Product Manager- WMS WorldCat Discovery

OCLC; Dublin (OH); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Best-in-class health coverage

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Onsite fitness center

Onsite catering

Job summary

OCLC is seeking a Product Manager to lead strategy and delivery for library discovery within the WorldShare Management Services platform. You will balance customer needs, market trends, and business priorities to shape the product roadmap and enable flexible discovery experiences for libraries.

You will work closely with engineering, UX, and library partners to define direction, drive value, and keep OCLC competitive in evolving discovery, search, and research experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 2–4 years experience in library services or library management systems.
• 2–4 years experience in product, project or program management.
• 2–4 years experience in supporting online/database services, preferably in the library field.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of the Product Management Lifecycle model.
• Demonstrated ability with financial planning and forecasting.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams is desirable.
• Knowledge of OCLC products and services.

Responsibilities

• Define product strategy and roadmaps; align with business goals and customer needs.
• Lead cross-functional product workgroups; coordinate with Development and other teams.
• Develop market insights, personas, and competitive analysis to inform product decisions.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing to drive product adoption and customer value.

Skills

Communication skills

Cross-functional leadership

Product management knowledge

Financial planning

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Together we make breakthroughs possible. At OCLC, we build technology with a purpose: to connect libraries and make knowledge accessible worldwide, because we believe that what is known must be shared. Our teams work with complex global datasets, AI and machine learning, hybrid cloud solutions, and other technologies that connect people and organizations to the information they need. We value the power of unique perspectives and experiences to unlock innovation. At OCLC, your ideas matter, whether you have two years of experience or 20. You’ll learn, create, and problem-solve with technologists, product developers, librarians, researchers, marketing pros, and support teams around the world.

Why join OCLC?

OCLC is consistently recognized as a best place to work by several independent programs. We recognize and reward people and results with a comprehensive Total Rewards package. This means competitive compensation that reflects your unique contributions—performance, experience, and skills—along with exceptional benefits, including best-in-class health coverage, retirement plans with generous company contributions, and a commitment to your overall well-being. We know the best ideas don’t always happen at a desk. Take a walking meeting around our 100-acre campus or enjoy lunch on the patio. We’re committed to your success—both personally and professionally.

Hybrid work environment

For many roles, three days a week on-site, with occasional additional days based on business needs.

Benefits

• best-in-class health coverage, retirement plans with generous company contributions, and a commitment to your overall well-being.
• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
• Tuition reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility.
• Company-subsidized pricing on local tickets and memberships.
• Free use of our on-site fitness center, gym sports, group exercise classes, and game room.
• Onsite catering and cafeteria subsidized by OCLC Health and wellness events.
• Work environments with individual and team spaces and the latest technology tools.

Job Details

OCLC is seeking a Product Manager to lead product strategy and delivery for library discovery within OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS) platform. This role will drive initiatives that give libraries more flexibility in how they configure, extend, and integrate their discovery experience across their institution. The Product Manager will balance customer needs, market trends, and business priorities to deliver current roadmap commitments while helping shape the future of AI-enabled discovery, search, and research experiences. Working closely with engineering, UX, and library partners, they will define product direction, drive customer value, and ensure OCLC remains competitive in the evolving library discovery market.

Responsibilities

• Product Strategy and Planning Oversees market analysis and develops product strategy and business case. Defines strategic product goals. Produces product roadmap Collaborates on release plans with Development Collaborates with finance in the production of product budgets and forecasts Develops pricing strategies and product positioning plans which contribute to maximizing product profitability.
• Leadership and Management Provides leadership to cross-functional product workgroups. Leads Product management meetings. Resolves conflicts and drives consensus. Facilitates collaboration and communication and secures commitment between Development and Product Management and other divisional workgroups towards achievement of common goals. Develops and monitors progress on product roadmap.
• Product Marketing Oversight and Consultation Assists in the development of strategies for customer acquisition and retention; manages relationships with user groups and assists sales team in generation of marketing and awareness plans. Understands how and when to commission market research in order to develop and maintain expertise in markets served, alternative services, new technology and related standards. Can generate appropriate information for market sizes by sector / territory and can generate market penetration statistics. Provides training and support to the sales and support team; may assist in significant sales calls. Analyses reasons for OCLC product wins and losses against competition and can provide meaningful information to aid product planning. Will work to define and rationalize user personas Will produce market/sector white papers.
• Consultation on Portfolio Planning Provides input into portfolio business plans, roadmaps, strategies, metrics, and progress reports and reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience
• 2 to 4 years experience in library services or library management systems
• 2 to 4 years experience in product, project or program management
• 2 to 4 years experience in supporting online/database services, preferably in the library field
• Well developed communication and presentation skills
• Strong understanding of the Product Management Lifecycle model
• Demonstrated ability with Financial planning and financial forecasting
• Desired but not Required Experience in managing staff or team leadership
• Experience leading cross functional workgroups
• Knowledge of OCLC products and services

Working Conditions

Normal office environment. ADA/EAA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Who we are

We are a non-profit global technology company that develops innovative services for libraries. Together with member libraries, we connect people to the resources they need to learn and grow, and ultimately, to transform the world. We connect libraries to other libraries, making their work more efficient and effective. Our large-scale, high-performance cloud computing services enable libraries to share data, work, and resources to save money and better serve their communities.

What we do

We are dedicated and passionate about libraries—and helping them change lives. Our goal is to provide innovative technologies for every library to help them meet the demands of a rapidly changing digital world. Our success depends on our ability to deliver new, high-quality features and stable, scalable solutions for libraries.

Live our values

New ideas. Open dialog. Hard work. Recognition. Purpose. We offer a dynamic, fulfilling work environment that is productive, collaborative, innovative—and fun. We are consistently rated among the top employers within Central Ohio and across the IT landscape. There is a strong, team-based culture where everyone is appreciated and focused on common goals. You will make a difference.

If you are interested in applying for employment with OCLC and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our Human Resources Department at [phone] or email at [e-mail].

OCLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.