Head of Product Management
Salary [$145,815 - $218723]
Full-Time Permanent
Compensation varies depending on Location
Location: IB (International Baccalaureate) Global Centre, Washington DC
Hybrid working opportunity #2 days in office
About the IB
If you're looking to work for a global organisation with a meaningful mission, and with colleagues all over the world, then the International Baccalaureate (IB) may have the ideal opportunity for you! The International Baccalaureate provides world-class educational services to over 5,500 schools across 159 countries. A career at IB is not just a job; it’s an opportunity to work with an innovative world leader in education services and contribute to our 50-year mission of creating a better and more peaceful world. Apply now to join our global organisation where we empower our employees to thrive and make a difference.
About the Job
The IB is transforming how it does technology delivery through the implementation of a new operating model: the Technology Playbook.
The Product Management department is accountable for the outcome of the IB’s portfolio of customer-facing technologies throughout their lifecycle. This involves balancing business requirements, customer feedback, technology needs and market trends in service of IB’s strategic objectives. This team centralizes a capability that has developed differently within each Offices in the IBO, and standardizes and codifies their responsibilities within the development and operations of customer-facing technologies. The Director of Product Management is the IB’s leader in setting up this Department and establishing a standardized Product Management discipline for the organization
Key Responsibilities
The 5 core collective responsibilities of the Product Management department are:
1. Define the portfolio design, direction, roadmap and prioritize features for all digital products, and maximize overall value and RoI of the full product portfolio
2. Translate business teams into product requirements / features, and communicate clearly with business teams to ensure expectations and product understanding are aligned
3. Lead and collaborate with IT Team and UX Design to drive technology implementation, and ensure business case and customer satisfaction goals are met within agreed time frames
4. Drive customer-centric practices including the capture of early and frequent customer feedback, customer-usage data, and prioritizing the end-to-end customer journey as a primary design consideration for our digital products
5. Continuously track and analyze trends in the education technology sector, competitor activities, and customer needs to make informed decisions that optimize the relevance and competitiveness of the IB’s digital products.
Roles within the Product Management department are split across five bands of seniority.
The primary differentiating factors between bands are:
A) the size and complexity of the Product portfolio the employee is responsible for, and
B) line management responsibilities
Employees in Product Management
A) The Product Responsibilities : Accountable for all Products
B) Line management responsibilities for each band are: A team of 5 Heads and Senior Managers, and oversight of their direct reports for a team of 3-6 employees
Other key responsibilities include:
• Decision-making authority over a specific department or function within the department. Responsible for setting departmental goals, developing strategies, and making operational decisions to achieve those goals.
• Enduring a Degree of guidance: Will receive guidance / direction from line manager but they also provide guidance and direction to their own teams.
• Resolve complex challenges related to managing their department or function effectively. This may include optimizing processes, allocating resources, and addressing performance issues within the department.
• Lead and actively participate in, departmental meetings, workshops, and forums to foster cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Present and participate in professional events / conferences / seminars to share learnings about, and build a community / network around, the IB’s Products
• Manage and coach a team of employees in the Product Management team, following a servant leadership approach
• Develop and drive strategic direction of Customer-Facing Product at the IB and drive implementation of, process improvement opportunities for the Product Management department
• Recruit, deploy, retain and develop a team of product managers with the capabilities to fulfill the IB’s product management needs and Develop and manage the departmental budget
About You
• Extensive proven experience, including demonstrated team leadership in product management (or related discipline), preferably in educational technologies or mission-based organizations.
• Experience collaborating with diverse teams, including software developers, instructional designers, educators, and administrators.
• Experience in building and managing a team of product managers to deliver high-quality products that align with the company's vision and objectives.
• Experience developing and managing a Departmental budget
• Understanding of the K-12 education sector globally and the role and market for curriculum’s like the IB
• Knowledge of trends, technologies, and emerging innovations in educational technology.
• Ability to analyze data to derive insights into user behavior, product performance, and market trends.
• Familiarity with UX design principles and methodologies to create intuitive and engaging educational products.
• Proficiency in Agile project management practices, with focus on Scrum to facilitate product development cycles
• Experience as a servant leader, able to build trust, credibility and relationships across all levels and functions and effectively manage conflict, demonstrating the sensitivities required to balance and resolve the tensions in working with a wide range of contacts, and to negotiate sustainable and effective outcomes
• Confident in making difficult decisions, advocating for the Product, addressing conflicts constructively, inspiring confidence and motivating the team to take risks, innovate, and continuously improve.
• Strong ability to understand the needs and perspectives of internal stakeholders and external users
• Aptitude for identifying challenges, structuring complexity, generating creative solutions, and making informed decisions to overcome obstacles.
• MBA or similar qualification is desirable
In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including: [Benefits will vary by region]
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• 25 Days annual leave, plus public holidays, with the choice to buy up to 5 days additional annual leave
• Life assurance 4x annual salary
• IB Pension
• 401k Match
• Flexible working hours
• Paid volunteering leave
• Excellent continuous professional development
• 1.5 % Flexible benefits allowance
• Health and wellness schemes
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounts on a range of products, including days out
• Cash back opportunities available from a wide range of retailers
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free on-site car parking
About the application process [ALL Regions]
The interview process is structured to be comprehensive and will involve three stages. The initial rounds will assess the candidate's qualifications and fit for the role, leading up to a final interview with a panel of members: and Director of Digital Transformation. Candidates should prepare thoroughly for each stage to advance in the selection process.
Applications will be accepted until Sept 30, 2024.
Interviews will be held week commencing Oct 26 2024.