At National Geographic, we believe in the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to change the world. The Director of Product Management leads a team of digital product managers in support of current and future digital and mobile initiatives at the Society.
We build world-class products to serve our stakeholder communities, including Explorers, Educators and Students, and Key Influencers (Foundations, Policy Makers, Donors, etc). These products include the NGS website and associated CMS, Explorer directory, mobile apps, community tools for Explorers and educators, a learning management system (LMS) and associated educational asset CMS.
The Director will lead a practical, results-driven and customer-focused team of highly accomplished product managers and ensure we define, build and deliver great digital software products. Each member of this team leads the product management efforts for a software development team dedicated to one of three primary business units at NGS (Explorers, Educators/Students and Key Influencers).
- Collaborate with business owners and stakeholders to identify and prioritize business problems that need digital solutions. (20%)
- Work closely with VP, Digital Products and others on product planning and roadmap along with engineering and others to define digital solutions (features, functions, etc.) that solve the identified business problems. (20%)
- Supervise and lead team of digital product managers day to day. Ensure we deliver world class products that are successful in engaging their target audiences in the marketplace. Align all products with digital goals, deliver products on time and on budget while ensuring all products are informed by insights and optimized for success. (20)%
- Collaborate with members of the Design/UX group to develop digital user experiences that bring the features to life. Ensure overall user journey is in line with business objectives and is optimized for success. (20%)
- Provide regular product updates and presentations to teams across organization (e.g. development status updates, feedback reviews, performance updates, etc.) (10%)
- Stay informed of industry trends and best practices and apply this to product development. (10%)
Minimum Years and Type of Experience
- 8+ years of product management experience leading the development of enterprise-class software products with at least 2 of those years being responsible for a portfolio of products.
- 3+ years management experience
Knowledge and Skills Required
A proven and seasoned product director. Someone who thrives at the intersection of business and technology and speaks both the language of business as expressed through product management and the language of technology as expressed through software engineering processes.
- A track record of building and going to market with successful products (and likely a few misses too).
- Experience working with business owners to develop a deep understanding of customer needs.
- Technical depth that fosters understanding and gains respect of world-class engineers.
- A strong collaborator with exceptional skill at clear, concise, and compelling communication.
- Strong analytical background for data-driven rigor in decision-making.
- Ability to deliver successful products on time and on budget
- Pro-active self-starter with a “can do” approach to problem solving who thrives with hard challenges and approaches problems with a data-driven mindset
- Follows industry trends, best practices, etc. to ensure we’re ahead of the curve
Supervision
- 3-5 staff members
Responsibility percentages may vary depending on business needs.
National Geographic's headquarters is located in the heart of Washington, D.C. In addition to a unique and dynamic work environment, National Geographic offers its employees a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental benefits, generous vacation and leave time, a 401(k) plan, and flexible work options. National Geographic is an Equal Opportunity Employer