Western Governors University
Senior Product Operations Manager
🇺🇸
Salt Lake City, UT
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$106K - $158K
💻
Operations
🗓️
March 17th, 2026
UX/UI
Edtech.com's Summary
WGU Corporation is hiring a Senior Product Operations Manager. The role entails collaborating with leadership to develop and implement processes, best practices, and communication standards within the Product Organization to enhance operational efficiency and support effective product strategies. The manager leads cross-functional teams, monitors key results, and drives continuous improvement to deliver better business and user outcomes.
Highlights
- Develop and optimize processes and best practices for the Product Organization.
- Lead cross-functional working groups to implement system capabilities and standardize documentation.
- Create communication templates, monitor OKRs, and report roadmap progress to stakeholders.
- Manage product backlog health, facilitate onboarding, and organize workshops to improve product practices.
- Support discovery sprints/dual track Agile and ensure alignment with portfolio management operations.
- Evangelize product management methodology and develop related training and communication plans.
- Research trends and establish audits for data accuracy and integrity.
- Required skills include Agile, Product Management, Project Management, SDLC certification, and leadership in software product management.
- Experience with tools such as Jira, Confluence, Lucid, Mural, and roadmapping software is necessary.
- Compensation range: $105,600 to $158,400 annually, with full benefits including bonuses, healthcare, retirement plans, and paid leave.
Senior Product Operations Manager 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: Technical 407Pay Range: $105,600.00 - $158,400.00
Grade: Technical 407Pay Range: $105,600.00 - $158,400.00
Job Description
Reporting to the Director of Product Operations, the Senior Product Operations Manager is responsible for collaborating with leadership to identify, create, and develop processes and best practices for the Product Organization. As a key leader in creating the standard for cross-functional communication & visibility, you will surface the insights required to help our Product Organization define effective product strategies and function optimally.
Your collaboration with leaders and individual contributors from Product & UX creates excellent governance, continuous improvement of processes and communication, and most importantly, transparency throughout and enablement of the Product Organization. You help connect us with our users and business partners by creating and optimizing processes and best practices utilizing excellent communication methods. You empower our Product Organization by helping us find and remove our inefficiencies, and by helping us achieve better business and user outcomes.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Uses qualitative and quantitative insights to dig deep into workflows and product usage to drive both operational playbooks and tooling enhancementsLeads cross-functional working groups to implement and support new system capabilitiesStandardizes documentation of Roadmaps, Strategy Reviews, Product Briefs, Vision Statements, Release Plans and Release Notes, Experiment Findings, Internal Product Announcement materialsCreates standard templates and frameworks for communication and supporting product practicesRoutinely communicates roadmap progress to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to drive decision making on key trade offsAssists with consistent OKR monitoring and reportingLeads the organization of cross-functional teams and their management for product domains and creates supporting resources for the teamsEstablishes and implements standards and processes for the management of product backlog healthOptimizes product management onboarding and creates related trainingsDefines and manages intake processOrganizes workshops to upskill employees and improve product practicesCreates and manages product resources index and archive of product workLeads the implementation of discovery sprints/dual track Agile and supports the ongoing practicePartners with Portfolio Management Operations to ensure process alignment that enables value deliveryEvangelizes product management methodology, which requires solid knowledge of the product discipline and the ability to create decks and educate others on best practices and why it existsIn collaboration with Change Management leaders, develops and leads communication and training plans for leaders and stakeholders impacted by process changes and operation improvements
Researches and investigates new trends and technologies to meet current and future needs of the Product and UX/UI organizations.
Establishes audits and reports to ensure data accuracy and integrityLeads cross-functional teams in operationalizing standards and business models that effectively and seamlessly interrelate with business operations across the department.Performs other related duties as assigned Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:Agile, Product Management, Project Management, SDLC training or certification
Excellent leadership and product management skills Ability to design and implement operational functions and initiatives
Ability to plan, organize, and manage strategic initiatives
Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Demonstrated ability to support, coach and provide feedback to othersAbility to create and track data related to project impact
Ability to influence, build consensus, and motivate othersAdvanced organizational skills with a high attention to detailEffective listening skills and ability to adapt well and willingly in an environment of changeAbility to analyze business operations, processes, systems and identify process improvement opportunitiesExperience creating documentation and communication standards and frameworks
Competencies: Organizational Impact: Develops and implements plan to accomplish division or job area responsibilities that align with departmentPerformance may affect department resultsWork requires knowledge of the University to recognize impact of decisions made Works to achieve operational targets with significant to major impact on department, function, or office results. May be responsible for managing large projects or processes within the department, function, or office
Performs work as directed with limited oversight Problem Solving and Decision Making: Responsible for leveraging a systems-thinking approach, making moderate to significant improvements of processes, systems, and plans within the department, function, or officeProblems and issues faced are numerous and challenging, will require detailed information gathering and analysis. Problems typically affect multiple areas or specialtiesCommunication and Influence: Collaborates cross-functionally with employees within and outside of the department. Has responsibility for communicating with parties external to the UniversityWorks to influence parties within and outside the department, function, or office regarding policies, procedures, and practicesLeadership & Talent Management Is responsible for providing guidance, coaching, and training to other employees in the department, function, or office. Responsible for managing projects involving delegation of work and review of others' work products.Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGUJob Qualifications:Minimum Qualifications:Typically requires a University Degree or equivalentMinimum of 5 years related experience, with 2+ years of software Product Management experiencePragmatic Institute or other Product
Researches and investigates new trends and technologies to meet current and future needs of the Product and UX/UI organizations.
Establishes audits and reports to ensure data accuracy and integrityLeads cross-functional teams in operationalizing standards and business models that effectively and seamlessly interrelate with business operations across the department.Performs other related duties as assigned Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:Agile, Product Management, Project Management, SDLC training or certification
Excellent leadership and product management skills Ability to design and implement operational functions and initiatives
Ability to plan, organize, and manage strategic initiatives
Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Demonstrated ability to support, coach and provide feedback to othersAbility to create and track data related to project impact
Ability to influence, build consensus, and motivate othersAdvanced organizational skills with a high attention to detailEffective listening skills and ability to adapt well and willingly in an environment of changeAbility to analyze business operations, processes, systems and identify process improvement opportunitiesExperience creating documentation and communication standards and frameworks
Competencies: Organizational Impact: Develops and implements plan to accomplish division or job area responsibilities that align with departmentPerformance may affect department resultsWork requires knowledge of the University to recognize impact of decisions made Works to achieve operational targets with significant to major impact on department, function, or office results. May be responsible for managing large projects or processes within the department, function, or office
Performs work as directed with limited oversight Problem Solving and Decision Making: Responsible for leveraging a systems-thinking approach, making moderate to significant improvements of processes, systems, and plans within the department, function, or officeProblems and issues faced are numerous and challenging, will require detailed information gathering and analysis. Problems typically affect multiple areas or specialtiesCommunication and Influence: Collaborates cross-functionally with employees within and outside of the department. Has responsibility for communicating with parties external to the UniversityWorks to influence parties within and outside the department, function, or office regarding policies, procedures, and practicesLeadership & Talent Management Is responsible for providing guidance, coaching, and training to other employees in the department, function, or office. Responsible for managing projects involving delegation of work and review of others' work products.Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGUJob Qualifications:Minimum Qualifications:Typically requires a University Degree or equivalentMinimum of 5 years related experience, with 2+ years of software Product Management experiencePragmatic Institute or other Product
Certification/trainingExperience with product-led technology teamsExperience within an Agile software development environmentMinimum 5 years of experience performing operations functions within a software development contextMinimum 2 years of experience in a leadership roleExperience with Product Management and/or software development tools/software (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Lucid, Mural, Roadmapping software, etc.)Preferred Qualifications:Product Operations trainingMaster's degree in a related field of studyChange Practitioner CertificationPrevious experience in Education TechnologyThis 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.
Position & Application Details
Full-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.
Full-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 recruiting@wgu.edu.
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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