Product Manager, Educators

Understood is looking for a product manager to collaborate in creating a new platform for Educators. This person will help us build best-in-class products that drive impact and create lasting, meaningful change in the lives of the 1 in 5. We will do this by building the knowledge, skills, and mindsets educators need to ensure the 1 in are successful.

We are looking for a self-starter to help us accomplish this work. The ideal product manager is collaborative, innovative, detail oriented and empathetic to the needs and experiences of the people we serve. This position will partner closely in product ideation, discovery and execution and will work with our program, engineering, search, data and analytics teams.

The platform will include informational content for educators served via a content management system (CMS), as well as professional development content modules served through a learning management system (LMS) or built in house.

Key Responsibilities

Improve the impact of Understood's digital resources by identifying product improvements; conducting research; generating product requirements; determining specifications and production timetables; performing light project management, and collaborating with the Educator program lead to ensure the best and most impactful experience for our users.

Works with the VP Product to support and drive the product strategy, including but not limited to:


*Using research to ideate and validate product needs
*Helping create and translate product strategy and roadmap into detailed requirements,wireframes and prototypes.
*Owning backlog grooming, ensuring that tasks are fully realized to ensure successful results.
*Working closely with the engineering team by creating user stories, clearing roadblocks, and ensuring stakeholder needs are being implemented.
*Analyzing and making recommendations for whether to build or use 3rd party vendors for our needs (LMS, for example).
*Being mindful that the voice of our Teacher Fellows, education cohort/partners and educator community is echoed throughout the product development process. This includes the consistent practice of incorporating user feedback into the development loop through various market testing and research projects as needed.
*Ensuring that accessibility remains a top priority, aligning with Universal Design for Learning.
*Helping validate product hypotheses with surveys, A/B testing, etc.
*Supporting and guiding new product execution by developing time-integrated plans with engineering, UX design, content, marketing and partnership teams.
*Keep the multi-discipline teams coordinated and on track in launches and enhancements.
*Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks and participating in professional societies.

Requirements:

*Minimum of 2 - 8 years relevant work experience
****2+ years of education-related experience along with 2+ years product management experience

and/or

*2+ years of education tech product management experience
****Experience in a nonprofit; in a software company; in the area of business strategy; and/or as a tech entrepreneur.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

*Proven track record of contributing to and delivering new products and features that helped your company grow.
*Ability to work with a team, accomplishing related results as needed.
*A thorough familiarity with Agile software development methodologies.
*A strong desire to work hard in a small, fast-growing organization doing whatever it takes to move organizational priorities forward.
*Belief in the potential of the 1 in 5; alignment with Understood’s mission.


Understood’s mission is to make a positive difference for the 70 Million plus individuals in the United States with learning and attention issues. To achieve a positive impact for the 1 in 5 individuals with learning and attention issues, our efforts require an integrated focus on five key drivers:

The individual with learning and attention issues from early childhood through adulthood.
The parents (or caregivers) of the individual, who play the most powerful support role in individuals’ development.
The educators, who are critical in the development of the individual from early childhood to becoming an adult.
The employer, who needs to be engaged and enabling in the individual’s successful transition to adulthood.
The entire population (5 in 5), who need to be aware and accepting (without stigma) of people with learning and attention differences.


For additional information on learning and attention issues, including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, executive functioning issues, nonverbal learning disabilities, processing issues and more, please visit www.understood.org.