Senior Product Specialist (Lending)

Paylocity; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunward is seeking a Senior Lending Product Owner to evolve the lending product management discipline and align product offerings with member needs. The role focuses on owning the product roadmap, collaborating with leadership and tech teams, and driving best-in-class lending solutions that deliver value to members.

The position emphasizes data-driven decision-making, market awareness, and continuous improvement, with potential mentoring across the product management team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading lending product initiatives and driving growth.
• Minimum 4 years in product management or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in a lending capacity.

Responsibilities

• Own and prioritize the lending product roadmap to match member needs and market trends.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, business units, and technology teams to define features and capabilities.
• Monitor market trends, member feedback, and competitive intelligence to identify opportunities for differentiation.
• Drive day-to-day execution with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
• Analyze key metrics to optimize product offerings, user experience, and business outcomes.
• Advocate for member research and feedback to inform decisions and foster continuous improvement.
• Support go-to-market strategies, positioning, and messaging for product launches.

Skills

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Communication

Autonomy

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Description

Summary

The Lending Product Owner-Senior plays a key role in evolving the lending product management discipline in support of Sunward's vision to redefine the cooperative spirit in financial services. This role has the opportunity to shape Sunward's lending products and services, connecting them to the people who need them and delivering exceptional value to our members. This position's ownership of the product roadmap will be crucial in ensuring that Sunward's product offerings align with the evolving needs and expectations of our members. This is a strategic position that requires a deep understanding of lending and the ability to drive innovation and member-centricity within Sunward's lending portfolio.

Essential Functions

• Take ownership of prioritizing and maintaining the lending product roadmap, driving its evolution to align with the changing needs of our members, organization and the market landscape.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders, including senior leadership, business units, and technology teams, to define and prioritize features, enhancements, and capabilities in the product roadmap.
• Continuously monitor market trends, member feedback, and competitive intelligence to identify opportunities for product differentiation and innovation.
• Drive the day-to-day execution of the product roadmap, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products and features.
• Monitor and analyze key product metrics and performance indicators, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize product offerings, user experience, and business outcomes.
• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, member-centricity, and user-centered design, advocating for member research and feedback to inform product decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop go-to-market strategies, positioning, and messaging for product launches and promotions.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes relevant to our lending portfolio, ensuring our products remain competitive and compliant.
• Champion the product management discipline within the lending team. May provide mentorship, coaching, and guidance to product managers.
• Develop a culture of curiosity, innovation, and continuous improvement within the product management team, fostering an environment that encourages experimentation, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless focus on delivering member-centric solutions.
• Build, recommend, and maintain the lending product catalog, product rates, fees, and competitive positioning. Ensure every driver has the right product to close the loan, serve the member, and protect the portfolio.
• Lending product roadmap and lifecycle management
• Regional pricing structure and product positioning input
• Weekly competitive pricing review against top 10 market competitors by product, by region.
• Semi-annual competitive fee review against top 10 market competitors by product by region.
• Product gap analysis identifying lending products members request that Sunward doesn't offer.
• Time-to-launch for new or revised lending products from approval to availability.
• Lending journey design and improvements
• Surface product constraints affecting driver capacity
• Research and recommend products to keep us ahead of our competitors

Requirements

Experience

• Proven experience as a product leader, driving growth and innovation in lending portfolios within the financial services industry.
• Minimum 4 years' experience in product management or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in a lending capacity.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or certification in business administration preferred, or 6 additional years of equivalent relevant experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

Knowledge

• Deep understanding and ability to connect Sunward's lending products and services to functional and organizational priorities.
• Strong knowledge of product management principles, methodologies, and best practices, with a track record of delivering member-focused and commercially successful products.

Skills/Abilities

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to analyze complex data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent collaboration abilities, with the capacity to influence and align cross-functional teams towards shared product goals.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively articulate product strategies, engage stakeholders, and drive buy-in.
• Proven ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and resolve problems without close supervision.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Primarily office-based, requiring extended periods of sitting and computer use.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, data entry, and document handling.
• Ability to communicate clearly in person, by phone, and virtually.
• Occasional lifting or carrying of office materials or files, up to 20 lbs.
• Visual acuity for reviewing documents, spreadsheets, and digital systems.
• Work involves use of standard office equipment (computer, phone, printer, copier).
• Some exposure to moderate noise typical of a shared office or call center environment.
• May require occasional after-hours work during peak periods or deadlines.
• Adheres to confidentiality and security standards when handling sensitive member information.