Sr. Technical Product Manager at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Harvard University


Position Title: Sr. Technical Product Manager

Req ID: 67626BR

School or Unit: Harvard Business School

Description: Position Description

About HBS Foundry:

HBS Foundry is an innovative digital learning platform designed to empower entrepreneurs by providing access to world-class resources, tools, and knowledge. Our mission is to democratize entrepreneurship education and help entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds successfully launch and grow their ventures. HBS Foundry combines micro-learning segments, AI-driven tools, and a supportive community to create a personalized and impactful learning experience.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a strategic and technically adept Sr. Technical Product Manager to lead and manage the entire lifecycle from prototyping and early development phases to production deployment and management for HBS Foundry's platform. This role will focus on owning the technical product roadmap, owning the understanding of the user journey and its alignment with development goals, leading the prototyping, alpha, and beta phases, and taking the products into production. Once in production, they will monitor usage, uncover broader unmet needs, and drive feature prioritization for future releases. The Sr. Technical Product Manager will collaborate with the Technical Product Lead and development teams to transition prototypes into production environments, ensuring scalability, security, and performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Roadmap Ownership: Develop and maintain the technical roadmap from prototyping to deployment and tracking, ensuring alignment with business goals, timelines, and feature priorities. Ensure the platform evolves toward production readiness and incorporates lessons learned from initial tests.
• User Journey Ownership: Responsible for guiding prototyping and development efforts by owning the understanding of the user journey and integrating feedback from internal and external users. Lead the process of developing new features, tools, and AI-driven solutions, ensuring they align with user needs and the platform's objectives.
• Coordination for Production Development: Collaborate with the Technical Product Lead and engineers to have tools built in production environments, ensuring that technical scalability, security, and performance are addressed. Oversee the process from development through deployment and post-launch support.
• Feature Prioritization & Backlog Management: Manage the technical backlog, prioritize tasks based on business impact, and work with developers to ensure timely delivery of key features and improvements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with product, AI, data, and content teams to align technical projects with business goals. Serve as the primary point of contact for stakeholders regarding technical updates, progress, and challenges, ensuring transparency across all levels.
• Technical Leadership & Problem-Solving: Guide the development team throughout the product lifecycle, from prototyping to production development and provide analysis oversight. Prioritize solving complex technical challenges and facilitatearchitectural decisions that materially enhance the user experience, while ensuring adherence to best coding practices and managing technical debt.
• Project Management Support: Assist with project management tasks, including setting timelines, tracking progress, and ensuring alignment between technical development and broader project goals. Ensure smooth execution of technical projects by addressing roadblocks and coordinating with other departments.
• This role is responsible for other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years' post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Other Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree or equivalent experience is preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in product management, technical leadership, or software development, with a track record of developing and launching AI-powered applications and a strong focus on SaaS platforms or digital learning environments. Additional domain expertise in entrepreneurship is preferred.

Additional/Desired Qualifications:

• AI & Machine Learning Expertise: Strong understanding of AI principles, including Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs), and machine learning concepts.
• Cloud Computing & AWS: Proficiency with AWS services (e.g., EC2, S3, Lambda, SageMaker) for deploying AI models into production environments.
• Software Development & Agile Methodologies: Knowledge of Agile methodologies, Scrum, Jira, and software development lifecycles, including DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
• Prototyping Expertise: Ability to lead early-stage development efforts, focusing on the user journey, feature testing, and preparing prototypes for scaling. Experience guiding AI-based prototypes from conception to deployment.
• Project Management Skills: Ability to manage project timelines, track progress, and coordinate with multiple teams to ensure successful execution.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Strong ability to troubleshoot technical issues, make sound architectural decisions, and balance short-term needs with long-term goals.
• Collaboration & Team Leadership: Proven ability to work cross-functionally and lead teams to successfully execute technical projects.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and provide clear project updates.
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to analyze technical challenges, assess risks, and make data-driven decisions to guide development priorities.

Why Join HBS Foundry?

• Impactful Work: Play a key role in shaping the technical strategy and ensuring the platform's long-term scalability and success.
• Leadership Opportunity: Lead a growing tech team and make strategic decisions that directly influence the platform's future.
• Innovative Environment: Work with cutting-edge technologies, including AI tools, to create innovative learning experiences for entrepreneurs.
• Professional Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning, professional development, and career advancement within a mission-driven organization.
• Collaborative Culture: Work in a supportive and inclusive environment where your contributions are valued, and your leadership can drive real change.

Working Conditions

• Completion of Harvard IT Academy Project Management Foundations course (or external equivalent) preferred
• PMP or other relevant certification and experience preferred, e.g., Scrum Master

Additional Information

This position is approved for a 2-year term (with possibility of renewal/extension) which begins on the person's first day of employment.

This is a hybrid position which we consider to be a combination of remote and onsite work at our Boston, MA based campus. HBS expects all staff to be onsite a minimum of 3 days per week and departments provide onsite coverage Monday - Friday. Specific hours and days onsite will be determined by business needs and are subject to change with appropriate advanced notice.

We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role.

A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity.

Candidates who make it far in the interview process may be asked to participate in an analytical exercise or present to an interview team.

Harvard Business School will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.

Culture of Inclusion: The work and well-being of HBS is profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. Explore more about HBS work culture here https://www.hbs.edu/employment.

About Us

Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 250 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and PhD degrees, as well as more than 175 Executive Education programs, and Harvard Business School Online, the School's digital learning platform. For more than a century, faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching, to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. The School and its curriculum attract the boldest thinkers and the most collaborative learners who will go on to shape the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

LinkedIn Recruiter Tag (for internal use only)

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Department Office Location: USA - MA - Boston

Job Code: I0359P IT Program Manager V

Job Function: General Administration, Information Technology

Work Format: Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Sub Unit: ------------

Salary Grade: 059

Department: HBS Foundry


Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status: Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening: Criminal, Education, Identity


Commitment to Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging: Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EOE Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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