Director, Product

Emslinqinc; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with match

Annual bonus

Open PTO

Parental leave

Volunteer hours

Job summary

LINQ is seeking a Director of Product Management to own the strategy for our State product line and lead a team of PMs. This role drives a shift from services-led to product-led operations, building agile rhythms and developing your team into strong product managers.

You’ll report to the VP of Product, partner with engineering and finance, and shape portfolio outcomes across revenue, retention, and market position.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in product management with a complex product area and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience leading PMs without formal authority; direct management is a plus.
• Proven ability to build business cases and communicate strategy to senior stakeholders.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and making quick prioritization decisions.
• Experience in K-12 EdTech, state reporting, compliance, or public sector SaaS is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Own strategy across a product line and ensure decisions ladder up to company direction.
• Lead the transition from services-led to product-led, building agile processes and ownership structures.
• Make frequent prioritization calls in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
• Coordinate execution across multiple product areas with interdependencies.
• Develop and coach direct reports, building a high-performing team.

Skills

Product management

Leadership

Cross-functional

Business cases

Strategic thinking

AI tools

K-12 EdTech

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

AI tools

PM practices

Job description

Who We Are:

We’re a high-growth software company with a big mission: empowering K-12 district teams to do more with less.

At LINQ, we get K12. That’s why we help districts transform K-12 school operations with best-in-class, cloud-based software solutions built to help districts return more resources to classrooms. Integrating finance, HR, nutrition management, and payments into a single, secure platform, LINQ reduces administrative burden. LINQ is trusted by 30% of school districts across the U.S. to help them operate more efficiently and serve over 1 billion meals to 17 million students annually, process payroll for 364,000 educators, administrators, and staff, and engage with millions of families through the free LINQ Connect app.

Our team? They’re talented, committed, and fiercely loyal problem-solvers. At LINQ, you’ll find challenging and meaningful work, a team that respects and uplifts one another, and a commitment to constant improvement. Our customers love us because we’re attentive, patient, communicative, and solutions focused. They know they can count on us to not only anticipate their needs but to deliver the right answer every time.

LINQ’s Values:

• Act with Integrity & Build Trust: Trust is the foundation of our company. We operate with the highest standards of integrity, both internally and externally. We believe in transparency, honesty, and accountability. Building a culture where trust is earned and maintained.
• Deliver Excellence: We consistently exceed our clients’ expectations. In every interaction, we strive to anticipate needs, provide swift solutions, and go the extra mile to relentlessly impress our customers. We communicate clearly, consistently, and in a timely way to cultivate lasting relationships.
• Embrace Challenges: We embrace a growth mindset. Challenges offer opportunities to learn, grow, and improve. Continuous learning keeps us relevant and effective to ensure our solutions remain on the leading edge of innovation.
• Collaborate & Act as One Team: Diverse skills, ideas, and perspectives are our strength. Through open communication, shared goals, and a spirit of unity and mutual respect, we collaborate to achieve excellence, drive innovation, and propel our company forward as a cohesive force.

About the Role

We are looking for a Director, Product Management to own strategy for our State product line and lead the team responsible for delivering it – managing Product Managers, each running their own team. This is a high-growth, high-visibility part of the business currently shifting from a services-led to a product-led model, and you will lead that shift: building product-led, agile operating rhythms and developing your team into strong product managers. You’ll operate in ambiguity, making frequent prioritization calls in a fast-paced environment. This role is designed for experienced product managers stepping into people leadership for the first time or those who have led and coached without formal authority and are ready to own that responsibility directly. This role reports directly to the VP of Product and is the path to Director and Sr. Director.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own strategy across a product line or multiple product areas, ensuring decisions ladder up to company direction.
• Lead the transition of a services-led product line to a product-led, agile operating model – building the processes, cadences, and ownership structures that don’t yet exist.
• Make frequent prioritization calls in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment — with incomplete information and no easy answers.
• Shape strategy across product boundaries — understand how decisions in one area create dependencies or opportunities in others and coordinate accordingly.
• Anticipate market shifts and competitive moves; adjust direction proactively.
• Connect product strategy to business outcomes — revenue, retention, and market position.
• Build executive-ready business cases for cross-area investments; partner with finance on planning and forecasting.
• Coordinate execution across multiple product areas with interdependencies; resolve cross-area conflicts in priority and resourcing.
• Anticipate and mitigate delivery risks before they impact outcomes.
• Own business performance metrics across your portfolio.
• Partner with engineering leadership on platform investments, technical debt strategy, and data strategy across your portfolio.
• Partner at a peer level with engineering directors, sales leadership, and customer success — co-owning outcomes, not just coordinating handoffs.
• Represent your portfolio clearly to executive leadership, with well-framed tradeoffs and investment rationale.
• Lead and develop your direct reports through regular 1:1s, structured feedback, individual development planning, and clear performance expectations.
• Build and retain a high-performing team.
• Identify high-potential talent and create conditions for accelerated growth.
• Resolve complex performance situations in partnership with HR.

What We’re Looking For

• 7 or more years in product management, with demonstrated experience owning a complex product area with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience leading, coaching, or mentoring other PMs without formal authority — formal direct management experience is a plus but not required.
• Demonstrated experience owning a product area or portfolio at a scope that required cross-functional alignment with engineering, sales, and customer success.
• Experience building business cases and communicating product strategy to senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and making prioritization calls quickly without complete information.
• Experience converting a services-led function to product-led, or standing up product management practice where none existed, is a strong plus.
• Experience in K-12 EdTech, state reporting, compliance, or public sector SaaS preferred.
• Actively uses AI tools to accelerate work including research, synthesis, writing, analysis, and rapid prototyping, and brings curiosity about how AI can help the team validate ideas faster, internally and with customers.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in any field, or equivalent practical experience.

Travel Requirements

Less than 10%

Compensation

We offer a competitive salary of $155,000-$175,000 + a 12% bonus.

Why You'll Love Working With Us

• Planning Your Future: Our 401(k) plan comes with a 4% employer match on total earnings (not just your base salary).
• Performance Pays Off: Whether it’s a company bonus or target sales commission, your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.
• Vacation Your Way: Our flexible Open Paid Time Off Plan lets you take the time you need, when you need it.
• Paid Parental Leave: Take the time you need to welcome your new addition – We’ve got you covered!
• Ten Paid Corporate Holidays: Enjoy a little extra downtime to relax and recharge with the ten paid holidays each year.
• Giving Back: Feel good while doing good – 16 paid volunteer hours to support the causes that matter most to you. #LINQCares
• Benefits That Have Your Back (And Teeth, Too!): Rock-solid medical, dental and vision coverage. Pick your vibe: a low deductible PPO and pair with an FSA or a HDHP with a sweet HSA – with contributions from LINQ. Dental perks that even cover braces for the kiddos.
• Wellness Perks: Employer-paid Short-Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Basic Life, and AD&D insurance. Gym reimbursements and tons of extra savings on travel assistance, employee assistance, and even pet insurance options.
• Rewards For Referrals: Got an amazing candidate in your network? Send them our way and earn a referral bonus when they join the team!

EOE Statement/Accommodation Notice

As a federal contractor and equal employment opportunity employer, LINQ adheres to all applicable laws and regulations regarding employment practices, ensuring that all qualified individuals receive consideration for employment based on their qualifications.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local law.

To learn more about your rights and protections under federal law, please refer to the EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Poster at the following link: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster

If you’d like to view a copy of the company’s state or federally required affirmative action plans or policy statement, please email [e-mail]. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact [e-mail]. This email address is reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not use this email to inquire about the status of your job application if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as solicitation, following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a response.

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