Product Manager

We are open to remote candidates located within MST to BRT time zones.

As a Product Manager at Metalab, you'll be at the heart of our product development process, ensuring that we deliver exceptional products that meet both client and user needs. You'll be responsible for managing the full product lifecycle, from initial concept through to launch, working closely with cross-functional teams to define, build, and deliver outstanding products. This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, strong project management skills, and a deep understanding of the product development process.

What you’ll do

Product Definition:

• Collaborate with project leads to define the product vision, aligning it with business goals and customer insights.
• Create, drive, and maintain the product roadmap, continually evaluating technical, UX, and performance trade-offs, and making scope recommendations to clients.
• Participate in research phases to understand user needs, and contribute to defining testing and validation strategies.
• Conduct competitive and comparative assessments, secondary desk research, and advocate for user needs through primary research and design.

Requirements & Documentation:

• Lead requirements gathering and documentation for research, design, and engineering, ensuring alignment with user and business needs.
• Collaborate with design and engineering leads to assess requirements, prioritize tasks, and estimate efforts.
• Create and manage release documentation, including comprehensive release notes, and communicate technical changes effectively with cross-functional teams.

Client & Team Collaboration:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, building and maintaining strong relationships, addressing concerns promptly, and regularly communicating project progress and risks.
• Foster a cross-functional work environment, ensuring all team members' perspectives are considered. Challenge and support the team throughout design and development cycles.
• Manage the team’s tasks and communicate plans and milestones for upcoming weeks.

Project Execution & Management:

• Create and manage the backlog, write clear user stories, and shape the product prioritization framework in alignment with the product strategy.
• Proactively identify risks throughout the project lifecycle, such as backend dependencies, third-party milestones, and changes in scope. Develop and implement mitigation plans.
• Proactively assess project needs, generate multiple perspectives on potential adjustments, and evaluate the impact of changes
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, scopes, and budgets for complex projects (up to $1M), including large makeovers or small zero-to-one launches.
• Possess a deep understanding of the product development lifecycle, continuously learning and optimizing delivery methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall) to enhance project outcomes.

Requirements

• Experience shipping multiple products (bonus points if it's at an agency)
• Excellent communicator utilizing all modes of communication (narrative, visual, etc) to ensure alignment with the product vision. Confident and effective communication with senior stakeholders
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in design, engineering, research, and content 
• Exceptional communication skills, including an unparalleled ability to read the room (and these days, a Zoom call)
• A nuanced understanding of the differences working with startups and enterprise clients
• Have an in-depth understanding of what each discipline (research, design, engineering) needs for effective documentation
• Comfortable defining new processes and assessing where to provide the most value on a project-by-project basis 
• Comfortable scoping new initiatives, taking calculated risks, and presenting to executives
• Able to empathetically and effectively engage with users, translating their emotions into real solutions