Manager, Product Management

Sphera is a leading global provider of enterprise software and services that enables companies to manage and optimize their environmental, health, safety and sustainability. Our mission is to create a safer, more sustainable and productive world.

Sphera is a portfolio company of Blackstone, a U.S.-based alternative asset investment company that focuses on private equity, technology and innovation, and more. Blackstone businesses succeed through strong partnerships, a personalized approach and a commitment to exceptional performance with uncompromising integrity. Sphera and Blackstone are leaders in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space.

We are guided by our core values of Customer Centricity, Accountability, Bias to Action, Innovation, and Collaboration. These values help us recruit the right talent to join our rapidly expanding team around the globe. It is important to us that each and every Spherion is not only eager to challenge themselves and knows how to get work done but is an awesome addition to our company culture.

About the Role:
As the Product Manager, Platform, you will lead the strategy and direction of the SpheraCloud platform product. You will guide product priorities and enhancements from the idea stage to full production and help to develop new ideas based on your industry experience and feedback from our partners and customers. You will collaborate with other solution areas to develop and deliver key functionality to our existing SpheraCloud product, further enabling a modular set of cloud-based solutions. 
 

The selected individual will partner closely with the customers (internal and external), the business lines and Agile teams to drive the evolution of the assigned products. The Product Manager is responsible for defining a product vision with a prioritized product backlog to deliver on business vision and priorities. The PM provides constant feedback to the business lines and Agile teams in support of delivery and evolution of the product. The PM must develop a well-rounded understanding of the customer’s needs that are aligned with business objectives as well as an ability to develop close relationships with key stakeholders. 

You will shape the software development roadmap for the product and communicate it to internal and external stakeholders. You are also the key member of the team responsible for both defining and prioritizing the release backlog in close collaboration with engineering counterparts and product owners/managers. You will work closely with the development and engineering team to define architecture, user experience, and product capabilities. You are responsible for the overall quality delivery of the solution to our customers. Using your skills, talents, efforts, and influence, you will deliver positive business outcomes for both our customers and Sphera. 
 

Market Focus Responsibilities:

• Assist in the research of market requirements and forecasts for new portfolio opportunities and platform advancement strategies 

• Document and maintain key competitor profiles 

• Work with branding and marketing teams to help them understand market positioning 

• Work with sales and marketing teams to document the buying process and identify sales enablement tools, including partner channels 

• Assists in the creation of the training and tools necessary to ensure the Sales, Services, and Customer Care are educated on the feature/functionality of products 

• Provide product and domain content focused on the market 

Platform Product Focus Responsibilities:

• Maintain product success metrics for the Platform 

• Develop and maintain a roadmap for the Platform including: Developing a list of initiatives and epics; Balancing priorities between maintenance requirements, architecture, and new features, and maximizing the value of each release; Recommending market-specific enhancements for all portfolio products 

• Defining the planned date and content for a product release to customers 

• Actively work directly with the development team 

• Serve as the customer representative in all team meetings 

• Partner with product portfolio and develop personas and related product capabilities 

• Participate in release and product retrospectives with engineering, UX teams 

• Drive discussions to surface issues, identify fixes and advance projects 

• Participate in product planning and forecasts with the product management team 

• Maintain and report product status such as burn up/burn down and velocity charts 

• Participate in sprint retrospectives with the Agile team 

• Maintain a release backlog and focus on product deliverables 

People Focus Responsibilities: 

• Influence and partner with stakeholders to create a shared platform vision and optimal product outcomes 

• Lead cross-functional teams for key company initiatives 

• Contribute to Go-To-Market teams

Required Education:

• BS Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Computer Science, and/or Business/Marketing 

Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience with software platform design concepts and components 

• 5+ years of Product Management experience is desirable.
   

• 3+ years of people management experience 

• Experience managing enterprise software applications and/or large-scale product initiatives, in particular SaaS applications. 

• Strong understanding of Agile Product Management and Software Development methodologies 

• Proven ability to communicate with customers, stakeholders, salespeople, and executives. 

• Knowledgeable in modern technology and architectural patterns 

• Knowledgeable in product development in Cloud environment 

• Knowledgeable in products based on services and APIs’ 

• Strong conceptual and analytical skills to form the basis of well-researched and documented plans 

• Proven record as a self-motivated, performance-driven professional 

• Demonstrates sound business judgement, common sense and insight 

• Behaves consistently with Sphera values and ethical principles 

Pay:

$127,000.00 - $203,000.00 + Eligible for Variable Compensation Plan

Commensurate with relevant qualifications and experience

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Health Savings Account

• Flexible Spending Account

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match

• Life and Disability Insurance

• Critical Illness Insurance

• Accident Insurance

• Hospital Indemnity Insurance

• Paid Time Off and Holidays

• Flexible Working Schedule

Sphera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application or recruiting process, please email us at [email protected] to make your request. To help us best respond, please include your name and the position you are applying for in your message.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.