Product Manager

Cengage Group; Kentucky; On-site; USD 77,100 - 123,300; Full time

Job summary

Cengage Group is seeking a Product Manager for the Content Operations Platform to lead a next-generation platform that streamlines editorial workflows and includes AI-driven tools for content creation. You’ll collaborate across Product Operating Model teams to plan, validate opportunities, and ensure seamless integration with enterprise systems.

This role focuses on enabling operational excellence, risk mitigation, and transparent project status while delivering dashboards and predictive

Qualifications

• 5+ years in product management or related roles within innovation-driven organizations.
• Understanding of editorial workflows, content lifecycle, and structured authoring.
• Familiarity with generative AI concepts and frameworks, automation, and workflow optimization; agentic workflows and predictive analytics preferred.
• Knowledge of content management systems, digital asset management, and content delivery networks.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the vision and planning for the Content Operations Platform, aligning with long-term goals.
• Collaborate with editorial, production, and engineering leadership to communicate strategy and develop products with your team.
• Drive continuous discovery by synthesizing user insights, market research, and data analytics to identify needs and trends.
• Champion innovation with rapid prototyping, experimentation, and iterative development with design and engineering teams.
• Integrate modules for content generation, including AI-powered tools, into the editorial platform to support authoring and collaboration.
• Develop and maintain a product plan that aligns with business goals and user needs.
• Design and refine workflow orchestration features for scheduling, permissions, and task prioritization.
• Implement tools for risk and capacity management related to content delivery with proactive alerts.
• Deliver dashboards and reporting for operational visibility, predictive insights, and pattern analysis.
• Establish success metrics and supervise product performance and user feedback for future improvements.
• Write clear user stories and acceptance criteria; work with vendors and engineering to accelerate delivery.

Skills

Product management

Editorial workflows

Generative AI concepts

Content management systems

Data-driven decisions

User stories & acceptance criteria

EdTech/publishing tech

Job description

We believe in the power and joy of learning

At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping learners around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose - driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

As a Product Manager for the Content Operations Platform, you’ll lead the development of a next-generation platform that streamlines editorial workflows, integrates sophisticated content creation modules (including AI-driven tools), and provides real-time transparency into project status and health. This role is central to enabling operational excellence across global content teams by improving predictability, reducing risk, and accelerating delivery.

Operating within the Product Operating Model (POM), you will collaborate across Portfolio Management, Content planning and Development, Global Production, and Engineering teams to build the vision and plan, validate opportunities, and ensure seamless integration with enterprise systems.

This is an ideal role for someone who thrives in complexity, enjoys crafting systems that simplify operations, and takes pride in enabling others to deliver outstanding content efficiently.

What you’ll do here:

ENABLEMENT & INNOVATION

• Define and own the vision and planning for the Content Operations Platform, ensuring alignment with long-term goals
• Collaborate with Content Production, editorial and engineering management leadership to communicate strategy and objectives, then develop and improve products with your team, including technology and design
• Drive continuous discovery by synthesizing internal and external user insights, market research, and data analytics to identify unmet needs and emerging trends
• Champion innovation by guiding rapid prototyping, experimentation, and iterative development with design and engineering
• Integrate modules for content generation, including tools powered by artificial intelligence, into the editorial platform to support authoring and collaboration

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• Develop and maintain a product vision and plan that aligns with business goals and user needs
• Design and refine workflow orchestration features for scheduling, permissions, and task prioritization
• Implement tools and features for risk and capacity management related to content delivery, enabling proactive alerts and mitigation strategies
• Deliver dashboards and reporting capabilities for operational visibility, predictive insights, and pattern analysis
• Establish success metrics and supervise product performance and user feedback to advise future improvements and strategic pivots

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

• Operate within a Product Operating Model (POM), aligning content operations, editorial, engineering, and vendor teams to deliver cohesive solutions
• Work closely with project contributors and engineering teams to write clear user stories, prioritize backlog items, and ensure timely, high-quality iterative releases
• Partner with external suppliers for platform components and with engineering leads and key team members for evaluating build vs. buy decisions to accelerate delivery

Skills you’ll need here:

• 5+ years in product management or related roles within organizations dedicated to innovation and development
• Understanding of editorial workflows, content lifecycle, and structured authoring
• Familiarity with generative AI concepts and frameworks (e.g. language models, prompt and context engineering), automation, and workflow optimization; experience with agentic workflows and predictive analytics preferred
• Understanding of content management systems, digital asset management, and content delivery networks
• Experience with content workflow automation, metadata management, and content versioning systems
• Knowledge of content personalization, search systems, and recommendation engines
• Familiarity with content creation tools, authoring systems, and publishing platforms
• Understanding of educational technology domains and learning content requirements preferred
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to make data-informed decisions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to write user stories and acceptance criteria
• Experience in EdTech, publishing technology, or SaaS environments preferred

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.

Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [e-mail].

About Cengage

Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation

At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.

The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.

In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company's discretionary incentive bonus program. This position’s bonus target amount, which is not guaranteed and is dependent on individual performance and overall company results among other factors, is provided below. 5% Annual: Individual Target

$77,100.00 - $123,300.00 USD