Lead Product Manager

MBTA; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MBTA in Boston seeks a Lead Product Manager to guide product strategy for a technically complex portfolio, aligning with program-level goals and civic technology constraints.

You will partner with Program, Research, UX Design, and Engineering to develop roadmaps, prioritize backlogs, and mentor product teams while managing risk and stakeholder expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Six (6) years of experience in product management and/or development defining or contributing to product-level vision(s).
• Experience providing formal or informal leadership to product teams in complex technology settings.
• Experience contributing to a multi-year product strategy or planning processes.
• Experience developing a product roadmap, quarterly roadmapping process, and/or standardized product management processes.
• Ability to present a product management case study relevant to the role.
• Experience identifying and mitigating delivery or product risks in complex technology environments.
• As part of the selection process, candidates may be asked to complete job-related technical assessments, which may include a product management case study exercise.

Responsibilities

• Define product-level vision in collaboration with cross-functional peers and align with program strategy.
• Build and execute a roadmap for multiple products or a single complex product.
• Lead and mentor Product Managers with guidance on practices, roadmaps, prioritization, and delivery.
• Plan cross-team coordination for complex initiatives.
• Prioritize work using data and user research, maintaining a prioritized backlog.
• Understand stakeholder needs, architecture, and product features; communicate priorities to MBTA leadership.
• Identify and mitigate risks in product development and planning.

Skills

Vision setting

Roadmap planning

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Risk mitigation

Data analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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

• Define product-level vision(s) in collaboration with cross-functional peers in Program, Research, UX Design, and Engineering in accordance with Program-level strategy, outcomes, and investment priorities. Incorporate strategic goals into team priorities and roadmaps.
• Build and execute on a roadmap for multiple products or a single complex product. Develop, document, and clarify the problems the product solves for, and maintain a prioritized product backlog in alignment with strategy.
• Serve as lead resource to Product Managers by providing guidance and subject matter expertise on product management practices, roadmap development, prioritization, stakeholder engagement, and product delivery.
• Plan and lead cross-team coordination for complex product initiatives.
• Leverage quantitative data and user research to prioritize work. This includes prioritizing work from sprint to sprint and maintaining a backlog of tasks in collaboration with research, design, tech and program teams. Effectively communicate priorities and acceptance criteria across levels and job functions.
• Develop a deep understanding of stakeholder priorities and the applications included in the portfolio. Become familiar with the needs of users and stakeholders, technical architecture and features of the product(s), and how to communicate about those things with the product team and with MBTA leadership.
• Mitigate risk for product development initiatives by proactively identifying potential risks, developing mitigation strategies, and incorporating risk planning into the product development process.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions.

Supervision

• No direct reports.

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

Substitutions

• A high school diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• An associate’s degree from an accredited institution and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one (1) year of experience.

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