| Job Description | Message Systems, a global company with offices in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific, is seeking a qualified candidate to join its product management staff. As a member of the Message Systems team, you will be part of a fast-paced, energetic group of technology professionals who are transforming the future of digital messaging.
As a key member of the product management team, you will contribute directly to Message Systems’ marketplace success. You will be responsible for the definition, launch and management of core and cross product functionality to execute against the company’s product vision.
In this capacity, you will be the owner and evangelist of your assigned product responsibilities. You will within a cross functional team on the prioritization and resolution of escalated issues related to the sales and ongoing support of your assigned products. For existing products, this will include defining and launching maintenance releases. You will also apply your experience, conduct market research and gather input from clients, internal stakeholders and industry analysts in conceptualizing and prioritizing new functionality required to execute on the company’s strategic direction.
Working closely with the platform product manager and others, you will create market requirements documents (MRDs) and associated product requirement documents (PRDs) to prioritize development to maximize ROI. Once PRDs are approved, you will collaborate with Engineering throughout the product development process – from ensuring that requirements are understood and satisfied at the functional requirements stage to overseeing their proper testing, documentation and ultimate deployment in the final product. You will also work closely with Technical Services in developing training programs and other materials to ensure their readiness to support the new product, and with Marketing in defining product positioning, pricing, value props and use cases and in planning the product launch strategy. Once launched, you will participate with Sales in articulating the value props and use cases to clients, gauging market acceptance of your product and identifying any issues to be addressed in subsequent maintenance releases or patches and/or product enhancements in future PRDs.
The nature of your position will require strong domain experience within the messaging infrastructure and its use within enterprise, service provider and telecommunication company environments. You will also need excellent product and project management skills to successfully perform the scope of your responsibilities within our fast-paced, entrepreneurial company. Given the frequent interactions you’ll have with company executives, sales leaders and other associates, and clients, your position will also demand outstanding communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal capabilities. You also need accommodate moderate travel, including to international destinations at times.
This is an individual contributor role and will report to the Senior Director of Product Management who has overall responsibility for the platform with its associated features, functions, modules and partner integrations. Your MBOs will be based on the above responsibilities and your performance will be evaluated on how effectively you meet them and demonstrate the required attributes of the position.
Responsibilities
The position will entail a mix of strategic and tactical responsibilities. While you may be directing other internal resources in many cases, your hands-on involvement and personal contribution will be required.
Assist in the prioritization of bugs/issue resolution and document inclusion to future product releases of Momentum.
Product manage maintenance releases of company’s Momentum, message management platform.
Work in conjunction with other product managers to identify and create requirements for cross product supporting and/or integration requirements between Momentum and company’s other products.
Provide product management support for add-on modules and ""packaged policies"" for the company’s core product, Momentum. This includes default policies for specific target markets, productization of modules developed initially by Professional Services, or other modules that extend the functionality of product to meet specific market needs while creating incremental revenue.
Work collaboratively with the product management team and platform product manager to indentify and develop prioritized requirements for common/cross product framework to meet the company’s strategic product vision specifically in the areas of reporting and data management.
Provide product management oversight for partner integrations with Momentum including identification and prioritizing partners that help to achieve the product’s strategic vision, integration requirements, and drive on going maintenance updates.
Conduct market research, obtain internal stakeholder input and client feedback required to develop market requirement (MRD) documents and product requirements (PRD) documents required to deliver the assigned products, enhancements and maintenance releases. Assignments and job scope may change over time.
Develop and maintain detailed competitive analysis against major competitors.
Assist Sales in understanding, positioning and selling your product on a standalone basis or as part of more comprehensive solutions.
Collaborate with Engineering, Technical Services and Marketing to ensure products are built, supported, positioned, priced and packaged appropriate to market needs.
Assist in the prioritization of bugs/issue resolution and document inclusion to future product releases of Momentum.
Conduct remote or onsite presentations on product architecture and value propositions.
Work with Accounting and Marketing to define and measure success metrics for product performance.
Serve as the subject matter expert for internal and external clients.
Qualifications
Deep domain experience with messaging infrastructure and applications within enterprise, service provider and telecommunication company environments.
Experience with reporting and data visualization functionality.
Excellent product and project management skills to successfully perform scope of responsibilities within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial company.
Outstanding communication (verbal and written), interpersonal and teaming capabilities.
Keen interest in and understanding of technology – specifically in the use of digital messaging -- and how it can be leveraged to address business-related challenges. Strong sense of priorities and purpose in knowing when compromise is/is not acceptable and how to represent such decisions; excellent negotiation skills.
Strong communication, collaboration and cross-functional team skills in driving different groups with different agendas to successful outcomes.
Flexibility to handle shifting priorities and tight timelines; comfort with multi-tasking, ambiguity and defining your own role in a developing organization.
Self-starter with strong work ethic, commitment and sense of purpose.
Out-of-the-box thinking in overcoming obstacles, finding consensus solutions and creating opportunities.
Minimum Required Skills
The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills and attributes:
BA/BS degree (or compensating work experience) is required; MS/MA/MBA is desirable.
5+ years product management, project management, and/or program management of software products is required. A product management or new product development background strongly preferred.
Experience with messaging protocols and platforms within carrier and/or enterprise is required.
Proven track record working collaboratively with engineering organizations to solve complex technical issues and to define and launch products.
Strong customer communication skills.
History of driving revenue and profitability for a product portfolio.
Familiarity and experience with command line based systems administration and/or script based programing language in Linux or Solaris environments is a plus but not required.
Experience providing technical support, professional services and/or sales engineering support for technically complex/customizable software is also a plus, but not required.
Ability to communicate clearly with developers and cross-functional team members regarding technical options for product solutions is required.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills are required, including graphical presentations, product overviews and demonstrations for internal and external audiences, and speaking to large groups.
Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel required.
Experience working with vendors/partner teams to define marketable services and profitable joint marketing program, and managing those programs from concept through launch is a plus.
Broader business experience in sales, marketing or business development in a software product company is a plus. |
| | Company | | Message Systems | Job Code | | State or Province | | Maryland | | |
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