Western Governors University
Director, Technical Product Management
Edtech.com's Summary
Western Governors University is hiring a Director, Technical Product Management. The role involves leading the development and delivery of the software and technology roadmap, driving innovation with AI, managing cross-functional technology teams, and ensuring alignment with institutional strategy and governance standards.
Highlights
- Own the end-to-end software product portfolio from concept to delivery, adoption, and measurement.
- Align divisional software product goals with institutional outcomes and define KPIs related to student performance.
- Lead engineering and delivery teams to provide high-quality software experiences.
- Drive innovation by piloting emerging technologies and integrating AI into the product lifecycle.
- Build and mentor cross-functional teams including Engineering, Product, Program Management, and UX.
- Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or equivalent with relevant experience.
- Over 10 years in technology roles and 5+ years leading technology teams.
- Experience leveraging AI to innovate product development.
- Preferred: experience in higher education technology and advanced degrees.
- Compensation range is $190,100 to $342,200 with a comprehensive benefits package including bonuses, insurance, retirement plans, tuition discounts, and paid leave.
Director, Technical Product Management Full Description
If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.
At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
Grade: Executive Technical 716Pay Range: $190,100.00 - $342,200.00
Job Description
Want to make an incredible impact and lead the development of innovative technology products used by hundreds of thousands of students? We are looking for a seasoned product leader who knows how to deliver software effectively in a large enterprise or higher-ed institution and to harness the power of AI to improve the customer/student experience. The Director, Technical Product Management, owns the development and delivery of the software and technology roadmap for their division. This leader is skilled at understanding a) institutional strategy, b) macro technology trends, c) WGU student journey, experiences, needs, and expectations, and translating those into a software product roadmap. In this role, the leader is also accountable for delivering that roadmap while ensuring that all technology initiatives align with enterprise architecture, engineering, security, and governance standards. This role drives innovation, operational excellence, and outcome-based delivery. The ideal candidate combines strategic acumen, hands-on technical leadership, and the ability to execute.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Software Product & Portfolio Leadership
- Own the business unit's software product portfolio end-to-end — from concept to delivery, adoption, and measurement.
- Connect divisional software product and platform goals to institutional outcomes, ensuring alignment between the divisional and institution-wide initiatives.
- Define and track divisional software product KPIs that connect to enterprise-level performance and student outcomes.
Engineering & Technical Delivery
- Lead software engineering and delivery teams to deliver high-quality software and services that provide delightful experiences for our students and other stakeholders.
- Drive applied innovation by piloting emerging technologies and through rapid iteration.
- Injects the best of AI capabilities to improve the product development lifecycle.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Build, coach, and mentor high-performing cross-functional teams (Engineering, Product, Technical Program Management, UX, etc.) that embrace accountability, urgency, and collaboration.
- Develop product manager capability through high expectations, development, and close mentoring.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Expert at creating and delivering impactful technical roadmaps
- Strong change management skills and a history of successful application of change management strategies to implement large-scale projects.
- Experience using quantitative and qualitative data to inform design decisions and drive change.
- Strong emotional intelligence and can work well with technology and business leaders.
- Demonstrated skills working cross-functionally with technology, legal, policy, academic, and administrative teams to deliver large-scale initiatives.
- Demonstrated expertise and aptitude in conducting strategic, quantitative, and qualitative analysis, particularly for rationalization and simplification purposes.
- Demonstrated experience influencing senior management and setting expectations for major cross-functional initiatives.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or equivalent, with relevant experience.
- 10+ years' experience within technology in roles of increasing accountability in the fields of Product Management, Technical Product Management, Software Engineering, Program Management, and/or Product Operations.
- 5+ years of leading and managing a variety of technology teams and functions.
- Experience using AI to drive innovation in the product development lifecycle
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in the higher education technology domain strongly preferred
- Advanced degree
Experience in Lieu of Education
An equivalent combination of training, experience, credentials, or accomplishments that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of this role may substitute for education degree requirements.
This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.
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Position & Application DetailsFull-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.
How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.
Additional Information
Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.
Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
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