Senior Product Manager - Cary, NC

Pivotal Solutions; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pivotal Solutions, based in Cary, North Carolina, is seeking a skilled project leader for software product management. The role involves leading project planning, prioritization, and Agile execution to ensure alignment with business objectives and customer value delivery.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of experience in software or technical project delivery, including a strong focus on Agile methodologies. Exceptional leadership and communication skills are essential for fostering collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle.
• Demonstrated strength in Agile project delivery.
• Ability to understand customer needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Proficient in developing business cases and ROI analyses.

Responsibilities

• Lead the prioritization of user stories and features for alignment with business strategy.
• Facilitate the development of business cases for portfolio planning and prioritization.
• Manage a portfolio of software products to ensure delivery of customer value.
• Communicate portfolio status, risks, and outcomes to stakeholders.

Skills

Software development principles

Project and product delivery

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Leadership and communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Project planning tools

Job description

Project Planning, Project Management and Maintenance Prioritization

• Lead the prioritization of user stories, features, new products, projects, and process improvements to ensure alignment with business strategy and customer value.
• Partner with customers and industry stakeholders, including representatives serving on AAR committees, task forces, and Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), to gather requirements and inform product and project planning decisions.
• Facilitate the development of business cases and high‑level estimates to support product and project portfolio planning, prioritization, and investment decisions.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, including scope, schedules, budgets, risks, issues, action items, and status reporting, in accordance with internal methodologies.
• Lead release planning activities and coordinate cross‑functional readiness to ensure timely, high‑quality product releases.
• Lead development teams by maintaining strong technical understanding of systems, promoting sound engineering practices, and ensuring high‑quality delivery.
• Identify, assess, and manage product and project risks; develop mitigation strategies and ensure adherence to quality standards throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Support ongoing maintenance prioritization by balancing new capability delivery with operational stability, defect remediation, and continuous improvement needs.

Portfolio Strategic Planning/Road‑Mapping, and Execution

• Own and manage an assigned portfolio of software products, with a clear understanding of how products deliver customer value and support critical business processes.
• Partner with customers and internal stakeholders to define, prioritize, and deliver new industry value through new products, enhancements, productivity improvements, and cost‑saving initiatives.
• Establish portfolio goals and strategies aligned with our mission, vision, and annual strategic objectives.
• Define, secure, and manage investment for portfolio initiatives, including business cases, ROI analysis, budget allocation, and resource planning.
• Lead planning and execution of initiatives from business case through post‑implementation, managing scope, timelines, budgets, dependencies, and risks.
• Balance resources and forecasts across multiple concurrent initiatives while maintaining delivery commitments, quality standards, and Agile execution.
• Lead cross‑functional teams in the design, development, integration, release, and ongoing support of software products and systems.
• Maintain strong technical understanding of products and systems, promoting sound engineering practices and high‑quality, reliable releases.
• Identify, track, elevate, and mitigate delivery, technical, and operational risks throughout the product lifecycle.
• Provide ongoing operational oversight, ensuring timely issue resolution, system stability, and continuous improvement.
• Build, lead, and develop high‑performing product‑aligned teams, fostering T‑shaped skills, collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Communicate portfolio and delivery status, risks, and outcomes effectively to stakeholders and leadership.

Key Measures

• Project metrics.
• Delivery performance
• Quality releases

Required

• Strong understanding of software development principles, technologies, and the full software development lifecycle.
• Demonstrated strength in project and product delivery, including planning, prioritization, and execution in Agile or similar frameworks.
• Ability to understand customer needs from a business perspective and translate them into effective technical and product solutions.
• Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills, including experience developing business cases and ROI analysis.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical and business stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven, cross‑functional environment.
• Highly organized, flexible, and self‑directed, with strong initiative and adaptability to changing priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and project planning tools.

Education, experience, certification/training

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience).
• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in software development, product development, or technical project delivery.
• At least two (2) years of experience in technical leadership, people management, or team lead role.
• Practical experience working in Agile/Scrum or similar iterative development environments.