Senior Product Manager

Office of Data and Innovation; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 141,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Health benefits

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Hard Problems is seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead the Innovation Lab, a Governor-appointed advisory service that partners with state departments to de-risk projects and deliver evidence-based recommendations. You will translate complex problems into clear scopes of work and roadmaps, manage cross-functional teams, and own the delivery cadence for engagements.

You will integrate UX research, service design, data and technical strategy into actionable recommendations, set an ambitious

Qualifications

• Extensive product management experience in digital or technology environments.
• Experience managing complex client and stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to translate ambiguity into scopes, roadmaps, backlogs, milestones and deliverables.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research and service design.
• Familiarity with agile backlog management, sprints and iterative delivery.
• Experience communicating with executive, technical, program and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead a cross-functional Innovation Lab team to de-risk complex projects.
• Translate problems into scopes of work, roadmaps, and client deliverables.
• Own delivery cadence and day-to-day priorities for Innovation Lab engagements.
• Integrate UX research, service design, data strategy, and technical strategy into recommendations.
• Set a clear product vision for Innovation Lab engagements and drive iterative delivery.
• Mature the service model with repeatable patterns, feedback loops and performance measures.

Skills

Product management

Consulting

Cross-functional leadership

Agile delivery

Stakeholder management

Public sector experience

Job description

The Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) is a California state agency that delivers better services to Californians through technology, design, and data. Working in close partnership with other state departments, ODI builds tools and products, creates and enhances digital services, conducts research, identifies data solutions, and offers training. Its cross-discipline staff spans design, engineering, product, operations, data, research, policy, and strategy, with a mission to create programs and products that are more equitable and effective.

The role

The Senior Product Manager leads and manages the Innovation Lab, a new ODI consulting service that helps state departments make better decisions before committing to large investments. The Innovation Lab works with departments on time-boxed, structured engagements to define problems, identify gaps, align stakeholders, set priorities, and reduce complexity so departments can make research-and-data-informed decisions. This is a Governor-appointed position.

What you would do

• Lead a cross-functional, multi-disciplinary Innovation Lab team, working with state departments to de-risk complex projects and deliver actionable, evidence-based recommendations.
• Translate complex problems into clear scopes of work and client deliverables, including recommendations and roadmaps.
• Own the delivery cadence and day-to-day priorities for Innovation Lab engagements, ensuring the team delivers value to departments and stakeholders.
• Integrate UX research, service design, data strategy, technical strategy, and project management findings into coherent recommendations and handoff materials.
• Set a clear product vision for Innovation Lab engagements and the service overall, drive an iterative approach, and ensure effective delivery.
• Help mature the Innovation Lab service model, including methods, repeatable patterns, referral criteria, feedback loops, performance measures, and approaches for continuous improvement.

What they are looking for

• Extensive product management experience in the digital or technology space, including translating ambiguous problems into scopes, roadmaps, backlogs, milestones, and deliverables.
• Consulting experience, including managing complex client and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams to deliver discovery insights, recommendations, services, or products across disciplines such as UX research, service design, data analysis, technical strategy, software engineering, content strategy, or project management.
• Experience identifying and understanding customer needs and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research, analytics, service mapping, and process analysis to inform product delivery and service design.
• Experience with agile delivery methods, including backlog management, sprint planning, retrospectives, and iterative product development.
• Experience gathering input from and communicating with a wide range of stakeholders, including executive, technical, program, and non-technical audiences.
• Experience applying accessibility, equity, privacy, security, compliance, and other constraints relevant to public digital services.
• Strong organizational skills and comfort working across collaboration platforms and adapting to client tools and processes.
• Experience in government, government procurement, or implementing or procuring large technology systems is a bonus but not required.

Working arrangements

The employee's workstation is located in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Oakland, or San Diego. Travel may be required to attend meetings in Sacramento, offsite, conferences, and/or training. The position provides telework opportunities in accordance with agency telework policies.

Pay and benefits

Annual salary of $141,336 to $168,384, based on experience and qualifications. The state offers benefits including pension, health benefits (including after retirement), life insurance, and an employee assistance program.