategic direction of our next big endeavor.

• The PM role is an ideal opportunity for someone who is ready to own the strategy and vision for [redacted] with huge growth goals.
• To engage and collaborate with smart people from across the organization to create and implement the product roadmap, while also communicating progress to all stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Accountability of this role includes the autonomy to define the “what” of our [redacted] product by understanding the competition, users and company abilities and constraints.
• Manage our growing product team according to our company values. This includes monthly one-on-one meetings, setting professional development goals and ensuring overall quality performance toward achieving product goals.

The Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Previous experience as a Product Manager at a [redacted], with demonstrated success. We need someone who can hit the ground running, so examples of strategic thinking and effective communication to senior leadership are essential.
• Previous experience mentoring and leading a team. We believe in the well-being of our team, so capable leaders are extremely important.
• Ability and tendency to balance the value of qualitative and quantitative data. We value data as much as the next tech company, but you’re here for a reason, as is our entire intelligent team, so we always weigh both.
• Ability to own the entire UX. We work externally with multiple partners to ensure an excellent user experience, as well as with our internal teams. Relationship management, ability to work effectively with external teams, and overall accountability are crucial.
• Prior [redacted] experience. 
• Ability to prioritize initiatives and communicate clearly across the organization. At [redacted], we always have a lot going on, and we rely on our teams to have the skills to navigate the best way to accomplish our goals.

Product Manager Job Description: Example 5

[redacted] is seeking a Product Manager to help guide the progress of our new product. 

We're excited to interview candidates who love product management, are creative problem solvers, look for ways to be efficient around every corner, love beautiful design, and care about user-experience driven design. 

This role has a potential promotional pathway to head of product, managing a team of designers and engineers.

What You’ll Do

• Strategize & research around customer needs to develop feature lists, user stories, and the product roadmap.
• Define, deliver, and roll out products that help [redacted] ambassadors, brand clients, and the internal team.
• Help execute the vision of the CEO and translate business needs into beautiful, usable products.
• Oversee the visual design and user-experience of [redacted].
• Deeply understand competitive landscape and market trends.
• Oversee product-related project management between our Product Designer, Engineering Team, COO, and CEO.
• Set and track metrics/KPIs and communicate them to leadership and internal team.
• Assist in the go-to-market strategy and rollouts of all products.

Who You Are

• 3+ years of agile Product Management experience.
• 2+ years of previous consumer-facing product experience required.
• MBA a plus, but not required.
• Intimate [redacted] knowledge a major plus.
• Experience in working with products for [redacted] demographics.
• Comfortable using project management tools like a Gantt chart or Excel.
• Software experience with: Sketch, Adobe, XCode, Illustrator, and other design tools required.
• You should be comfortable and have skills around developer management, and navigating engineering team dynamics.
• Data-oriented for decision making and supporting arguments.

While the previous examples are unique to the companies that posted them, several traits and common denominators do jump out.

With this information in hand, we’ve compiled a product manager job description template for you to use and tailor to your specific needs. Again, this is a job description template , so make sure to customize it to reflect your unique company, culture and mission. We've left several fields blank for you to input the exact experience and skills you're looking for.

Company Bio

[Use this section to provide a high level overview of your company, culture, perks and benefits, career development opportunities and anything else that will get candidates excited about your company.]

Responsibilities

• Build a thorough product roadmap that prioritizes certain features and takes into consideration the entire product lifecycle, the contributing team members and accounts for potential resource limitations.
• Organize, execute and document detailed product releases across multiple teams, including [insert relevant teams] .
• Provide feedback and recommendations with metrics to back your decisions and present findings to key stakeholders and executives.
• Gather insights on product success and user experience by interviewing customers, tracking market trends and analyzing competing products.
• Set long-term growth goals and analyze and relay product-related metrics and revenue performance to key stakeholders.
• Clearly communicate product objectives to internal teams with varying levels of technical and non-technical knowledge.
• Coordinate with internal teams, including software engineers, data, operations, sales, marketing, customer success, finance and senior leadership.
• Mentor the product team by hiring, training and mentoring new team members, establishing professional development goals and ensuring deadlines are met.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, economics, physics, psychology, math or related field.
• X years of product manager or product marketing experience
• X years experience with [insert your product management software], and designer software, like  [insert software your company uses] .
• Exceptional track record of launching products/services and managing their success on an end-to-end product lifecycle.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and presentation skills with adaptable teaching styles.
• Strong metric goal setting and analysis with the ability to translate results to stakeholders and confidently recommend actionable product growth initiatives.
• Experience in [insert industry] is a plus

Hopefully these examples and template have helped you become more confident in writing a product manager job description. Before we close out and send you on your way,  there’s one final part of the job description that you really can’t leave out; the salary information.

To help you determine an appropriate salary range that will be in line with candidate expectations, we’ve gathered the average salary information for product managers in  seven of the country’s top employment markets . Each bullet links to our local compensation analysis tool in case you want to research further.

• Austin, TX: $111,136
• Boston, MA: $117,905
• Chicago, IL: $107,396
• Colorado: $106,063
• Los Angeles, CA: $116,319
• New York, NY: $125,441
• Seattle, WA: $131,200

Cross Market Average Salary for Product Managers: $116,494

How to reduce turnover while increasing engagement and inclusion for remote

Great Companies Need Great People. That's Where We Come In.

Home » Product Management Basics » Job Descriptions

Job Descriptions

How to create a product manager job description

Product Manager Job Description

A Product Manager is in charge of a product throughout its product lifecycle. That includes working out what customers want, helping the business to build the right product, and then supporting the business to sell it. They also provide the product vision and leadership for the many other roles involved in developing, supporting, marketing, and selling the product. That includes ensuring the product supports the company’s strategy and goals.

In most businesses, there are several different roles that are involved in product management. A product manager’s job description will depend on the responsibilities a role has and the activities it does.

The different product roles

• Pro duct management activities
• Variations in roles by Industry and Growth Stage
• Product Management Job Description Template (HTML)  
• Downloadable Template (MS Word Doc) of Product Management Job Description  

  Get Free Resources

To add to the confusion, there are lots of different job titles that focus on different product-related activities. Three of the most common – Product Manager, Product Owner, and Product Marketing Manager are shown in the diagram.  

As you can see, these product roles often overlap. And what makes it even more confusing is that these roles are set up differently from one company to the next.  

Many other product roles and job titles exist: Propositions Manager, Portfolio Manager, Technical Product Manager, Product Specialist, Associate/Junior Product Manager, Senior Product Manager, Product Development Manager, User eXperience (UX) / Design Manager. Collectively these are known as “product people,” and they work together to define, build and deliver products.

Our course, Product Management & Product Marketing for technology-based products, is suitable for all of these roles.

View our training courses

Product Manager vs Product Owner

This short video explains the key differences between a Product Manager and a Product Owner.

• A Product Manager leads the strategy, planning, delivery, marketing and in-life optimization of a product
• A Product Owner is a role defined in Scrum (the most popular Agile approach) with a focus on writing and prioritizing requirements
• To be successful, both roles need to understand their customers
• However, many Product Owner roles expand to cover other product activities, and many Product Managers are also Product Owners.

See our blog on Why a Product Owner is not a Product Manager

Product Manager vs Product Marketing Manager

This video explains the differences between a Product Manager and a Product Marketing Manager.

• A Product Manager leads the strategy, planning, delivery and in-life optimization of a product   
• A Product Marketing Manager creates the programs and collateral to market and sell a product effectively   
• To be successful, both roles need to have great insights into customers and the market   

If you’d like to understand how product people spend their time, their big issues, salaries and much more take a look at our  annual product management industry survey .   

Product Manager job description  

A Product Manager is responsible for the business management of a product and its commercial success.   

Key responsibilities are to:   

• Translate business strategy into product strategy   
• Own the product roadmap   
• Execute product strategy   
• Drive action throughout the organization to get products to market   
• Plan and carry out product launches   
• Manage product profitability and commercial success – own the business case   
• Provide insight to stakeholders on the product and market   
• Provide product marketing with insights on key differentiators and messages   
• Write high-level requirements   
• Support the Product Owner and Product Marketer with any questions they may have   
• Manage all aspects of in-life products, including customer feedback, requirements, and issues  

Product Owner job description (Agile)  

This Product Owner description is for the common understanding of the role in Agile Scrum. However, often, the role expands to cover other product management activities as well.   

A Product Owner is responsible for providing the product development team with a product vision and prioritized list of features (the backlog).   

• Represent the customer (be a proxy) within the development process   
• Articulate the product vision   
• Write requirements – typically as user stories and epics   
• Maintain and prioritize the product backlog 
• Track releases 
• Participate in daily scrum meetings, planning, reviews and retrospectives   
• Support the development team with any questions they may have  

Product Marketing Manager job description  

A Product Marketing Manager is responsible for delivering the knowledge, tools, collateral, and programs that enable effective marketing and selling of a product.  

Key responsibilities are to:  

• Develop positioning and messaging to differentiate products in the market  
• Communicate the proposition to Sales (i.e. why customers should buy)  
• Create and manage programs to generate demand for the product  
• Develop the collateral and sales tools that support the selling process  
• Be an expert on the market including who the buyers are, how they buy and why  

Product management activities

Our Product Activities Framework identifies all activities that should be in place in any company with products and splits them into three key areas:

• Strategic Product activities – working out the right product for the business
• Inbound activities – working within the business to help deliver the product
• Outbound activities – helping the business sell the product

Our experience is that ownership of these activities is often unclear, so many companies use this tool to understand how the activities are split between the different product roles. Each job description uses the language of the Product Activities Framework to describe what each product role owns.

  Download Resources

The product manager job changes from industry to industry  

Product roles vary greatly by industry.

At one end of the spectrum, there are digital online companies, where products are usually Software as a Service (SaaS), i.e., web-based products developed using Agile approaches. This role is often called Digital Product Manager.   

Key skills include data analytics, design expertise, customer insight skills, User eXperience  (UX) knowledge, lean development with Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and social media marketing. Many of the strategic product management activities take place at a more senior level in the business.   

At the other end of the spectrum are Business to Business (B2B) companies serving a small number of large customers. It may take many years to develop a product, and every customer may have specific requirements.   

The product management skills needed can be very different. Each product is more like its own little business, so product managers need stronger and wider commercial skills. Typically, they get involved in face-to-face selling and need a deep understanding of the market domain to be good in front of customers. The political skills of being able to manage the often-conflicting demands of stakeholders, i.e., customers, development, sales, and senior management are key to the role.   

But as digital online start-ups scale into multi-national companies with products in multiple markets, and software becomes part of most technology-based products, we find the whole range of skills are needed in many companies.  

The product manager job description changes as companies grow  

As companies grow, senior management becomes busy running the business, hiring new people, and dealing with investors. They don’t have time for some of the more detailed, time-consuming product activities like writing requirements, so that’s usually when the need for the first product manager is identified. In our experience, this is usually someone within the business as they already understand the product, and their focus is on tactical things like fixing issues, supporting sales, and managing the requirements backlog.  See our blog on being the first product manage r .   

Once a company has multiple products, then prioritizing becomes a more pressing issue. There is always a bottleneck that holds things back – whether that’s development resources, management time, or marketing spend. With a bigger, more complex company to run, senior management become even less close to the details of the products.   

They need someone to manage the product day-to-day, help them prioritize, and think about future product plans. A little more process is required, and product managers start working on business cases, product reporting, and roadmaps.   

As companies grow, they get more customers and start selling in multiple markets with multiple products and propositions. Senior management concerns themselves with the big picture and doesn’t have time to deal with the details of each product. This is where product managers need to take on a leadership role. They need to bring a balanced ‘product focus’ to senior management to help them understand the opportunities, issues, and options to drive the product forward in support of the company strategy.   

As companies mature, they often create specialist functions in areas such as pricing, channel management, and proposition development. It makes sense to focus expertise and experience in one place. However, it means the product activities become more fragmented across different parts of the business. At this stage, Product Managers have a vital leadership and coordination role to keep a balanced product focus for the business.  

Product Manager Job Description (Downloadable Template)

If you need a generic template for a job description, click the button to download an MS Word Doc of the version below.  

Download Template

Product Management recruitment

Listen to the recording of our recent webinar with Chris Mason, co-founder of the recruitment agency Intelligent People. He provides best practice advice and tips to use throughout the 3-stages of the hiring process.

Listen to the webinar recording

Join 27,000 product people worldwide who have already downloaded our free product management resources.

Sign up to our free resources

Product Manager, Product Owner, Product Marketer… kick start your career by attending our industry-leading public product management training course.

Product Manager Job Description: Guide, Template & Tips

Welcome to an exploration of one of the most pivotal roles in the world of business—Product Managers. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be at the helm of innovation, drive business growth, and shape the future of products, you’re in for an enlightening journey.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving market, the role of Product Managers has never been more crucial. They are the architects of groundbreaking products and the strategists behind market-leading innovations. Their ability to navigate the complex intersection of user needs, technology, and business objectives is what drives companies to new heights.

As you dive into this blog post, you’ll discover the ins and outs of the Product Manager role, from its fundamental principles to the essential skills, responsibilities, and pathways to success. In a job market that’s constantly seeking skilled Product Managers, this post serves as your compass, guiding you toward a fulfilling and impactful career.

So, whether you’re an aspiring Product Manager looking to step into this exciting role or a seasoned professional aiming to refine your skills, this post is designed for you. Join us as we unravel the multifaceted world of Product Management, where innovation meets strategy and where skilled individuals are shaping the future, one product at a time. Don’t miss out—let’s embark on this journey together.

Chapter 1: Product Manager Fundamentals

Chapter 2: product manager skills and qualifications, chapter 3: product manager responsibilities, chapter 4: product manager career growth and advancement, chapter 5: product manager job description, chapter 6: tips for becoming a successful product manager.

Imagine this: You’re in a bustling workshop filled with tools, materials, and a team of skilled artisans. Each one has a specific role, but there’s someone orchestrating the entire operation—a maestro of sorts. That’s the Product Manager, the conductor of innovation. In this chapter, we’re about to take a closer look at this fascinating role, uncovering what makes a Product Manager tick and why their role is so crucial in the world of product development.

What is a Product Manager?

Now, picture a Product Manager as the captain of a ship embarking on an exciting voyage. Their job? To navigate uncharted waters, steer the crew, and reach the treasure island successfully. But what exactly does a Product Manager do?

At its core, a Product Manager is the creative visionary behind a product. They’re not only responsible for conceptualizing the product but also for bringing it to life. They don’t wield hammers or chisels, but they craft ideas, strategies, and plans.

A Product Manager is the beating heart of any product team. They work closely with a diverse crew of designers, developers, marketers, and more. They’re the glue that holds this team together.

Imagine you’re on a cooking show. The Product Manager is the chef, carefully combining various ingredients (ideas, resources, talents) to whip up a delectable dish (the product) that customers will rave about.

But their role goes beyond just cooking up ideas. They’re the taste testers too, constantly checking if the dish (product) meets the expectations of the diners (customers). And if it doesn’t, they’re ready to refine the recipe.

So, in a nutshell, a Product Manager is a bit of a visionary, a bit of a conductor, and a bit of a chef. They’re the driving force behind transforming ideas into reality.

What are the essential responsibilities of a Product Manager?

Now that we’ve grasped the essence of what a Product Manager is let’s pull back the curtain and take a peek at their core responsibilities.

Think of a Product Manager as a juggler, but instead of balls, they’re juggling a mix of tasks and responsibilities. Their primary role is ensuring the product journey is smooth, from inception to launch and beyond.

First and foremost, they’re the architects of a product’s strategy. They define the big picture—where the product should go, what it should achieve, and how it fits into the company’s goals. Like an artist with a blank canvas, they create the vision that guides the entire team.

But it’s not just about dreaming; it’s about executing that dream. Product Managers are like project managers on steroids. They set clear objectives, create timelines, and allocate resources. Picture them as conductors, ensuring that every instrument in the orchestra plays in harmony.

Another vital aspect of their role is being the voice of the customer. They immerse themselves in understanding user needs, pain points, and desires. They gather feedback, conduct surveys, and analyze data to ensure that the product truly resonates with its intended audience.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting—prioritization. Imagine having a buffet of ideas and features, but you’re on a tight budget and timeline. Product Managers are the ones who decide which dishes (features) make it to the table and in what order. It’s a delicate balance of customer demands, market trends, and resource constraints.

But wait, there’s more. They’re also the crisis managers. When unexpected challenges arise, and they always do, Product Managers are the ones who stay cool under pressure. They adapt, find solutions, and keep the ship sailing smoothly.

So, in essence, the responsibilities of a Product Manager encompass vision creation, strategy execution, customer advocacy, resource allocation, and crisis management. They’re the all-rounders who keep the product journey on course.

Why is the role of the Product Manager important?

Imagine you’re embarking on a cross-country road trip. You’ve got your car, a map, and a sense of adventure. But there’s one catch—you have no one to navigate, plan the route, or make critical decisions along the way. That’s precisely why the role of a Product Manager is indispensable in the world of product development.

At its core, a Product Manager is the linchpin that holds the entire product journey together. They serve as the North Star, providing direction and purpose. Without them, a product team would resemble a ship lost at sea, drifting without a destination.

One of the primary reasons their role is so crucial is their ability to craft a strategic vision. In a world where markets evolve rapidly, and customer preferences shift like the wind, having a clear vision is akin to having a sturdy ship amidst a storm. Product Managers define what the product should achieve, align it with the company’s objectives, and set the course for success.

But it’s not just about having a vision; it’s about executing it flawlessly. Product Managers are the conductors of the product orchestra, ensuring that every team member plays their part harmoniously. They coordinate designers, developers, marketers, and more, translating the vision into a tangible product that customers will love.

Crucially, Product Managers act as the voice of the customer within the organization. They dive deep into users’ minds, understanding their needs, pain points, and desires. This customer-centric approach ensures that the product resonates with its intended audience, increasing its chances of success in the market.

Moreover, they’re the gatekeepers of prioritization. Picture a table full of delectable dishes, each representing a potential product feature. Resources and time, however, are limited. Product Managers are the ones who decide which dishes make it to the feast and which must wait for another day. This knack for prioritization ensures that the most valuable features are developed first, maximizing the product’s impact.

Lastly, Product Managers are masters of adaptability and crisis management. In the unpredictable product development landscape, challenges and obstacles are par for the course. They handle these with grace, finding creative solutions and keeping the team on track even when the waters get rough.

In summary, the role of a Product Manager is essential because they provide vision, orchestration, customer advocacy, prioritization, and adaptability in the product development journey. They are the navigators, conductors, and advocates that transform ideas into successful products.

How to become a Product Manager?

So, you’ve heard about the fascinating world of Product Managers, and you’re itching to know how you can become one yourself. Well, buckle up because we’re about to navigate the path to becoming a Product Manager.

First and foremost, it’s essential to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all route to this role. Product Managers come from diverse backgrounds, which makes this career path all the more exciting. However, there are common stepping stones that can guide you on your journey.

Many Product Managers start as Associate Product Managers or Junior Product Managers. These roles often require a strong foundation in project management, a keen eye for detail, and excellent communication skills. It’s the perfect entry point for those looking to dip their toes into the world of product development.

Another common route is to kickstart your career in software engineering or design. Understanding the technical aspects of product development can be a massive advantage as a Product Manager. Many tech-savvy individuals transition into this role seamlessly.

Education plays a role, too. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fields like business, engineering, or computer science can provide you with the foundational knowledge required for a Product Manager role. Some even opt for master’s degrees in business administration (MBA) to gain a deeper understanding of business strategy and management.

However, keep in mind that academic qualifications are not the be-all and end-all. What truly sets you apart is your passion for problem-solving, your ability to communicate effectively, and your knack for strategic thinking. These skills often matter more than a degree on paper.

Networking is also a powerful tool on your journey. Attend industry events, connect with seasoned Product Managers, and seek out mentorship opportunities. Learning from those who’ve walked the path before you can be invaluable.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of building a portfolio of personal projects or side hustles. Creating your own products or collaborating on small-scale ventures can showcase your initiative and problem-solving skills to potential employers.

As you continue to explore the world of Product Managers, you’ll find that this career path is as diverse as the products they create. It’s an exciting journey that rewards creativity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of both users and business.

In this chapter, we’ve taken our first steps into the captivating realm of Product Manager fundamentals. We’ve uncovered what a Product Manager does, why their role is pivotal, and even explored the path to becoming one. But hold tight because our journey is far from over.

Next, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of product managers’ responsibilities, breaking down their day-to-day tasks and challenges. So, if you’re ready to unravel more about this dynamic role, turn the page, and let’s keep the adventure going. We promise it’s going to be an enlightening ride through the world of Product Management.

In this chapter, we’re about to unravel the essential toolkit that Product Managers carry with them. We’ll dive deep into the skills and qualifications that are not just valuable but often indispensable in this dynamic role. So, get ready to discover what it takes to thrive as a Product Manager, from the art of communication to the finesse of data analysis.

What are the soft skills and technical skills that product managers need to possess?

But before we dive headfirst into this fascinating realm, let’s set the stage. Product Managers are a unique breed—they wear multiple hats and are the connective tissue between various teams within an organization. They’re the ones who translate a vision into reality, making crucial decisions along the way.

To excel in this multifaceted role, Product Managers must possess a diverse skill set. It’s not just about having the technical know-how; it’s also about mastering the soft skills that make collaboration and leadership a breeze. Here, we’ll explore these skills in detail, covering everything from effective communication and empathetic leadership to the intricacies of data analysis and market research.

So, if you’re curious about what it truly takes to become a successful Product Manager and want to grasp the skills and qualifications that can set you on this exciting career path, you’re in for a treat. Buckle up because, by the end of this chapter, you’ll have a clear roadmap to becoming a proficient Product Manager. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

Soft Skills

In the realm of Product Management, technical prowess is just one piece of the puzzle. Equally, if not more important, are the soft skills that distinguish a good Product Manager from a great one. These skills are the secret sauce that fosters effective collaboration, inspires teams, and drives product success.

In this section, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of soft skills, exploring the art of communication, the essence of leadership, the power of empathy, the magic of problem-solving, and the finesse of decision-making. So, if you’re eager to unlock the interpersonal qualities that can make you a standout Product Manager, read on.

Communication

Imagine being the conductor of an orchestra without the ability to convey your vision to the musicians. Communication is the cornerstone of effective Product Management. A skilled Product Manager doesn’t just speak; they articulate ideas clearly, listen actively, and bridge the gap between technical jargon and plain language.

They’re diplomats, fostering open communication channels between cross-functional teams, ensuring that everyone is on the same sheet of music. Their emails, meetings, and presentations are masterpieces of clarity, ensuring that the product’s vision is understood and embraced by all.

Product Managers are leaders without formal authority. They’re more akin to captains steering a ship through turbulent waters. Leadership, in this context, isn’t about barking orders but about inspiring and guiding teams toward a common goal.

A strong Product Manager is a visionary who sets a clear course, motivates the crew, and takes responsibility for the journey’s outcome. They lead by example, instilling confidence and trust in their teams, even when faced with uncertainty. Their leadership style is adaptable, knowing when to step in and when to empower team members to shine.

Empathy is the secret ingredient that allows Product Managers to step into the shoes of their users. It’s the ability to understand and share the feelings, needs, and perspectives of others. Empathetic Product Managers possess a unique superpower—they can anticipate user pain points, desires, and aspirations.

They’re advocates for the customer within the organization, championing user-centric design and advocating for features that truly resonate. This skill is not just about understanding users but also about fostering a compassionate and inclusive team culture where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.

Problem-solving

Product Managers are the Sherlock Holmes of the business world. They encounter complex challenges regularly and must have the knack for dissecting them, piece by piece. Problem-solving involves breaking down multifaceted issues into manageable chunks, analyzing data, identifying root causes, and crafting innovative solutions.

It’s about thinking outside the box, leveraging creativity to navigate roadblocks, and turning obstacles into opportunities. A skilled Product Manager doesn’t just identify problems; they relish the chance to solve them, improving the product with each solution they find.

Decision-making

In the fast-paced world of Product Management, decisions are currency. Product Managers face a barrage of choices daily, from prioritizing features to allocating resources and setting project timelines. Effective decision-making is about balancing data-driven insights with intuition, knowing when to pivot and when to persevere.

It’s about making tough calls, often with limited information, and having the conviction to stand by those decisions. Strong Product Managers understand the consequences of their choices and can navigate uncertainty with confidence.

These soft skills form the backbone of a successful Product Manager’s skill set. They are the intangible qualities that transform a good Product Manager into a great one. As we continue our journey, we’ll delve even deeper into the intricacies of these skills, providing practical insights and tips to help you hone them. So, stay with us as we unlock the secrets to becoming a standout Product Manager.

Technical Skills

In the dynamic world of Product Management, technical skills are the nuts and bolts that enable a Product Manager to navigate the complexities of product development. Beyond the soft skills, proficiency in these technical areas is what equips a Product Manager to make informed decisions, devise effective strategies, and ultimately drive the success of a product.

In this section, we’ll dive into the realm of technical skills, exploring the art of data analysis, the significance of market research, the value of technical aptitude, the magic of User Experience (UX) principles, and the discipline of project management. So, if you’re eager to unlock the technical toolkit that can make you a standout Product Manager, read on.

Data Analysis

Data analysis is the compass that guides a Product Manager through the labyrinth of decision-making. It involves collecting, interpreting, and making sense of data to inform product-related choices. Product Managers harness data to understand user behavior, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and gain insights into market trends.

They’re like detectives, extracting valuable information from vast datasets to make data-driven decisions. Proficiency in data analysis tools and techniques is a must, as it empowers Product Managers to uncover hidden patterns and transform raw data into actionable strategies.

Market Research

Product Managers are the Sherlock Holmes of the market, and market research is their magnifying glass. This skill involves investigating market dynamics, customer needs, and competitor landscapes. It’s about staying attuned to market trends, conducting surveys, and gathering competitive intelligence.

A Product Manager’s ability to decipher market signals and spot opportunities or threats is pivotal. Market research isn’t just about gathering data; it’s about translating it into strategies that guide product development, ensuring that the product meets market demand.

Technical Aptitude

While Product Managers may not be coding wizards, having technical aptitude is like having a backstage pass to the tech world. It involves a basic understanding of the technologies powering the product.

Technical aptitude helps Product Managers communicate effectively with development teams, bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders, and make informed decisions about the product’s technical direction. It’s not about writing code but understanding how the code impacts the product’s functionality and performance.

User Experience (UX) Principles

User Experience (UX) is the compass that keeps a product on the right course. UX principles are about ensuring that the product is not just functional but also delightful to use. Product Managers need to understand the principles of UX design, including user-centered design, usability testing, and user feedback analysis.

By championing a user-centric approach, they can create products that not only meet user needs but also exceed expectations, resulting in customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Project Management

Imagine a Product Manager as the captain of a ship; project management is the navigation chart. It involves planning, organizing, and overseeing all aspects of a project’s lifecycle.

Product Managers need project management skills to set timelines, allocate resources, track progress, and ensure that the product is developed on schedule and within budget. Effective project management ensures that the product journey stays on course, steering clear of potential pitfalls.

These technical skills are the tools in a Product Manager’s belt, enabling them to tackle complex challenges and guide their products to success. As we continue our journey, we’ll delve even deeper into these skills, providing practical insights and tips to help you develop and leverage them effectively.

How to Develop the Skills and Qualifications Needed to Be a Product Manager?

Becoming a proficient Product Manager is like embarking on a journey of continuous growth and learning. It’s not just about landing a role; it’s about equipping yourself with the skills and knowledge to excel in it. So, how can you develop the skills and qualifications needed for this dynamic profession?

Educational Backgrounds

Product Managers come from diverse educational backgrounds. While some hold degrees in business, engineering, or computer science, others may have studied psychology, design, or even philosophy. The key is not the specific field but the skills and mindset you bring to the table. Your educational background can shape your perspective and problem-solving abilities, but it’s not a strict requirement.

Formal Degree vs. Experience

The age-old debate of whether a formal degree is necessary for a Product Manager role continues. The truth is, it varies. Some Product Managers have climbed the ranks purely through hands-on experience, while others have benefited from formal education. A degree can provide a solid foundation, but it’s not the sole determinant of success. What matters more is your ability to apply knowledge, adapt, and continuously learn on the job.

Certifications

Certifications can be a valuable addition to your skill set. Consider courses and certifications related to Product Management, such as the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Pragmatic Marketing Certification, or Google’s UX Design Certificate. These can help you gain a deeper understanding of key concepts and methodologies. However, remember that certifications are complementary and not a substitute for practical experience.

Ideal Years of Experience

The path to Product Management often involves stepping stones. Junior or Associate Product Manager roles are excellent entry points for those starting their careers. These positions allow you to gain hands-on experience, understand the intricacies of the role, and build a track record.

Mid-level Product Managers typically have around 3-5 years of experience, while Senior Product Managers may have 5-8 years or more. Director or VP-level roles often require a decade or more of experience. The key is to progress steadily, taking on more responsibility and complexity as you grow.

In this chapter, we’ve delved deep into the skills and qualifications required to thrive as a Product Manager. We’ve explored how to develop these skills through education, experience, certifications, and ideal years of experience at different career levels. But our journey doesn’t end here.

In the next chapter, we’ll dissect the core responsibilities of a Product Manager. We’ll explore the daily tasks, challenges, and strategies that Product Managers employ to bring products to life successfully.

So, if you’re eager to understand what it truly means to be a Product Manager and want to master the art of navigating product development, turn the page, and let’s continue this exciting adventure. Stay with us; there’s more to discover on this journey into the world of Product Management.

In this chapter, we’ll delve into the heart of a Product Manager’s role—the myriad of responsibilities that define their daily journey. Being a Product Manager isn’t just about a title; it’s about the diverse and dynamic tasks they shoulder. From shaping product strategy to advocating for the product, Product Managers are the linchpins of product development.

By the end of this chapter, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of these multifaceted responsibilities, equipping you with the knowledge to navigate the challenging waters of Product Management. So, let’s embark on this exploration of the core and additional responsibilities that make Product Managers the orchestrators of product success.

Here are the product managers’ responsibilities:

Conduct Market Research and Analyze Customer Feedback

Market research is the compass that guides a Product Manager’s decisions. They immerse themselves in the market, studying industry trends, competitive landscapes, and customer preferences. This research isn’t just about numbers and data; it’s about understanding the human aspect—the pain points, desires, and motivations of users.

By collecting and analyzing customer feedback, Product Managers gain valuable insights that shape the product’s direction. They conduct surveys, interviews, and user testing to ensure the product meets real-world needs. In essence, they become the voice of the customer within the organization, advocating for features and improvements that truly matter.

Define Product Vision and Strategy

Imagine a ship without a captain; it would drift aimlessly. Similarly, a product without a clear vision and strategy is bound to wander. Product Managers are the visionaries who define what the product should be and where it should go. They craft a compelling narrative that outlines the product’s purpose, goals, and value proposition.

This vision serves as the guiding light for the entire team, aligning efforts and ensuring everyone works towards a common goal. Strategy, on the other hand, is the roadmap that turns the vision into reality. Product Managers set the course, identifying key milestones, prioritizing features, and making strategic decisions that shape the product’s journey.

Create and Manage Product Roadmaps

A product roadmap is like a treasure map, charting the course to success. Product Managers are responsible for creating and maintaining these roadmaps, which outline the product’s development over time.

Roadmaps serve as communication tools, keeping all stakeholders informed about what to expect and when. They include features, enhancements, and fixes, all prioritized to align with the product’s strategy and customer needs.

Product Managers must balance short-term objectives with long-term goals, making tough decisions about what makes it onto the roadmap and when. Managing a roadmap requires constant iteration, adapting to market changes, and feedback from customers and internal teams.

Collaborate with Cross-functional Teams

In the world of Product Management, collaboration is king. Product Managers must bridge the gaps between various teams, including design, development, marketing, and sales. They are the glue that holds these cross-functional teams together, ensuring everyone is aligned and working towards the same vision.

Effective communication and diplomacy are key skills here as Product Managers navigate differing opinions, priorities, and constraints. Collaboration extends beyond the organization, too; Product Managers often work with external partners, vendors, and customers to gather insights and ensure the product’s success.

Monitor Product Performance and Make Data-driven Decisions

Data is the compass that keeps a Product Manager on course. They continuously monitor the product’s performance, tracking key metrics and KPIs. This data-driven approach allows them to make informed decisions, whether it’s adjusting the product strategy, prioritizing features, or addressing issues.

Product Managers rely on analytics tools and user feedback to gain insights into how the product is used and how it can be improved. They understand that making decisions based on gut feelings alone can lead to costly mistakes, so they combine their instincts with hard data to steer the product in the right direction.

Advocate for the Product

Product Managers are the product’s biggest cheerleaders, both within the organization and to the outside world. They champion the product’s value, ensuring that everyone understands its significance and potential. Internally, they advocate for the necessary resources, support, and attention the product deserves.

Externally, they act as the face of the product, engaging with customers, partners, and stakeholders to gather feedback and build relationships. Advocacy extends to marketing and sales efforts, where Product Managers play a crucial role in crafting compelling messages and strategies to promote the product effectively.

Define Product Requirements

Product Managers are the architects of a product’s features and functionalities. Defining product requirements involves creating a detailed blueprint that outlines what the product should achieve. It means breaking down high-level goals into specific, actionable tasks.

This process requires meticulous attention to detail, as Product Managers must ensure that the requirements are clear, concise, and aligned with the product’s strategy. Effective requirement definition acts as a compass, guiding the development team in building a product that meets user needs and expectations.

Manage Product Backlog

Think of a product backlog as a to-do list for the product. It’s a dynamic and ever-evolving repository of tasks, features, and improvements that need attention. Product Managers are responsible for managing this backlog, prioritizing items based on their importance, user feedback, and strategic objectives.

They must strike a balance between addressing immediate needs and planning for the future. A well-managed backlog keeps the development team focused and ensures that the product evolves in line with its vision.

Oversee Product Testing and Quality Assurance

Product Managers are the gatekeepers of quality. They oversee the product testing and quality assurance processes to ensure that the final product meets high standards. This responsibility involves working closely with quality assurance teams to define test cases, establish quality metrics, and monitor the product’s performance during testing.

They must be vigilant, identifying and addressing any issues or defects that may arise. Effective quality assurance ensures that the product not only functions as intended but also provides a seamless and delightful user experience.

Participate in Product Marketing and Launch Activities

Product Managers play a pivotal role in the product’s journey from development to market success. They collaborate with marketing teams to craft compelling messaging and strategies for product promotion.

This includes defining target audiences, positioning the product in the market, and creating marketing materials. Product Managers are often the subject matter experts during product launches, guiding sales teams and providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively sell the product.

Gather and Analyze Competitive Intelligence

Staying ahead in the market requires keeping a close eye on the competition. Product Managers are responsible for gathering and analyzing competitive intelligence. They monitor rival products, track their features and performance, and identify strengths and weaknesses. This information helps shape the product’s strategy, allowing Product Managers to make informed decisions about feature prioritization, differentiation, and market positioning.

Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends and Technologies

The tech landscape is constantly evolving, and Product Managers must stay in the know. They invest time in researching and staying updated with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices. This knowledge equips them to make informed decisions about the product’s direction, ensuring that it remains competitive and relevant in a rapidly changing environment.

Foster a Culture of Innovation

Innovation is the lifeblood of successful products. Product Managers are innovation catalysts, fostering a culture of creativity and forward-thinking within their teams. They encourage team members to think outside the box, explore new ideas, and take calculated risks. By creating an environment where innovation thrives, Product Managers ensure that their products continue to evolve and meet the evolving needs of users and markets.

In this chapter, we’ve delved deep into the intricate web of responsibilities that define the life of a Product Manager. From shaping the product vision to advocating for it in the market, from defining requirements to fostering innovation, Product Managers wear many hats. These responsibilities are the building blocks of a successful product and are the threads that weave together the fabric of a thriving career in Product Management.

But our journey doesn’t end here. As you continue to explore the world of Product Management, you’ll realize that there’s much more to uncover. In Chapter 4, we’ll shift our focus to a topic close to every Product Manager’s heart—career growth and advancement. We’ll dive into the strategies, insights, and pathways that can help you not only excel in your current role but also carve out a fulfilling and rewarding career as a Product Manager.

So, if you’re eager to discover the secrets to climbing the career ladder in Product Management and want to learn about the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, don’t stop here. Turn the page, and let’s continue this journey together.

In this chapter, we’ll explore a topic that’s at the heart of every Product Manager’s aspirations—career growth and advancement. If you’ve been curious about how to navigate your career path in this dynamic field or are eager to uncover the avenues that lead to senior roles and new opportunities, you’re in the right place.

Here, we’ll unravel the strategies, insights, and practical steps that can propel your Product Management career to new heights. Whether you’re just starting your journey as a Product Manager or looking for ways to reach the profession’s pinnacle, this chapter is your guide.

By the end of this chapter, you’ll not only understand how to advance in your current role but also explore potential career paths and the skills needed to thrive in them. We’ll dive into the importance of continuous learning, networking, and staying ahead of industry trends to stay competitive in the ever-evolving world of Product Management.

So, if you’re ready to unlock the secrets to elevating your Product Management career, let’s embark on this enlightening journey together. The path to becoming a standout Product Manager is filled with opportunities and challenges, and we’re here to help you navigate it successfully. Keep reading; there’s a world of career possibilities waiting for you.

How can you advance your career as a product manager?

Advancing your career as a Product Manager involves a multi-faceted approach that encompasses both skill development and strategic planning. To climb the career ladder, start by honing your core competencies in product management, including market research, strategy development, and effective collaboration with cross-functional teams. Continuously improving your communication and leadership skills is also crucial, as these soft skills play a significant role in your effectiveness as a leader in the field.

Networking is another essential element. Building relationships with colleagues, mentors, and industry peers can provide valuable insights, open doors to new opportunities, and keep you updated on industry trends. Attend conferences, join professional organizations, and participate in online communities to expand your network.

Moreover, consider pursuing advanced degrees or certifications in areas relevant to your career goals. These credentials can enhance your knowledge and make you a more competitive candidate for senior roles. Certifications like the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or advanced degrees in business administration can be particularly beneficial.

Product Managers have a wide range of potential career paths. Many start as Associate Product Managers or Junior Product Managers, where they gain foundational experience in product development and management. From there, they can progress to roles such as Product Manager, Senior Product Manager, and eventually Director of Product Management or Head of Product. These senior positions often come with increased responsibilities and leadership opportunities.

Beyond the traditional career progression within Product Management, some professionals opt to transition into related roles, such as Product Marketing Manager, where they focus on bringing products to market and crafting marketing strategies. Others may move into General Management positions or even start their own companies as entrepreneurs. The versatility of skills acquired as a Product Manager opens doors to various career possibilities.

Advancing in your Product Management career often involves a combination of gaining experience, acquiring new skills, and demonstrating leadership. Seek out opportunities to lead larger and more complex projects, as this demonstrates your ability to handle increased responsibility. Mentorship can also be instrumental; both receiving guidance from experienced mentors and mentoring junior Product Managers can showcase your leadership capabilities.

Transitioning into senior roles may require you to develop expertise in specific domains, such as a deep understanding of a particular industry or market segment. Specialization can make you a sought-after expert in your field, increasing your chances of landing higher-level positions.

Furthermore, consider pursuing leadership training and workshops to enhance your management skills. Effective leadership is a hallmark of successful senior Product Managers.

Remember that career advancement is a journey, not a sprint. Be patient, stay committed to continuous learning, and adapt to changing industry dynamics. The ability to evolve and embrace new challenges is what sets successful Product Managers apart in their careers.

What are the next steps you can take to develop your skills and experience?

Embrace Lifelong Learning: The dynamic nature of the tech industry and product management requires a commitment to lifelong learning. Stay curious and up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and methodologies. Enroll in online courses, attend workshops, and read industry publications. Platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer a wealth of resources on product management, leadership, and related subjects.

Seek Mentorship: Mentorship is a powerful tool for skill development and career growth. Find experienced Product Managers who can provide guidance, share their knowledge, and offer valuable insights. A mentor can help you navigate challenges, provide a different perspective, and accelerate your career progression. Additionally, consider becoming a mentor to junior Product Managers; teaching is an excellent way to solidify your own understanding of the subject matter.

Specialize in Key Areas: Identify specific areas within product management where you can deepen your expertise. For example, you might specialize in data analytics, user experience design, or agile methodologies. Becoming an expert in a niche area can make you a sought-after professional and open up unique career opportunities.

Take on Challenging Projects: Seek out projects that push your boundaries and challenge your skills. Taking calculated risks and tackling complex initiatives can accelerate your learning and demonstrate your ability to handle increased responsibility. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone; growth often happens in the face of challenges.

Networking and Relationship Building: Building and nurturing professional relationships is essential for career development. Attend industry events, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and participate in meetups or conferences. Networking provides you with exposure to diverse perspectives, potential mentors, and career opportunities. Be proactive in reaching out to colleagues and peers, both within and outside your organization.

Stay Inquisitive: Cultivate a mindset of continuous curiosity. The most successful Product Managers are those who never stop asking questions, exploring new ideas, and seeking out knowledge. Embrace a growth mindset, and be open to feedback and self-improvement.

Attend Industry Events: Conferences, seminars, and workshops provide valuable opportunities to learn from industry experts and connect with like-minded professionals. They also offer a platform to discuss emerging trends, best practices, and innovative approaches to product management.

Leverage Online Communities: Engage with online communities and forums related to product management. Platforms like ProductCoalition, Mind the Product, and Reddit’s r/productmanagement subreddit are excellent places to exchange ideas, seek advice, and learn from the experiences of others in the field.

Seek Feedback: Regularly solicit feedback from peers, managers, and mentors. Constructive feedback can pinpoint areas for improvement and help you refine your skills. It’s a valuable tool for personal and professional growth.

Give Back to the Community: Share your knowledge and experiences with others in the product management community. Writing articles, giving presentations, or participating in panel discussions not only contributes to your professional growth but also establishes you as a thought leader in the field.

In this chapter, we’ve explored the pathways to advancing your career as a Product Manager, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, mentorship, specialization, and networking. Remember that career growth is an ongoing journey that requires dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to self-improvement. By following the strategies and insights shared here, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the dynamic landscape of Product Management and reach new heights in your career.

Next, we’ll dive into a crucial aspect of your Product Management journey—the job description. We’ll dissect the key components of what it means to be a Product Manager, helping you understand the roles, responsibilities, and expectations that come with this position. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to refine your understanding of the Product Manager role, this chapter will be your guide.

So, if you’re eager to gain a deeper insight into the intricacies of being a Product Manager and want to explore the nuances of this dynamic role, don’t stop here. Turn the page, and let’s continue this enlightening journey together.

Welcome to Chapter 5, where we’ll delve into the essential aspects of a Product Manager’s job description. If you’ve ever wondered about the intricacies of what it takes to be a Product Manager, you’re in the right place. In this chapter, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and expectations that define this dynamic profession.

Being a Product Manager is like being the ship’s captain, responsible for charting the course of a product’s journey from ideation to success. It involves a blend of strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to navigate the ever-changing waters of technology and market trends. By the end of this chapter, you’ll have a clear picture of what it means to be a Product Manager and what employers typically look for in a Product Manager job description.

But that’s not all—this chapter also includes a valuable resource, a Product Manager Job Description Template, which can serve as a practical guide for both job seekers and employers. Whether you’re aspiring to become a Product Manager or looking to hire one, this template will help you understand the key elements that should be included in a Product Manager job description.

So, if you’re ready to explore the intricacies of the Product Manager role and gain insights into crafting or interpreting job descriptions, let’s dive right in. The world of Product Management is waiting to be unveiled, and we’re here to be your guide. Keep reading, and let’s unlock the secrets of the Product Manager job description together.

Product Manager Job Description Template

A well-crafted job description is the cornerstone of any successful hiring process, and when it comes to finding the right Product Manager, it’s absolutely vital. We understand that creating a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed job description can make all the difference in attracting top-tier talent or finding the perfect role that aligns with your career goals.

In this section, we’ve got you covered. Our Product Manager Job Description Template is more than just a template—it’s your key to success. Whether you’re an employer looking to fill a critical role in your organization or a job seeker aiming to stand out in a competitive market, this template provides the essential elements needed to ensure that expectations are clear, responsibilities are well-defined, and the path to success is illuminated.

So, don’t underestimate the power of a well-thought-out job description. It’s the first step towards building a thriving Product Management team or landing your dream role. Let’s dive into the template and uncover the elements that will set you on the path to success. Your Product Management journey starts here.

Job Title: Product Manager

Department: Product Management

Reports To: Director of Product Management

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Product Manager to join our team and lead the development and launch of innovative products that exceed customer expectations. As a Product Manager, you will be responsible for the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to market launch and beyond. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to gather and analyze user needs, define product strategy, and create product roadmaps. You will also be responsible for monitoring product performance and making data-driven decisions to ensure the success of our products.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct market research and analyze customer feedback to identify product opportunities and validate product concepts.
• Define product vision and strategy, aligning product goals with business objectives and market trends.
• Create and manage product roadmaps, outlining product features, timelines, and milestones.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, marketing, sales, and customer support, to ensure seamless product development, launch, and support.
• Monitor product performance using data analytics tools and make data-driven decisions to optimize product usability, engagement, and conversion rates.
• Define product requirements and specifications, ensuring clarity and alignment between product vision and technical implementation.
• Manage product backlog, prioritizing features based on user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility.
• Oversee product testing and quality assurance processes to ensure product quality and bug resolution before release.
• Participate in product marketing and launch activities, including developing product messaging, marketing materials, and launch strategies.
• Gather and analyze competitive intelligence to identify industry trends, competitor offerings, and potential threats.
• Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends that may impact the product or industry.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the product team, encouraging creativity, new ideas, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience as a Product Manager or in a related role.
• Proven track record of successfully launching and managing products.
• Strong understanding of market research methodologies and user experience principles.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to think critically, solve problems, and make data-driven decisions.
• Experience working with agile development methodologies and project management tools.
• Passion for technology and a desire to create innovative products.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge products and technologies.
• Collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Chance to make a significant impact on the company’s success.

In this chapter, we’ve explored the intricate details of a Product Manager’s job description, shedding light on the roles, responsibilities, and expectations that define this dynamic profession. Whether you’re a seasoned Product Manager looking to fine-tune your understanding of the role or someone aspiring to step into the world of Product Management, you’ve gained valuable insights into what it takes to thrive in this field.

But our journey through the realm of Product Management is far from over. Next, we’ll venture into the realm of tips and strategies for becoming a successful Product Manager. This chapter is your guide to excelling in the role, offering practical advice, and sharing the wisdom of seasoned professionals who have navigated this path before you.

So, if you’re eager to uncover the secrets to becoming not just a Product Manager but a standout, highly successful one, don’t stop here. Turn the page, and let’s continue this enlightening journey together.

If you’ve been curious about what sets exceptional Product Managers apart from the rest, you’re in for a treat. In this chapter, we’ll delve into a treasure trove of tips and strategies that have been honed by seasoned professionals in the field.

Being a Product Manager isn’t just about managing products; it’s about being the visionary, the communicator, the problem solver, and the advocate for your product. It’s a dynamic role that requires a unique skill set and mindset. By the end of this chapter, you’ll not only understand what it takes to thrive in this profession but also gain practical insights that you can apply to excel in your journey.

But that’s not all—this chapter is your playbook for success. We’ve curated a list of ten essential tips that will not only guide you but also empower you to become an outstanding Product Manager. These tips cover everything from understanding your users to staying updated with industry trends. So, if you’re ready to elevate your Product Management game and become a standout professional, let’s dive right in. The path to success is illuminated, and we’re here to be your guide.

In the fast-paced world of Product Management, success is a combination of art and science, vision and execution. As we delve into the tips that can help you become a successful Product Manager, remember that each tip is a nugget of wisdom that has been tested and proven by those who have walked this path before you. These tips are not just theoretical; they’re actionable insights that can transform your approach, enhance your skills, and elevate your career.

Consider this list a roadmap—a blueprint for success in the world of Product Management. Each tip represents a fundamental aspect of the role, from understanding your users at a profound level to staying at the forefront of industry trends. By embracing and applying these tips, you’ll not only become a better Product Manager but also set yourself on a course to stand out and thrive in your career.

So, get ready to explore these ten essential tips that will propel you toward becoming a highly successful Product Manager. The journey to excellence starts here, and we’re excited to be your guides.

Understand Your Users.

One of the foundational pillars of successful Product Management is a deep understanding of your users. To create products that resonate and delight, you must be intimately familiar with the people who will be using your product. This goes beyond just knowing demographic data; it involves understanding their needs, desires, pain points, and behaviors.

Start by conducting thorough user research. This could involve surveys, interviews, user testing, and data analysis. The goal is to build user personas that represent your target audience accurately. These personas are not just sketches on paper; they’re living, breathing representations of the people you’re serving.

Once you’ve created these personas, make them a central part of your decision-making process. Whenever you’re faced with a product-related question or choice, ask yourself, “How does this benefit our users?” This user-centric approach ensures that your product decisions are grounded in empathy and a genuine desire to solve user problems.

Furthermore, keep the lines of communication open with your users. Regularly engage with them through feedback channels, customer support interactions, or user forums. This ongoing dialogue helps you stay connected to their evolving needs and preferences, enabling you to adapt and iterate your product accordingly.

In summary, understanding your users isn’t just a tip; it’s a philosophy that should permeate every aspect of your Product Management journey. By immersing yourself in their world, empathizing with their challenges, and striving to make their lives better, you’ll set the stage for building products that truly make an impact.

Define a Clear Product Vision.

A successful Product Manager is, in many ways, the visionary behind the product. To steer your product in the right direction, you must establish a clear and compelling vision. This vision serves as the North Star, guiding not only your team but also the entire organization toward a common goal.

Start by asking yourself: “What problem does my product solve, and what value does it bring to users?” Your product vision should encapsulate this essence. It should be concise, inspiring, and easy to communicate. A well-defined vision empowers your team to make decisions aligned with the overarching goal, ensuring that every feature and update contributes to the larger purpose.

Additionally, share your vision widely and consistently. Ensure that everyone involved in the product development process understands and buys into it. From engineers and designers to marketers and executives, alignment around the vision fosters a sense of purpose and unity.

Create a Comprehensive Product Roadmap.

A Product Manager’s role involves translating the product vision into a strategic plan, and that’s where a comprehensive product roadmap comes into play. This roadmap is your blueprint for executing the vision, outlining the journey from concept to product delivery.

Start by identifying the key milestones and deliverables that will bring your product vision to life. Break down these high-level goals into actionable tasks and prioritize them based on user needs and business objectives. Your roadmap should provide a clear timeline and help allocate resources effectively.

Importantly, a product roadmap is a dynamic document. It should adapt to changing circumstances, market shifts, and user feedback. Regularly review and update it to ensure that it remains relevant and aligned with your vision.

Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams.

Product Management is a team sport, and collaboration is the name of the game. You’ll work closely with designers, engineers, marketers, and many other stakeholders to bring your product to fruition. Effective collaboration requires strong communication, empathy, and the ability to bridge gaps between different functions.

Create an environment where cross-functional teams can collaborate seamlessly. Foster open communication channels, encourage idea-sharing, and ensure everyone’s contributions are valued. When team members from various disciplines work harmoniously, the result is a product that not only meets user needs but also has a unified and compelling user experience.

Become a Data-Driven Decision Maker.

In the digital age, data is your best friend as a Product Manager. It empowers you to make informed decisions, refine your product strategy, and measure the impact of your initiatives. Start by defining key metrics that align with your product goals. These metrics could include user engagement, conversion rates, or customer satisfaction scores.

Leverage analytics tools to collect and analyze data. Whether it’s user behavior on your app, website traffic patterns, or A/B test results, data provides insights into what’s working and what needs improvement. Use these insights to refine your product roadmap, prioritize features, and optimize the user experience.

Remember that data doesn’t exist in isolation. Combine quantitative data with qualitative insights gained through user interviews, surveys, and feedback to gain a holistic understanding of user needs and preferences. Being a data-driven decision-maker means striking a balance between quantitative evidence and the human element of product development.

Be a Strong Communicator.

Effective communication is at the heart of successful Product Management. As a Product Manager, you’re the bridge between different teams and stakeholders, translating technical jargon into plain language and vice versa. Clear communication ensures that everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals.

Practice active listening to truly understand the perspectives and concerns of your team members, users, and other stakeholders. Be concise and articulate in your verbal and written communication. Whether you’re presenting a product update to your team or crafting a user-facing announcement, clarity and precision are key.

Additionally, foster a culture of transparency by openly sharing information about the product roadmap, progress, and challenges. Strong communication not only enhances collaboration but also builds trust among team members and stakeholders, which is vital for success.

Be a Problem Solver.

Product Management often involves navigating complex challenges and finding creative solutions. Being a problem solver means approaching obstacles with a solution-oriented mindset. When faced with a problem, break it down into smaller, manageable parts and prioritize them based on their impact on users and business objectives.

Embrace the iterative nature of product development. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks or failures; view them as opportunities to learn and improve. Seek feedback from team members and users to gain different perspectives and insights.

A great Product Manager is also proactive in identifying potential issues before they become major roadblocks. Regularly assess risks and uncertainties and develop contingency plans to address them. Problem-solving isn’t just about fixing what’s broken; it’s about preventing issues from arising in the first place.

In this chapter, we’ve uncovered a treasure trove of tips that can elevate your journey toward becoming a successful Product Manager. From understanding your users to being a data-driven decision-maker, each tip is a valuable piece of the puzzle that defines exceptional Product Management.

But remember, our journey is far from over. The path to excellence in Product Management is a continuous one, marked by growth, learning, and adaptability. These tips are not just tools in your arsenal; they are principles to live by in this dynamic field.

The final chapter awaits, promising to leave you with a deeper understanding of the world of Product Management and a renewed sense of purpose in your career. Keep reading; the best is yet to come.

And there you have it—the comprehensive guide to the world of Product Management. Throughout this post, we’ve journeyed from understanding the fundamentals of the role to exploring the intricacies of responsibilities, career growth, and success strategies. You’ve gained insights into what it takes to be not just a product manager but a standout, highly successful one.

As you reflect on what you’ve learned, consider this: Product Management is not just a job; it’s a dynamic and fulfilling career path that requires continuous learning, adaptability, and a deep passion for solving problems and creating value for users.

Do you have any questions or thoughts to share? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and join the conversation. Your insights and questions contribute to the vibrant community of Product Managers who always seek to improve and innovate.

If you found this post valuable, consider sharing it with your network. The more we share knowledge, the stronger our community becomes. And don’t forget to explore our other posts on related topics—there’s a wealth of information waiting for you to discover.

Thank you for joining us on this journey of exploration and learning. The world of Product Management is vast and ever-evolving, and we’re excited to be your guide as you navigate its exciting terrain. Here’s to your continued success as a product manager. May your career be filled with innovation, growth, and impactful products.

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do
• Certifications
• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions

Job Description

Manager, Product Research And Development job description

Example manager, product research and development requirements on a job description.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, technology, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in product research and development.
• Experience in product design and prototyping.
• Strong knowledge of market research and analysis.
• Familiarity with product development tools.
• Leadership capabilities with the ability to manage a team.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to think innovatively and work collaboratively.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Highly motivated and a self-starter.

Manager, Product Research And Development job description example 1

The j.m. smucker co. manager, product research and development job description, manager, product research and development job description example 2, supportworks manager, product research and development job description, manager, product research and development job description example 3, osmose holdings, inc. manager, product research and development job description, resources for employers posting manager, product research and development jobs.

Manager, Product Research And Development job description FAQs

What are the most common skills on a job description for a manager, product research and development.

Updated March 14, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Related Job Descriptions

• Assistant Product Manager Description
• Associate Product Manager Description
• Business Development Manager Description
• Development & Program Manager Description
• Development Manager Description
• Director Of Product Development Description
• Manager, Strategy Description
• Market Development Manager Description
• Product Development Manager Description
• Product Director Description
• Product Lead Description
• Product Line Manager Description
• Product Manager Description
• Product Marketing Manager Description
• Research And Development Director Description

Manager, Product Research And Development Related Hirings

• Hiring An Assistant Product Manager
• Hiring An Associate Product Manager
• Hiring A Business Development Manager
• Hiring A Development & Program Manager
• Hiring A Development Manager
• Hiring A Director Of Product Development
• Hiring A Manager, Strategy
• Hiring A Market Development Manager
• Hiring A Product Development Manager
• Hiring A Product Director
• Hiring A Product Lead
• Hiring A Product Line Manager
• Hiring A Product Manager
• Hiring A Product Marketing Manager
• Hiring A Research And Development Director

Manager, Product Research And Development Related Jobs

• Assistant Product Manager
• Associate Product Manager
• Business Development Manager
• Development & Program Manager
• Development Manager
• Director Of Product Development
• Manager, Strategy
• Market Development Manager
• Product Development Manager
• Product Director
• Product Lead
• Product Line Manager
• Product Manager
• Product Marketing Manager
• Research And Development Director

What Similar Roles Do

• Assistant Product Manager Responsibilities
• Associate Product Manager Responsibilities
• Business Development Manager Responsibilities
• Development & Program Manager Responsibilities
• Development Manager Responsibilities
• Director Of Product Development Responsibilities
• Manager, Strategy Responsibilities
• Market Development Manager Responsibilities
• Product Development Manager Responsibilities
• Product Director Responsibilities
• Product Lead Responsibilities
• Product Line Manager Responsibilities
• Product Manager Responsibilities
• Product Marketing Manager Responsibilities
• Research And Development Director Responsibilities
• Zippia Careers
• Executive Management Industry
• Manager, Product Research And Development
• Manager, Product Research And Development Job Description

Browse executive management jobs

Product manager job description

Product managers maximise the success of company products by ensuring that they meet the needs of customers, whilst making a good financial return for their employer’s business.

They make sure that products are made efficiently and promoted effectively, and regularly analyse feedback from customers/users to make product improvements.

The products they manage are normally complex products such as software, games, apps or financial products like loans and credit cards.

This complete guide features a full product manager job description and discusses everything you need to know about product managers, including average salaries, job requirements, typical employers and more.

Guide contents

How much do product managers earn?

What does a product manager do.

• Requirements, skills and qualifications

Who employs product managers?

Which junior jobs progress to product manager roles.

Product manager | Max Security Solutions

About Max Security Solutions

We’re an award-winning, fast-growing tech company offering leading network security software solutions to help companies worldwide to prevent cyber threats, data breaches and attackers.

About the role

The product manager will oversee the lifecycle of our product portfolio, helping us to maintain our position as industry leaders. Reporting to the Head of Product, the postholder will work cross-functionally with the development team and sales, marketing, customer services and business development to maximise revenue, retention and performance for each product within the portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the entire product lifecycle from concept to end of life
• Carry out detailed user surveys and gather data to inform product development and strategy
• Develop effective pricing strategies and tactics
• Utilise data to better understand user behaviour and develop product enhancement and feature ideas
• Collaborate with the marketing department to develop campaigns and ensure promotional campaigns are cost-effective
• Support the development teams to make feature and design changes, as well as performing test and sprint reviews
• Consistently monitor and analyse competitor products, sales and promotional strategies

Location & commitments

• Full-time, permanent role based in our Manchester Northern Quarter office
• 35 hours per week with flexi-time between 8 am and 6 pm
• Occasional evening and weekend work required to support project and product deadlines, with time off given in lieu
• Regular national and international travel required

Candidate requirements

• At least 2 years of experience within a technical role within software or hardware
• Great technical competency and a thorough understanding of cybersecurity issues and network technologies
• Exceptional relationship management skills across key stakeholders, customers and colleagues
• Proven experience of gathering and analysing large data sets to inform decisions
• Proven planning and time management skills, with the ability to work to strict deadlines
• Strong business acumen and financial and mathematical capability
• Bachelor or master’s degree in software engineering, computer science or a business subject
• CIM marketing qualification(s) would be highly advantageous

Contact us to apply

If you’re keen to join an industry-leading network security solutions provider that will truly support your career development, apply today. For immediate consideration, please send your CV and cover letter to our recruitment manager, Jenny Jones, at [email protected].

CV templates 

A career in product management is generally very well-paid, with an average salary of £57,500 — sitting considerably above the national average.

Product manager salaries in the UK

• Low: £42,500
• Average: £57,500
• High: £72,500

Source: TotalJobs

Product manager salaries will vary depending on:

• The sector + type of product being managed – Companies/products in more expensive and in-demand markets will typically pay more. For example, the tech sector and products in software, AI, cryptocurrency and networking are known to offer higher than average product manager salaries.
• The size of the company – Generally speaking, big, established, global companies will pay more generous salaries than start-ups and small/medium-sized businesses.
• Candidate experience & location – Salary increases significantly with experience and promotion, and salaries in London are usually higher than elsewhere in the UK.

For example, a product manager working for Google in London is likely to earn significantly more than a product manager with the same level of experience working for a smaller, less established business in Manchester.

The average salary figures listed are taken from online job advert samples. Therefore, they do not include extra benefits such as bonuses and overtime and non-financial benefits, such as flexible working and healthcare.

A product manager job description typically includes some of the following duties and responsibilities:

• Developing product lines – Creating, presenting and developing new products and product line ideas
• Creating strategies – Developing short and long-term sales, marketing and product development strategies for products
• Budgeting – Setting and managing budgets for products and ensuring that the product remains within that budget
• Pricing up products – Using production costs, competitor research and market demands to price up products in line with profitability goals
• Making sales forecasts – Creating regular sales and revenue forecasts
• Analysing data – Gathering, analysing and responding to customer and user data and feedback
• Coordinating product improvements – Planning product changes and features according to customer needs and demand
• Creating schedules & timelines – Planning timescales, schedules and roadmaps for product development and launch
• Researching competitors – Researching and assessing competitor companies and products
• Managing marketing campaigns – Working with sales, marketing and advertising departments or agencies to develop effective product marketing campaigns
• Attending conferences & trade shows – Attending relevant events, trade shows and conferences
• Managing a product team – Overseeing the product team, including recruiting, mentoring and training staff

What do product managers need?

Due to the high level of responsibility involved in product manager positions, a range of experience, skills and — often — qualifications are required in order to thrive in the role.

While requirements will inevitably vary from company to company, here is what typically needed to enter the product management sector:

Junior product manager jobs generally require candidates to have gained some experience (1-2+ years) in a fast-paced sales, marketing, sales, account management or product-focused role. For graduate roles, experience gained from work experience, internships and university placements is often accepted.

Intermediate to senior product manager roles will normally require candidates to have gained significant experience (2–5+ years) in a product manager role, with proven commercial success. Many employers will also expect experience within their specific industry or product area — for example, a software company will normally look for candidates with proven experience of managing software or tech products.

Product manager skills

A successful product manager will typically have a firm grounding in the following skills and knowledge:

• Product/industry knowledge: Acquiring in-depth knowledge of the product, market, customers and competitors
• Business acumen: Understanding business basics, such as budgeting, cash flow, forecasting and profit-and-loss
• Technical product knowledge: A deep knowledge of the sector of the product being managed can be hugely beneficial
• Data analysis: Analysing customer, competitor and sector data in order to make effective decisions
• Marketing: Creating effective marketing product marketing campaigns to appeal to the target market
• Decision making: Making timely, confident, fair and objective decisions regarding product development, marketing and the product team
• Organisation: Working to demanding and conflicting deadlines and timelines and effectively prioritising tasks
• Leadership: Leading, mentoring and motivating the product team to success
• Communication : Communicating with confidence, clarity and brevity with a wide range of colleagues, stakeholders, clients and customers

Product manager qualifications

While there are no strict formal academic requirements, the majority of product managers hold either a degree or relevant marketing/sales qualification. However, as with most business/marketing roles, relevant experience and proven results are generally deemed more important.

The product management sector can be highly competitive, so gaining recognised and relevant qualifications, courses and training can, of course, help candidates to land roles and excel once they’re in them. Some common choices are:

A degree isn’t always an essential requirement for product manager roles, but it seems that the majority of professionals in the field do hold one. Additionally, many entry-level/junior roles in the field are graduate roles or schemes specifically — meaning only those with a degree are eligible.

The sector can be highly competitive and the role holds a great level of responsibility, meaning the experience, knowledge and skills gained from a degree in a relevant subject is an obvious advantage.

Any degrees within the business, management or economics field are generally favoured, but as the scope of product manager roles is so wide, specific requirements do vary.

Product manager roles with a focus on product marketing may prefer candidates with a degree within:

• Marketing and communications
• Advertising
• Public relations
• Brand management

Whereas product manager roles with a focus on product development may favour candidates with a degree within product design, development or innovation .

Marketing, sales and advertising qualifications

Depending on the scope of the role, product managers may choose to complete additional training in specific areas, such as marketing, sales or market research, to allow them to perform better in their job.

There is a wide array of additional training, certification and qualification options available, but some of the most popular options include courses run by the:

• Chartered Institute of Marketing ( CIM ) (who have a number of product management courses )
• Market Research Society ( MRS )
• Institute of Direct Marketing ( IDM )
• Institute of Sales Management ( ISM )

Subject matter qualifications

Many product managers hold qualifications in a related subject to the product area they work in. For example, a product manager in the software industry could benefit — both in terms of job performance and career progression — from having a degree or vocational qualification in a tech subject, such as computer science or software engineering.

What is expected of product managers?

Product managers will typically be expected to commit the following:

• Full time hours – Roles are almost always full-time (35 – 40 hours per week) – part-time roles are hard to come by
• Standard office hours – Core working hours are normally 9–5pm, though some employers may offer flexible working hours
• Evening and weekend work likely – It’s common for product managers to regularly work outside of the core hours to meet the demands of a project or launch. However, most companies offer time off in lieu as compensation for extra hours
• Location – Normally based at the head office of the organisation
• Regular travel – There may be lots of travel involved, in order to liaise with all the people who contribute to a project or product

Product manager benefits

As product managers normally work for large, well-known companies, they tend to receive a generous benefits package. This might include things like:

• Share options – the option to buy a certain number of company shares
• Bonuses – normally based on product performance
• Generous holiday allowance – many modern employers have introduced unlimited holiday policies, and this is common within product management
• Pension scheme
• Car allowance
• Flexible working options
• Company discounts

Companies who develop and offer their own large complex products such as business software, video games, IT platforms, financial products and pharmaceuticals – will require the services of a product manager to ensure these products are created and sold effectively.

While demand for product managers has been on a steady rise for the past few years, the field is still highly competitive. The majority of roles appear within the private sector. Jobs within the not-for-profit and public sector do exist, but are rare.

Graduate schemes are equally competitive, with the number of applications greatly exceeding employer demand. Larger companies, such as Google, have a high barrier to entry in terms of experience, skills and qualifications. Smaller companies often employ just one single product manager, meaning jobs are few and far between.

The majority of product manager jobs in the UK are city-based; predominately in London. It’s rare to find a role outside of the major city hubs.

Product manager roles typically appear in companies within:

• Technology & digital
• Networking & software
• Banking and finance
• Pharmaceuticals
• Entertainment
• Transportation
• Luxury goods & fashion

There are a number of routes into product management, including:

Graduate product manager

There are increasing numbers of graduate schemes, jobs and placements within product management. Many of these are offered by very well-known organisations such as BT, the NHS, Amazon, Tesco and Red Bull. For graduates with minimal experience, these schemes are often the best direct route of entry into the sector.

Junior product manager

Junior product managers work under an experienced product manager or product team to learn the ropes of the role and typically work on a variety of research, data analysis and marketing tasks.

However, gaining a junior product management role is still very competitive. To gain a junior position, employers will normally expect candidates to have completed a graduate scheme or have gained at least 1-2+ years experience within an overlapping field. This might be a role within:

• Sales and marketing
• Web/software development
• Project management
• Account management
• Product design/development

Which senior jobs do product managers progress to?

While product management alone offers high salaries and challenging work, many product managers progress into even higher-paying, more senior jobs. Sometimes, these roles can offer salaries well into the 6-figure salary mark.

Senior product manager/product owner

With several years of product manager experience (generally between 3 and 5+ years), it’s possible to move into a senior product manager position. Senior PM positions usually involve a higher involvement with strategy and the line management of the product team, often overseeing multiple products. These roles might go by the name of:

• Head of product
• Product team leader
• Product owner
• Senior product manager

Vice president (VP) of product

Some product managers eventually progress into board-level management positions. Here, they’ll take overall leadership of a product or product line within a company or business unit. Professionals at this level work predominantly on strategy and delegation; influencing the overall vision of a product, rather than making individual product decisions or working on smaller tasks.

Because of the highly-transferable skills and knowledge gained in a product manager role, it’s also possible to switch into a different job function entirely . Additionally, some experienced product managers eventually move into entrepreneurship and start their own business or product line.

Product manager job description – conclusion

Product management is a growing field in the UK, with demand increasing steadily by the year.

Due to the high salaries on offer, as well as the significant level of responsibility involved in the role, entry into the profession is generally very competitive.

However, with the right blend of determination, study and experience, gaining a product manager role is within reach and can offer a highly rewarding and lucrative career path.

Similar jobs: Business analyst – Project manager – COO

Mastering the Product Manager Job Description: Roles, Responsibilities, and Skills

A product manager plays a crucial role in bringing products to life and ensuring their success in the market. In this article, we’ll explore the product manager job description, responsibilities, skills, and what it takes to excel in this demanding role.

What is a Product Manager?

A product manager (PM) is a professional who oversees the development, launch, and lifecycle of a product. They are responsible for defining the product strategy, conducting market research, identifying customer needs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and launch successful products. Product managers play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between business objectives and customer satisfaction, making them indispensable in any organization.

Key Responsibilities of a Product Manager

1. defining product strategy.

A product manager is responsible for developing and communicating the product strategy. This includes identifying target markets, understanding customer needs, and creating a product vision that aligns with the organization’s goals. They also develop a product roadmap that outlines the development timeline and key milestones for the product’s lifecycle.

2. Conducting Market Research

Market research is an essential aspect of a product manager’s job. This involves analyzing industry trends, understanding customer requirements, and identifying gaps in the market. Product managers use this information to make informed decisions about the product’s features, pricing, and positioning.

3. Collaborating with Cross-Functional Teams

Product managers work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, marketing, and sales. They ensure that these teams are aligned with the product vision and have the necessary resources to execute the product strategy. This collaboration is vital for successful product development and launch.

4. Developing Product Roadmaps

A product roadmap is a strategic document that outlines the product’s development timeline, key milestones, and objectives. Product managers are responsible for creating and maintaining roadmaps, ensuring that they are up-to-date and align with the overall product strategy.

5. Managing the Product Lifecycle

Product managers oversee the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to launch, and beyond. This includes managing product development, coordinating product launches, and monitoring product performance post-launch. They are also responsible for making data-driven decisions to optimize the product and ensure its ongoing success.

6. Communicating with Stakeholders

A significant part of a product manager’s job is to communicate with various stakeholders, both internal and external. They need to present product updates, share progress, and gather feedback from customers, sales teams, and other stakeholders. Effective communication skills are vital for keeping everyone informed and aligned with the product’s objectives.

Key Skills for a Product Manager

1. technical background.

A strong technical background is essential for product managers, especially in software development or other technology-driven industries. A deep understanding of the technology behind the product allows the PM to make informed decisions and effectively collaborate with engineering teams.

2. Market Research and Analysis

Product managers need to be adept at conducting market research and analyzing data to identify customer needs, market gaps, and opportunities. This skill is crucial for developing winning products that resonate with customers and generate revenue.

3. Project Management

Managing the product development process requires excellent project management skills. Product managers need to be able to prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and keep cross-functional teams on track to meet deadlines.

4. Communication and Collaboration

As the primary point of contact for various stakeholders, product managers must possess strong communication and collaboration skills. They should be able to articulate the product vision, manage expectations, and facilitate productive discussions among team members.

5. Problem Solving and Decision Making

Product managers often face complex challenges and must make critical decisions that impact the product’s success. They need to be able to think critically, analyze data, and come up with creative solutions to address these challenges.

6. Customer Focus

A successful product manager must always keep the customer at the center of their decision-making process. They should have a deep understanding of customer needs, preferences, and pain points to develop products that truly resonate with their target audience.

7. Adaptability and Flexibility

The fast-paced nature of product development requires product managers to be adaptable and flexible. They should be able to respond quickly to changes in the market, customer feedback, or internal priorities and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Product Manager Job Description Templates

Job description 1.

Job Description: Product Manager

Location: [City, State]

Company: [Company Name]

About Us: [Company Name] is a small business specializing in residential landscaping services. We are dedicated to delivering innovative and high-quality outdoor solutions to our clients. We are currently seeking a motivated and experienced Product Manager to join our team and drive the development and success of our landscaping product offerings.

Job Description: As a Product Manager at [Company Name], you will be responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of our landscaping products, from ideation to launch and beyond. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of the residential landscaping industry, excellent analytical skills, and a passion for creating products that exceed customer expectations.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct market research to identify customer needs, market trends, and competitor analysis.
• Define and prioritize product features and requirements based on customer feedback and business goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, development, and marketing, to execute product development projects.
• Create and maintain product roadmaps, ensuring alignment with company strategy and customer demands.
• Manage the product development process, including defining project scope, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Gather and analyze customer feedback and data to identify areas for product improvement and optimization.
• Work closely with sales and marketing teams to develop effective product positioning, pricing, and go-to-market strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate product performance, tracking key metrics and making data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments, identifying opportunities for product innovation and differentiation.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Product Manager or in a similar role, preferably in the residential landscaping or related industry.
• Strong knowledge of the residential landscaping market, customer needs, and industry best practices.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Experience in product development methodologies, including agile and iterative approaches.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Creative mindset and a passion for innovation, with a focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering, or a related field is preferred.
• Competitive salary, based on experience and qualifications.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.
• Supportive and collaborative work environment.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line “Product Manager Application – [Your Name].” We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application.

[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Job Description 2

Job Description: Project Manager

About Us: [Company Name] is a small business specializing in residential landscaping services. We are dedicated to providing exceptional outdoor solutions to our clients. We are currently seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Project Manager to oversee the successful execution of our landscaping projects.

Job Description: As a Project Manager at [Company Name], you will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing landscaping projects from start to finish. The ideal candidate has strong project management skills, excellent organizational abilities, and a passion for delivering high-quality results.

• Plan and manage the entire lifecycle of landscaping projects, from initial concept to final delivery.
• Define project scope, goals, and deliverables in collaboration with clients and the internal team.
• Develop detailed project plans, including timelines, resource allocation, and budgeting.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including designers, landscapers, and contractors, to ensure seamless project execution.
• Monitor project progress, tracking milestones, timelines, and budgets, and ensuring adherence to project requirements.
• Communicate project status, updates, and potential risks to clients, stakeholders, and the internal team.
• Identify and resolve any issues or obstacles that may arise during project execution.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of clients.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including project plans, progress reports, and client communication.
• Conduct project evaluations and lessons learned sessions to drive continuous improvement.
• Stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and new technologies related to residential landscaping projects.
• Proven experience as a Project Manager, preferably in the residential landscaping or construction industry.
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies and tools, with a track record of successful project delivery.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with clients, stakeholders, and team members.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a focus on delivering high-quality results.
• Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to changing project requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in project management, construction management, or a related field is preferred.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line “Project Manager Application – [Your Name].” We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application.

Job Description 3

Job Description: Marketing Manager

About Us: [Company Name] is a small business specializing in residential landscaping services. We are dedicated to creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces for our clients. We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Marketing Manager to lead our marketing efforts and drive business growth.

Job Description: As a Marketing Manager at [Company Name], you will be responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies to promote our landscaping services and attract new clients. The ideal candidate has a strong background in marketing, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for driving results.

• Develop and implement comprehensive marketing strategies to drive brand awareness and generate leads.
• Conduct market research to identify target audience, market trends, and competitive landscape.
• Create and manage marketing campaigns across various channels, including digital, social media, and traditional marketing.
• Manage the company’s online presence, including website content, SEO, and social media platforms.
• Collaborate with the design team to create compelling marketing materials, including brochures, flyers, and digital assets.
• Monitor and analyze marketing campaign performance, tracking key metrics and making data-driven decisions.
• Manage the marketing budget, allocate resources effectively, and ensure ROI on marketing investments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales and operations, to align marketing strategies with business goals.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, and sponsorships to enhance brand visibility.
• Proven experience as a Marketing Manager, preferably in the residential landscaping or related industry.
• Strong knowledge of marketing principles, techniques, and best practices.
• Experience in developing and implementing integrated marketing campaigns across various channels.
• Proficient in digital marketing platforms, including SEO, SEM, social media advertising, and email marketing.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a marketing team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field is preferred.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line “Marketing Manager Application – [Your Name].” We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application.

Job Description 4

Job Description: Sales Manager

About Us: [Company Name] is a small business specializing in residential landscaping services. We take pride in delivering exceptional outdoor solutions to our clients. We are currently seeking a results-oriented and motivated Sales Manager to lead our sales team and drive business growth.

Job Description: As a Sales Manager at [Company Name], you will be responsible for developing and executing sales strategies to generate leads, acquire new clients, and drive revenue. The ideal candidate has a strong background in sales, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for achieving targets.

• Develop and implement sales strategies and tactics to achieve sales targets and revenue goals.
• Lead and manage a sales team, providing coaching, guidance, and performance feedback.
• Identify target markets and segments, prospect new clients, and build a strong sales pipeline.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop effective sales collateral and promotional materials.
• Conduct sales presentations and negotiations with potential clients, showcasing the value of our services.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing clients, ensuring client satisfaction and retention.
• Monitor sales performance and activity, tracking key metrics and providing regular reports to the management team.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, competitor activities, and market developments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing and operations, to align sales strategies with business goals.
• Proven experience as a Sales Manager, preferably in the residential landscaping or related industry.
• Strong track record of achieving and exceeding sales targets and revenue goals.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a sales team.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with clients and stakeholders.
• Proficient in sales techniques, negotiation strategies, and customer relationship management.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field is preferred.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line “Sales Manager Application – [Your Name].” We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a product manager and a product owner.

While both roles focus on delivering successful products, there are some key differences between a product manager and a product owner. A product manager is responsible for the overall product strategy, roadmap, and lifecycle, while a product owner focuses on the execution of the product development process, working closely with the development team in an Agile environment.

What is the career path for a product manager?

Product managers can advance in their careers by taking on more complex products, larger teams, or by moving into leadership roles such as senior product manager, director of product management, or even chief product officer. They can also choose to specialize in a particular industry or product type, or transition into other roles such as business development or marketing.

How do I become a product manager?

Becoming a product manager typically requires a combination of education, experience, and skills. Many product managers have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field, such as business management or computer science. Prior experience in software development, project management, or marketing can also be beneficial. Additionally, strong communication, collaboration, and analytical skills are essential for success in this role.

What are some popular tools and software used by product managers?

Product managers often use a variety of tools and software to manage their work, such as project management tools (e.g., Trello, Asana, Jira), data analysis tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau), communication tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams), and product management software (e.g., Aha!, ProductPlan, Roadmunk).

What are the typical salary ranges for product managers?

The salary of a product manager can vary widely depending on factors such as location, industry, company size, and experience level. According to data from Glassdoor, the average base salary for a product manager in the United States is around $108,000 per year. Entry-level product managers can expect to earn around $75,000, while experienced product managers and senior product managers can earn upwards of $130,000 or more annually.

What are some popular certifications for product managers?

Certifications can help product managers validate their skills and knowledge, increase their marketability, and advance in their careers. Some popular product management certifications include:

• Certified Product Manager (CPM) from the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM)
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) from Scrum Alliance
• Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) from Scrum.org

What are some common challenges faced by product managers?

Product managers often encounter a variety of challenges in their day-to-day work, including:

• Prioritizing features and requirements to balance customer needs, business goals, and available resources
• Managing stakeholder expectations and maintaining clear communication across cross-functional teams
• Keeping up with constantly changing market trends, customer preferences, and competitive landscapes
• Making data-driven decisions while also considering qualitative inputs from customers and stakeholders
• Navigating organizational politics and building consensus for product strategy and roadmap

By developing strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills, product managers can overcome these challenges and drive successful product outcomes.

Product managers play a crucial role in the development and success of products across various industries. With a deep understanding of customer needs, market trends, and product strategy, they are responsible for guiding cross-functional teams and ensuring that products meet business objectives and customer expectations. By honing the necessary skills and acquiring relevant experience, you can embark on a rewarding career as a product manager and make a significant impact on your organization’s success.

Image: Envato Elements

ALERT: Our application system is currently experiencing intermittent issues, as you view open roles please utilize our “Save Job” feature on the job description so you can come back and apply to your favorites once the issue is resolved. We are working on this as quickly as possible and thank you for your patience, we look forward to your future application to Intel. 

Technology Product Manager

Job description.

In this role responsibilities include, although not limited to:

Translates long term business objectives into actionable technology product strategy and an implementation roadmap. Drives all portfolio decisions including product goals, roadmap, forecasts, and backlog prioritization with customer satisfaction as a key business lever.

Represents the technical group as a strategic partner of an Intel business unit for full stack business process solutions and owns the delivery of portfolio of technical products and capabilities.

Leads the planning phases (proposal, concept, feasibility) for new capabilities to identify high level technology needs and roadmaps, assess feasibility, and collate customer expectations from the product or capability.

Supports engineering teams in making informed workforce and budgeting decisions with software cost, consulting, and transformation investment plans.

May drive a working group of technology product owners to manage portfolio backlog refinement and prioritization, drive cross team coordination, risk, dependencies, tradeoffs, change management, and value realization during the release cycle. Works closely with all stakeholders to ensure alignment on tradeoffs between customer experience, business impact, and product performance.

Formulates product metrics to track delivery progress, health of the scrums, and measure sustainability, affordability, quality of the work product throughout the delivery lifecycle. (Identifies user needs through primary and secondary research, define product requirements, and guides cross functional team to deliver product successfully.

Collaborates directly with the Business Unit (BU) to translate business strategy and objectives into actionable vision, roadmaps, goals, requirements, and value delivery in line with long-term strategy and is accountable to the BU for the overall delivery of a portfolio of IT products and capabilities.

Manages the customer relationship and represents IT as a strategic partner of an Intel Business Unit for full stack business process solutions.

Leads the learning phases (proposal, concept, feasibility) for new capabilities prior to execution phase that validate feasibility of ideas, fleshes out BDAT, defines high-level technology needs and roadmaps, and finalizes customer expectations of the product or capability. Supports SWEM in making informed workforce and budgeting decisions with SW cost, consulting, and transformation investment plans.

Owns leading delivery which includes creating an environment where properly formed teams can excel at agile and DevOps practices, quality assurance and automation, security, technical debt reduction, user acceptance testing, and TCM.

Manages metrics that give insight into delivery progress, health of the scrums, sustainability, affordability, quality of the work product, run efficiencies, and progress toward the customer conditions of satisfaction.

Owns, manages, and is decision maker for portfolio goals, roadmap, forecast, portfolio backlog priority, incorporating customer feedback, and integrated work product acceptance.

Ensures portfolio backlog content, priority, sequencing, and timing are transparent to all stakeholders including Business Unit, Program Managers, Managers, Architecture, and their Scrum Product Owners.

Serves as the proxy for all the stakeholders to their scrums and can speak for the commit of their scrums.

Leads Product Owner (PO) working group made up of POs from their scrums, which executes portfolio backlog refinement, drives cross-team coordination, and manages priorities, status and progress, trade-offs, escalations, impediment removal, scope changes, risks, dependencies, and value realization during the release cycle.

In addition to the qualifications listed above, the ideal candidate will also have:

Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability to successfully lead a complex, cross-organization program.

Strong communication skills- ensuring all stakeholders are engaged and aware of progress and help needed for program deliverables.

Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and influence decision-making.

Experience deploying software programs and the ability to leverage the latest best practices and methodologies.

Qualifications

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates. Minimum Qualifications:

The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in Product or Program Management , Computer Science or related field and 9+ years of experience -OR- a master’s in Product Management, Computer Science or related field and 6+ years of experience -OR- a PhD in Program Management, Computer Science or related field and 4+ years of experience in:

9+ years of experience with Technical Product  Management and Software Development/Management practices.

5+ years of Leadership experience managing cross-IT/BU and engagement via forums, steering committees, and communications while driving accountability to action.

5+ years of organizational financial and operations leadership experience.

5+ experience leading programs in large Enterprise Application development area.

Preferred Qualifications:

Product Management certification.

Knowledge of the SAP ERP systems such as ECC or S/4 HANA and Vistex V4 Rebate system.

Inside this Business Group

Other locations, posting statement, working model, share this job.

Maggie Offensive Security Researcher “I’ve always wanted to do something that changes the world — at Intel, I feel appreciated, and I’ve gained more confidence in myself. It makes me feel like I’m capable of doing great things.”

• System Software Validation Engineer Petah Tikva, Israel View job
• AV-UC Project Manager Multiple Locations View job
• Electrical Validation Lab Student Haifa, Israel View job

You don't have Recently Viewed Jobs yet.

You don't have Saved Jobs yet.

Location: Germany

We have offices in Munich and Karlsruhe, and we are building a new fab in Magdeburg. Discover what it's like to work at Intel Germany.

Location Spotlight: Ireland

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Ireland.

Location Spotlight: Ohio

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Ohio.

Location Spotlight: Hillsboro

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Oregon.

Intro to Semiconductors

Semiconductors—otherwise known as microchips, microprocessors, or chips—are the brains behind some of the most innovative technology today. Learn more about our plans for innovation and growth—and why your career should start with Intel.

Location Spotlight: Folsom

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Folsom.

Hear from Our People: Ireland

From engineers and scientists to manufacturing technicians and number crunchers, all our people share a great ambition and an anything-is-possible attitude to create, innovate, and improve the world around us.

We connect the best and brightest military talent to Intel careers where you can continue to make an impact and build the future.

Location Spotlight: Chandler

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Chandler.

Finance Intern Alexis Crowell's Rise to Tech Visionary

Discover Alexis Crowell's journey from a finance intern to VP and GM of Intel’s SMG in APJ, leading diverse teams, spearheading integral programs, and making significant strides in AI and machine learning.

Dr. Beth Yam: Pioneering Malaysia's Manufacturing Sector

From a fresh graduate to Intel Malaysia's first female principal engineer, Dr. Beth Yam's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Currently, she heads the Penang Disaggregation Manufacturing and continues to make her mark.

Angelene Shalni: A Medical Enthusiast's Tech Transformation

Meet Angelene Shalni Kumarasan who transitioned from a medical aspirant to a Manufacturing Technician, triumphing over stereotypes. She now leads Intel's Pelican Project while studying electrical engineering.

AI Leadership: The Remarkable Journey of Srinivas Lingam

Srinivas Lingam, now VP, AI Acceleration Office & GM, Habana Labs India, has transitioned from a college geek to a respected industry veteran, contributing significantly to Intel's tech leadership.

College Graduate Careers at Intel India

Follow the careers of Raj and Ankita who describe both their internship and early career experiences at Intel.

Meet Martin, SoC Design Engineer and Former Intern

Martin shares his experience of converting from an intern to a full-time employee.

Our Hiring Process

See all the steps of the recruitment process at Intel – from apply to interview.

Interview Tips

Prepare for your interview at Intel using the resources, practice questions, tips and tricks we’ll provide here!

We value diverse perspectives and we're dedicated to creating a responsible, inclusive, and sustainable world through technology.

Diversity & Inclusion

See how we're ensuring that inclusivity and accountability are embedded in our culture globally.

Perks & Benefits

Your total rewards package also includes health and wellness and retirement benefits. We provide the support you need to thrive.

Interns and Grads

Ready to start more than just your career? This could be the beginning of something amazing.

Life at Intel

We've created an inclusive, supported environment...and we can't wait for you to be a part of it.

Global Impact (RISE)

Learn about our strategy and goals for a more responsible, inclusive, and sustainable world, enabled through technology and our collective actions.

Location Spotlight: Austin

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Austin.

Location Spotlight: Atlanta

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Atlanta.

Our AI Teams

Apply your skill in advancing Artificial Intelligence to create solutions that will change the world. See AI and machine learning jobs at Intel.

Our Corporate Functions Teams

Your role as a business professional at Intel will help us forge success with our products, finances, and people. See HR, finance, and other corporate jobs at Intel.

Our Hardware Teams

Intel is a leading hardware company. See our job offers for hardware engineers: microprocessor jobs, PCB design or platform engineering jobs at Intel.

Our Construction & Facilities Teams

Build Intel’s manufacturing sites’ infrastructure and develop strategies for complex projects. See facilities management and fab jobs at Intel.

Our Manufacturing & Process Development Teams

Our manufacturing and process development specialists build some of the best processors in the world. See factory, technician and process engineer jobs at Intel.

Our Sales & Marketing Teams

Our Sales and Marketing team manage strong, long-term relationships with partners to solve business problems. See sales and marketing jobs at Intel.

Our Silicon Photonics Teams

Explore some of the most exciting applications of light-based data transfer among computer chips. See semiconductor and silicon jobs at Intel.

Our Software Teams

Intel is one of the largest and most influential software companies in the world. See software jobs for developers and engineers at Intel.

Our Information Technology Teams

Join one of the best tech companies. Intel's IT team is looking for information technology engineers, support technicians, security specialists, and IT help desk support.

Manufacturing Technicians | Intel Careers

Our Manufacturing Technicians are critical to Intel and the future of technology. See manufacturing careers.

Location Spotlight: Rio Rancho

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in New Mexico.

Location Spotlight: India

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in India.

Location Spotlight: Santa Clara

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Santa Clara.

#Intern4Intel

This is the story of three women who started their careers as interns with Intel and are now full-time employees--listen to their journey!

Intel in Romania

Discover how it is to work with us. See jobs in Romania.

Women in Tech | Intel Careers

As a woman in tech, you’re a disruptor and a change agent. Start your next chapter with Intel.

Location Spotlight: Fort Collins

Discover how it's to work with us. See Intel jobs in Colorado.

Strength in Flexibility

Jennifer explains how the flexibility she has at Intel allows her to balance her career with caring for her daughter, Nora, who has a rare genetic disorder.

Ireland: The Intel Insider Podcast

Stories from the people behind the tech Get inside life at Intel Ireland. Host Anna Geary chats to the people of Intel about their career, their work, and their life at one of the world's most established tech companies.

Location: Poland, Wroclaw

Learn more about Intel's Assembly and Test Facility in Poland, Wroclaw. Check out what kind of manufacturing jobs we are opening.

Intel Foundry | Intel Careers

Intel Foundry is an independent foundry business that meets our customers’ unique product needs. View all foundry careers.

Data Science and Analytics Teams

Solve real-world challenges, improve processes and use analysis to predict future trends. See data science, data analytics and other data jobs at Intel.

Research Financial Analyst/Fund Manager - 128592

Job description, #128592 research financial analyst/fund manager.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment : Apply by 03/18/2024 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants : Apply by 03/28/2024. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

Current UC San Diego Health employees who apply by 03/21/24 will have priority consideration for this position. Recruiters will refer qualified internal candidates after the first 7 days of the job posting. All qualified external applicants and additional internal applicants who apply after the priority date may have further consideration pending the results of the initial review.

DESCRIPTION

The UCSD Health Sciences organization encompasses 14 departments (12 clinical, 2 basic sciences), 2 professional schools (School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), 2 hospitals, and various other programs and units all dedicated towards fulfilling the Health Sciences missions. As a top-ranking, future oriented organization, we offer challenging career opportunities in a fast-paced and innovative environment. The Vice Chancellor’s Office follows a progressive philosophy of career-path development for itsemployees.

The Research Service Core has been established as a new shared business service center to provide Health Sciences departments with efficient standardized Pre And Post award Extramural Research Fund Management support. The unit will build Systems, tools and training courses to support standardized and automated systems supporting research administration best practices. These new processes and operating guidelines are available to all VCHS departments; while staffing is provided on an opt-in basis for those departments in need or interested in innovative program changes. The unit is interfacing across multiple functional areas which include human resources, finance, and sponsored projects.

This unit will play a critical role in the success of the central service center model.

Under the general supervision of the Contracts & Grants Supervisor in the Research Service Core and with the overall leadership of the Research Service Core Sr. Director, the incumbent is responsible for providing comprehensive extramural funds financial analysis and complex fiscal management for multiple departments or divisions assigned to the analyst. The assignment will cover post award and carry up to approximately $8 million in sponsored project funding sources. The assigned financial management portfolio involves multiple PI's, multiple funding sources (Federal, State, private grants including program projects; contracts, gifts, clinical trials, sub awards, fellowships, service agreements, and UC Foundation transfers). Will work with numerous different agencies to include, but not limited to NIH, DOD, AHA as well as state and county agencies and private funding. Will work with multiple international and domestic institutions and multiple sites (e.g. Scripps Research Institute and Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego). Will provide complex financial reporting and continuous analysis of revenue and expenditures. Primary client is the principle investigator and the analyst serves in the context of the department or division management. Analyst will have contact with Division Chiefs and Chairs. Establish new policies and procedures and revise existing procedures to meet changing needs. Provide forecasting for short and long term financial planning. Identify problem areas, formulate alternative solutions and make recommendations for a wide variety of financial and administrative issues. Utilize standardized procedures and automated systems to create a variety of complex internal reports and validation of data for management use. This position has the authority to make decisions with the PI regarding fiscal administration of all the projects.

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced research administrator to independently develop and/or oversee research proposals, awards and/or transactions related to contract and grant management and maintains contract and grant records in compliance with institutional research sponsor policies. Works on awards of diverse scope where analysis of data requires thorough understanding of complex regulations. Completes and approves transactions for signature by manager or other authorized institutional official. Works on complex awards that may involve multiple investigators and/or multiple sub-awards. Guides less experienced staff. Central Role (CR): Is eligible for delegated signature authority (may vary by campus). Department Role (DR): Typically works on complex grants / contracts that require task budgets, option years, multiple investigators and multiple sub-awards.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Seven years of related experience, education/training, OR a Bachelor’s degree in related area plus three years of related experience/training.

Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.

Thorough knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.

Ability to manage significant volume of transactions.

Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting.

Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports. Demonstrated skill in using a variety of computer systems, including database, spreadsheet, word-processing, and Internet systems.

Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.

Maintains current knowledge of compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.

Demonstrated experience with the applications of principles and practices of financial management, fiscal planning and analysis; experience in principles and practices of fund accounting, cost analysis and audit procedures including UCSD Internal audit requirements.

Demonstrated knowledge of University policies and procedures relating to contract and grants; and accounting. Ability to independently interpret, analyze, and implement appropriate policies in a given situation.

Demonstrated experience analyzing expenditures, recognizing trends in order to support budget adjustments.

Demonstrated experience in developing, producing and completing complex reports for various funding agencies; projecting multi-year expenditures and outcomes as they relate to individual projects, and the department as a whole; experience applying programmatic knowledge to coordinate financial aspects of award administration.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Demonstrated experience with UCSD Personnel Payroll System (PPS) policies and procedures.

Knowledge of University policies and procedures regarding purchasing, returned goods, travel, disbursement, inventory, and ability to work collaboratively with contacts involved in these processes.

Demonstrated experience with UCSD on-line and web based accounting systems (IFIS, FinancialLink, etc.).

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $67,200 - $119,600 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $32.18 - $57.28

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community .

UC San Diego Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://www-hr.ucsd.edu/saa/nondiscr.html

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Application Instructions

Please click on the link below to apply for this position. A new window will open and direct you to apply at our corporate careers page. We look forward to hearing from you!

Share This Page

Posted : 3/14/2024

Job Reference # : 128592

JOIN OUR TALENT COMMUNITY

Interested in working at UC San Diego and UC San Diego Health but can't find a position that's right for you? Submit your resume to our Talent Community to be considered for future opportunities that may align with your expertise. Please note, by joining our Talent Community, you are not applying for a position with UC San Diego Campus and Health. Rather, this is an additional way for our Talent Acquisition team to find candidates with specific credentials, if an opportunity arises. You are still encouraged to regularly check back on our career site or sign up for Job Alerts to apply for openings that are a match for your background.

• Career Sites by Recruiting.com