Software Product Manager

Software Product Manager

Job ID: 2013-19664
# of Positions: 1
Posted Date: 8/19/2013
Job Location: US-MA-Boston
Position Type: Regular Full Time
Category: Product Management

Overview

Pearson has one defining goal: to help people progress in their lives through learning. We champion innovation and we invest in models for education that deliver on our promise for effective, accessible, and personal learning from early literacy, college and career readiness to professional education, through data informed instruction and inventive applications for mobile and digital learning.

Pearson, the world's leading learning company, has global-reach and market leading businesses in education, business, and consumer publishing and is listed on the London and New York stock exchanges (UK: PSON; NYSE: PSO).

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

The Software Product Manager shares responsibility for planning, designing, and managing the development of MyLabs technology used in teaching Reading and Writing (Composition). The Software Product Manager is active in all phases of development, from collecting customer input and gathering requirements through user interface design and specification writing to quality-assurance testing. The Software Product Manager reports to the Director of Product Management (or designate), with authority to exercise leadership in the design and development of specific product features.

SCOPE AND IMPACT OF JOB

There are no direct budget responsibilities.

There are no staff managerial responsibilities. However, the Software Product Manager is expected to oversee or review the work of in-house or contract designers and of QA specialists and engineers as part of the software development process.

Primary Responsibilities
- Research user needs and expectations for specific feature requirements
- Write use cases; functional specifications; and test plans for specific feature requirements

Supporting Responsibilities
- Track and prioritize software feature requests
- Define the business case for specific feature requirements
- Collaborate with staff or freelance designers and team members to develop a cohesive user interface for new features
- Conduct (or assist with) usability testing, user development conferences, and focus groups
- Monitor and review the development of specific features including software engineering, QA, and documentation
- Perform acceptance and ad-hoc functional testing of new features
- All other responsibilities, as assigned by management.

Relocation is not available for this position.

Qualifications

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree required
- 3+ years of experience in software product management, and/or project management.

Skills/knowledge/abilities:
- Excellent writing and expository skills
- Excellent teamwork, communication, and organizational skills
- In-depth familiarity with software design, implementation, release and support is required, with a strong understanding of sound Web, and increasingly Mobile, design principals/techniques
- Ability to handle a high volume of work in a short period of time, handle multiple priorities simultaneously, and operate in a demanding work environment is important.
- Previous experience in the education or publishing industry working with editorial preferred; content management and video (web and mobile) experience a plus
- Experience in large-scale integration projects a plus

Other:
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and on time. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- This person must be able to sit or stand at a personal computer typing and reading for the majority of the work day.
- Ability to handle a high volume of work in a short period of time, handle multiple priorities simultaneously and operate in a demanding work environment is important.
- This person must be able to manage the budget for a project and complete all requirements within that given budget and be able to manage a personal travel and expense budget including completing and submitting all required forms.
- Reliable attendance and punctuality is critical to successful performance in this role.