Lead Product Manager, Strategy & Innovation

Ascensus is the leading independent technology and service platform powering savings plans across America, providing products and expertise that help nearly 16 million people save for a better today and tomorrow.

About the role

Under the direction of the Head of Product (and/or other product leaders as appropriate), the Lead Product Manager, Strategy & Innovation will assist the product leaders in driving the development of the product vision and roadmap for the Ascensus suite of products, features, and/or capabilities. The individual is expected to work with a great deal of autonomy and independence, be a subject matter expert regarding existing capabilities, have a comprehensive understanding of our competitive positioning, and partner closely with Product Owners and scrum teams regarding roadmap execution. This role will have 4 direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Product vision and roadmap:
  • Partner with Capability Leaders and product team to clearly articulate the objectives of the product, feature, and/or capability set and the path towards achieving them.
  • Develop the product vision for the applicable capabilities with a focus on the outcomes we are trying to deliver.
  • Lead the development of roadmaps for the capability set in partnership with design, technology, and scrum teams.
  • Identify and advance data and AI-enabled product opportunities by leveraging existing firm data assets to unlock new value propositions and growth opportunities.
  • Partner with sales and marketing to translate our roadmap into an external message that allows for “selling futures.”
  • Stay abreast of industry and competitor dynamics, including our positioning relative to key competitors.
  • Identify new opportunities and areas of differentiation and growth.
  • Work with the Head of Product to develop a multi-year product vision and roadmap.
• Client Experience:
  • Define and own the end-to-end view of the customer journey and their comprehensive set of interactions.
  • Partner with the design/UX team to develop a plan for engagement with customers and gathering their feedback regarding high-value interactions.
  • Oversee customer research and engagement for gathering feedback and determining product requirements.
  • Maintain a relentless focus on customer ease of use through identifying and resolving their key problems.
• Maximize the Value of Assigned Products, Features, and/or Capabilities:
  • Establish and manage key metrics and measures of success for the capability set and take responsibility for delivery against goals.
  • Partner with segment leaders and other shared services to drive adoption of capabilities across our client base.
  • Create and/or enhance documentation for internal and external audiences that demonstrates our comprehensive offering.
  • Serve as the internal and external subject matter expert for the applicable product, feature, and/or capability set.
  • Operationalize product management best practices, including OKRs, release planning, and execution playbooks, and ensure sustained adoption and effectiveness across teams.
• Roadmap Development and Execution:
  • Lead the development of a multi-year strategic roadmap for retirement.
  • Partner closely with Product Owners and scrum teams to translate client insights, desired outcomes, and business problems into optimal roadmaps.
  • Act as a trusted strategic partner to senior leadership, providing additional support on board-level materials, strategic narratives, and cultural alignment as needed.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of product leadership experience/expertise is required.
• Deep understanding of the retirement industry and competitive dynamics.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to create a compelling product vision, including key measures of success.
• Experience owning and driving product roadmaps and knowledge of Agile product development methodologies and practices.
• Strong leadership skills, including driving results through other groups.
• Demonstrated ability to operate and create results with limited oversight.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to lead diverse groups to consensus.
• Strong stakeholder management; able to partner across business segments.
• An effective team player, who can work with people at all levels.
• High level of self-motivation, with strong integrity and ethics.
• Highly organized with the ability to effectively prioritize key issues and deliverables.

Personal Qualities

• Adaptable and resilient.
• Committed and energetic.
• Decisive, able to operate independently.
• High personal and professional integrity.
• Results-oriented with a commitment to excellence; willing to roll up his/her sleeves.
• Proactive self-starter, resourceful, and flexible.