Sr. Product Manager (Software)

Senior Product Manager, Software/Digital Products

Highland is looking for a Senior Product Manager who loves working with multi-disciplinary design and development teams to help good organizations create new digital products and experiences.  

This position is a three to six month contract to hire with equivalent contract based compensation prior to transitioning to Full Time.  Please note this is a hybrid role with at least one day a week in our Chicago Loop offices and up to 10% overnight travel as required. 

About Highland

Highland is a digital product and innovation consultancy based in Chicago. We research, design, and build digital products and experiences for mission-driven organizations and customer-centric companies.

Our mission is to increase human flourishing through game changing insights, design and--when appropriate--digital products and platforms. Our work tends to focus on organizations contributing to peoples’ physical and mental health, social connections, community, and financial stability.

About the Role

The Senior Product Manager is responsible for developing trust and rapport with clients from pre-sale through project completion, and gaining deep knowledge of the client, their business, and their project to ensure we provide the highest level of service. The ideal candidate will lead their team by creating the effective communication structures, project organization and trust that successful projects require. The role requires a dynamic balance of technical experience along with leadership ability. The Senior Product Manager will set product direction, define work for researchers, designers, and developers, provide projections, and track project progress and budgets.

Here is what we think is true of the person who would thrive in this role:

Product Management Expertise

• You have been instrumental in shaping and building new digital products that meet customer needs and align to organizational goals.
• You collaborate with researchers, designers, and developers in aligning around product opportunity and business strategy.
• You understand and speak to business outcomes, and have shaped human-centered products where you were accountable for specific business objectives like revenue, customer acquisition, incremental profitability, etc.
• You have direct experience with full stops and hard pivots, and are able to take action when concepts and products aren’t working.
• You’re familiar with agile methods as well as development and design processes.
• You create strategic roadmaps grounded in customer and business opportunities over features.
• You can articulate product needs and requirements at several levels of detail, from team-focused user stories and acceptance criteria up to client-facing objectives and roadmaps.

Client Leadership

• You advise and consult with client leaders on product strategy and product development.
• You’re focused on the end goal as well as the right next step.
• You seek frank, honest conversations with clients and team members alike.
• You’re a clear and compelling communicator, regardless of medium.

Project Management Expertise

• You manage and facilitate ongoing project and team cadences.
• You proactively communicate progress, risks and budget updates to Highland Directors and client leadership.
• You engage and leverage design and development leadership on your project team to align on decisions and drive outcomes.
• You ensure that all time tracking and billing activities for the team are completed in a timely fashion.
• You replace ineffective practices with ones that better accomplish project and company goals.

Compensation & Benefits

• Full-time salary of $140,000 to $160,000 / equivalent during contract period
• Annual bonus based on company performance
• Health, dental and vision insurance (Highland pays 66% of the premiums)
• 401k retirement savings plan
• 8 company holidays, flexible paid time off, and unlimited sick time
• 40 hours of professional development time and a $1,000 stipend each year
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance (Highland pays 100% of the premiums)
• Paid parental leave for all new parents

The values we live by:

• People First: What we make and how we work should make it a little bit better to be alive: for us, our clients, and their customers.
• Be Curious: The big picture is everyone's responsibility. There is always more to learn. We are generous in teaching what we know.
• Be Open: We respond to problems with solutions, not blame. Vulnerability, while risky, leads to trust and understanding. We're accountable to our clients and to each other. Even when things aren't going well.
• Give a Damn: Our client's goals are our goals. We do work we can be proud of. Quality is non-negotiable.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Highland is committed to creating a just, equitable workplace, and is actively seeking candidates who can bring the value of diverse lived experiences to this position.  We look for candidates who have a high level of demonstrated comfort with cultural competency; women, people of color, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQ are encouraged to apply.