Product Director

Overview

We are hiring a Product Director to co-lead our product management team and advance the product management practice within the Office of Innovation. This role focuses on empowering product managers to lead their teams effectively, ensuring that our solutions deliver value to New Jersey residents and business owners. You will champion product management excellence, oversee project staffing, and mentor a diverse and talented team, while also contributing to project work. Working closely with directors in design and engineering, you will foster a culture of collaboration and innovation, driving user impact and continuous improvement in our work.

We are seeking candidates with a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in product management, along with at least 1 year of experience in people management. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned product manager adept at guiding end-to-end development, product planning, and execution, contributing to both product practice development and broader leadership and management functions within the office.

This role will report to the Chief Innovation Officer, co-lead the product team with the current product director, and work closely with initiative leads and other team members across the office. Responsibilities may include:

Product practice leadership

• Collaborate closely with their co-director of product to support the health of the organization-wide product practice.
• Establish and promote best practices & standards, facilitate knowledge sharing, and maintain a high level of product excellence in our organization.
• Contribute to hiring and onboarding new product managers.

Strategic organizational leadership

• Assess new project opportunities and collaborate with directors and initiative leads to drive project intake.
• Manage project staffing and support and advise project teams in achieving outcomes.

People management

• Mentor and coach product managers, providing structure, guidance, and support for their professional growth and development.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to offer feedback, assist with project challenges, ensure alignment with organizational goals, and provide accountability for professional development goals.

Iterative human-centered product development

• Apply leading industry development practices to solve complex problems through the use of human-centered design, open-source development and innovation, data-driven decision making, and agile development practices.
• Participate actively in agile product development, including user research, analysis, and synthesis; manage a project team and coordinate activities across teammates.
• Lead end-to-end product and project management activities to enable the delivery of modern solutions that meet the needs of users.

Product thought leadership and capacity building

• Build the capacity of the team and State to approach government projects with product thinking, working with in-house department and agency teams to plan roadmaps and craft product strategy.
• Share our product practices and approaches externally, while also staying up-to-date on the civic tech and product world at large.

Do what’s needed for the team

• Execute additional duties and responsibilities to advance the Office of Innovation’s mission and work.

Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in agile product management, demonstrating a commitment to product excellence in your direct work and the teams you support.
• Experience in civic tech is strongly preferred.
• At least 1 year of professional experience in people management and product leadership, with a proven track record of mentoring and empowering product managers.
• Experience in guiding end-to-end product development, from initial concept through launch and ongoing iteration, ensuring products deliver tangible value to users.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and scale a product team as an empathetic leader dedicated to advocating for, mentoring, and uplifting team members to help them succeed.
• Experience in developing and implementing product strategies, including roadmap planning, prioritization, and execution in alignment with organizational goals.
• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement, collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including design, engineering, and external partners, to drive impact and success.
• An innovative mindset, staying up-to-date on industry trends and civic tech developments, with a willingness to share knowledge and practices both internally and externally.
• Experience solving complex problems through the use of human-centered design, agile iterative development, and data-driven decision making.
• Proven skill in tackling problems with curiosity, engaging in inquiry, and understanding user needs to develop optimal solutions.
• Dedicated to advancing the mission of the NJ Office of Innovation and public service, with a strong commitment to accessibility and fostering a more inclusive society.

We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. If you have any questions, please contact heather@innovation.nj.gov.

Compensation: Compensation is $151,410 + Full benefits.

The New Jersey Office of Innovation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer

We are deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and seek to create a pluralistic community for all. We strongly encourage people of color, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, women, LGBTQI+ people, those with disabilities, and Veterans to apply. We are committed to building a team that is reflective of New Jersey’s incredible diversity.

We do not discriminate against any candidate because of color, race, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, membership in an employee organization, pregnancy, marital status, status as a parent, ancestry, national origin, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, retaliation, or other non-merit based factors.

Eligibility

You must be authorized to work in the United States. Candidates may be required to pass a background check and complete additional steps as part of the application and onboarding process. You will be considered an “at-will” employee, meaning both employer and employee have the right to terminate employment with or without cause or notice.