Product Development Manager
DataStaff, Inc is seeking a Product Development Manager for a direct-hire opportunity with one of our direct clients located in Cary, NC
*This role is hybrid; 4 days per week will be on-site (Fridays remote)
Job Description:
The Manager, Product Development, is responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of SaaS products, from product strategy and roadmap definition through development, release, and post-implementation support. This role blends product leadership and technical project delivery.
Project Planning, Project Management and Maintenance Prioritization:
- Lead the prioritization of user stories, features, new products, projects, and process improvements to ensure alignment with business strategy and customer value.
- Partner with customers and industry stakeholders, including representatives serving on AAR committees, task forces, and Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), to gather requirements and inform product and project planning decisions.
- Facilitate the development of business cases and high-level estimates to support product and project portfolio planning, prioritization, and investment decisions.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, including scope, schedules, budgets, risks, issues, action items, and status reporting, in accordance with internal methodologies.
- Lead release planning activities and coordinate cross-functional readiness to ensure timely, high-quality product releases.
- Lead development teams by maintaining strong technical understanding of systems, promoting sound engineering practices, and ensuring high-quality delivery.
- Identify, assess, and manage product and project risks; develop mitigation strategies and ensure adherence to quality standards throughout the delivery lifecycle.
- Support ongoing maintenance prioritization by balancing new capability delivery with operational stability, defect remediation, and continuous improvement needs.
Portfolio Strategic Planning/Road-Mapping, and Execution:
- Own and manage an assigned portfolio of software products, with a clear understanding of how products deliver customer value and support critical business processes.
- Partner with customers and internal stakeholders to define, prioritize, and deliver new industry value through new products, enhancements, productivity improvements, and cost-saving initiatives.
- Establish portfolio goals and strategies aligned with the mission, vision, and annual strategic objectives.
- Define, secure, and manage investment for portfolio initiatives, including business cases, ROI analysis, budget allocation, and resource planning.
- Lead planning and execution of initiatives from business case through post-implementation, managing scope, timelines, budgets, dependencies, and risks.
- Balance resources and forecasts across multiple concurrent initiatives while maintaining delivery commitments, quality standards, and Agile execution.
- Lead cross-functional teams in the design, development, integration, release, and ongoing support of software products and systems.
- Maintain strong technical understanding of products and systems, promoting sound engineering practices and high-quality, reliable releases.
- Identify, track, escalate, and mitigate delivery, technical, and operational risks throughout the product lifecycle.
- Provide ongoing operational oversight, ensuring timely issue resolution, system stability, and continuous improvement.
- Build, lead, and develop high-performing product-aligned teams, fostering T-shaped skills, collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
- Communicate portfolio and delivery status, risks, and outcomes effectively to stakeholders and leadership.
Key Measures:
- Project metrics.
- Delivery performance
- Quality releases
- Team engagement
- Financial targets
- Customer satisfaction
Knowledge, Skills, abilities/minimum requirements/competencies:
Required:
- Strong understanding of software development principles, technologies, and the full software development lifecycle.
- Demonstrated strength in project and product delivery, including planning, prioritization, and execution in Agile or similar frameworks.
- Ability to understand customer needs from a business perspective and translate them into effective technical and product solutions.
- Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience developing business cases and ROI analysis.
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical and business stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, cross-functional environment.
- Highly organized, flexible, and self-directed, with strong initiative and adaptability to changing priorities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and project planning tools.
Preferred:
- Experience in product management and/or technical project leadership with demonstrated people-management responsibilities.
- Experience leading cross-functional and geographically distributed teams, including offshore development teams.
- Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS or similar), multi-tier application architectures, and enterprise systems (e.g., Java, high availability, disaster recovery).
- Experience delivering market analysis and applying business analysis tools and techniques.
- Familiarity with transportation, logistics, or similarly complex, regulated industries.
- Advance understanding of Agile, Scrum, or modern software delivery practices.
Education, experience, certification/training:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience).
- Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in software development, product development, or technical project delivery.
- At least two (2) years of experience in technical leadership, people management, or team lead role.
- Practical experience working in Agile/Scrum or similar iterative development environments.
Preferred:
- MBA or advanced degree.
- Product management, project management, Agile, Scrum, or PMP certification.
- Agile certification through PMI, Scrum Alliance, or equivalent (PMP may be required within the first 12 months, if applicable).
- Experience in both technical and business-facing roles supporting complex software products.
This opportunity is available as a W2 position with a competitive benefits package.