Senior Product Manager - eLearning / LMS

Job description

Overview The Senior Product Manager - Digital Software will lead product strategy and development for Mastery and Certifications, including learning management and credentialing capabilities. This role is responsible for product strategy, roadmaps, prioritization, packaging, and performance, with a focus on client needs and approved business objectives. The role requires knowledge of learning, assessment, and credentialing products and the ability to use client feedback, market insights, and product data to inform decisions. The Senior Product Manager will also contribute product expertise to the company’s broader AI and software strategy under the direction of the VP of Product. This role collaborates with Engineering, Design, Marketing, Sales, Client Success, Support, technology partners, and leadership to lead cross-functional initiatives and advance product priorities within delegated authority and applicable company policies and processes. Compensation: The compensation range for this position is between $125k-$170k in the US and £95k-£150k in the UK depending on location and experience. Responsibilities Product Strategy and Management: Mastery and Certifications Develop, maintain, and communicate product strategy for the Mastery and Certifications portfolio based on client needs, market conditions, business objectives, product performance, and available resources. Develop and maintain product roadmaps that establish priorities, investments, dependencies, trade-offs, and expected outcomes. Lead product decisions related to features, packaging, service tiers, add-ons, upgrade paths, licensing models, and the end-to-end experience for administrators, instructors, and learners, consistent with approved business strategies and company policies. Monitor competitive and market developments and use relevant insights to inform product positioning, differentiation, and investment priorities. Manage product lifecycle activities, including supported versions, product changes and deprecations, data migration considerations, and client transitions between offerings. Partner with relevant stakeholders to evaluate product risks, dependencies, resource requirements, and potential client or business impacts when making product decisions. Learning and Credentialing Product Expertise Develop and maintain working knowledge of the learning lifecycle, including course authoring, curriculum and learning-path design, prerequisites, content release schedules, cohorts, and instructor and administrator workflows. Lead product strategy for assessment and certification capabilities, including question banks, quizzes and grading, attempt policies, assessment integrity, proctoring capabilities, passing criteria, and factors that contribute to credential credibility. Lead product strategy for the credential lifecycle, including issuance, verification, expiration, renewal and recertification, continuing education credits, revocation, and public verification capabilities. Maintain working knowledge of relevant eLearning interoperability standards and industry specifications, including SCORM, xAPI, cmi5, LTI, QTI, and applicable digital credential standards, and evaluate potential product support based on client needs, technical feasibility, market requirements, and business priorities. Partner with Engineering, Design, Legal, Compliance, Accessibility, and other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, to identify and incorporate applicable product requirements related to accessibility, data protection, documentation, recordkeeping, and legal or regulatory considerations. Lead product strategy for reporting and learning analytics, including progress and completion tracking, gradebooks, cohort and group reporting, and data exports used by administrators and other authorized stakeholders. Commercial Product Performance Develop product strategies and priorities that support approved client and business objectives, which may include adoption, conversion, retention, expansion, revenue, margin, and other relevant performance measures. Develop business cases and product investment recommendations that consider client value, market opportunity, anticipated business impact, costs, risks, resource requirements, and strategic alignment. Maintain an understanding of client monetization models, including one-time course sales, subscriptions and memberships, cohort-based programs, seat-based business-to-business training, and certification and renewal fees, and incorporate relevant client needs into product planning. Partner with Marketing, Sales, client Success, Support, and other stakeholders on product positioning, launches, go-to-market planning, adoption initiatives, and client growth. Provide product input into pricing and packaging decisions and operate within established company approval processes and delegated authority. New Product and Capability Development Identify and evaluate client needs, market opportunities, and potential product enhancements or new capabilities. Lead client discovery, product validation, prototyping, and experimentation activities with course creators, training providers, administrators, instructors, learners, and other relevant stakeholders. Define and prioritize initial product scope, establish measurable success criteria, and use client and product performance insights to inform subsequent iterations and investment decisions. Balance client value, product quality, technical feasibility, resources, risks, timing, and business objectives throughout the product development lifecycle. Coordinate product launches and post-launch evaluation in partnership with relevant cross-functional teams. Product and Portfolio Strategy Establish and communicate the strategic direction, differentiation, and investment priorities for the Mastery and Certifications portfolio. Contribute product expertise and client and market insights to the company's broader AI and cross-portfolio software strategy under the direction of the VP of Product. Evaluate opportunities to apply AI and other emerging technologies to learning experiences and workflows, including course and assessment authoring, content localization, learner support, grading assistance, and skills mapping, while considering appropriate safeguards, product risks, and assessment integrity. Translate approved company and portfolio strategies into actionable product plans and roadmaps. Communicate relevant client, market, and product insights to inform broader portfolio planning and strategic decisions. Represent the learning and credentialing product perspective in portfolio-level discussions involving software, infrastructure, integrations, and shared client experiences. Product Performance and Measurement Establish product and business KPIs aligned with company objectives and approved product strategies. Partner with relevant teams to support appropriate product instrumentation, data quality, reporting, and performance measurement. Monitor relevant product and client metrics, which may include course completion, assessment performance, credential issuance and renewal, adoption, conversion, retention, and client engagement. Communicate product performance, key insights, risks, and recommendations to product leadership and relevant stakeholders. Use qualitative and quantitative data, client feedback, and market information to evaluate product performance and inform prioritization and investment recommendations. Recommend adjustments to product strategy and plans when performance, client needs, market conditions, or business priorities change. Client and Learner Experience Engage with course creators, training providers, associations, corporate learning teams, instructors, administrators, learners, and client-facing teams through appropriate research, interviews, client feedback, support insights, sales discussions, and community engagement. Consider the needs of both product purchasers and learners when evaluating product priorities, experiences, and trade-offs. Incorporate client and learner feedback and experience considerations into product strategy, prioritization, and decision-making. Evaluate qualitative and quantitative client insights to identify trends, validate product opportunities, and inform product recommendations. Partner with client Success, Support, Sales, and other client-facing teams to identify recurring client needs and opportunities for product improvement. Industry and Partner Engagement Monitor relevant developments in the eLearning, instructional design, professional training, technology, and related industries to inform product strategy and market understanding. Develop and maintain productive working relationships with agencies, integration and extension providers, technology partners, content providers, and other relevant external stakeholders. Participate in appropriate industry events, professional communities, and external forums to gather market insight and represent the company's products. Represent the company and its products professionally and in accordance with applicable company policies, communications guidelines, and delegated authority. Coordinate external commitments, statements, or product representations with appropriate internal stakeholders when required. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Leadership Lead cross-functional product initiatives by establishing clear objectives, priorities, responsibilities, decision-making processes, timelines, and measures of success. Facilitate alignment among stakeholders and support timely identification and resolution of product risks, dependencies, and competing priorities. Communicate product strategy, priorities, decisions, and changes clearly to relevant stakeholders. Build effective working relationships across Product, Engineering, Design, Marketing, Sales, Client Success, Support, Legal, Compliance, and other relevant functions. Share product knowledge, mentor colleagues, and contribute to the development and continuous improvement of product management practices, processes, and standards. Provide leadership and direction within the scope of assigned responsibilities and delegated authority. Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned based on organizational and business needs. What Success Looks Like Product Strategy: Develop and execute a clear product strategy and roadmap aligned with client and business objectives. Client Value: Improve client and learner experiences through effective prioritization and product development. Business Performance: Contribute to agreed product and business outcomes through effective planning and execution. Data-Driven Decisions: Use KPIs, client feedback, and market insights to inform product decisions. Cross-Functional Leadership: Build alignment and effectively lead initiatives across teams. Execution: Translate strategy into clear priorities while managing dependencies, risks, and resources. Required Qualifications Significant professional experience in product management, including experience working at a senior or comparable level of responsibility, scope, and decision-making. Professional experience with learning management systems, eLearning platforms, education technology, or comparable software products, with an understanding of how learning content is created, delivered, assessed, and supported. Working knowledge of learning assessment and credentialing concepts, including assessment and grading approaches, credential issuance and renewal, and continuing education or recertification processes. Familiarity with relevant eLearning interoperability standards, such as SCORM, xAPI, cmi5, or LTI, and the ability to evaluate their relevance to client and product requirements. Working knowledge of accessibility considerations for digital learning products, including applicable accessibility standards and requirements. Experience contributing to product or business outcomes through activities such as pricing, packaging, monetization, adoption, retention, revenue growth, or other relevant performance measures. Experience defining, monitoring, and interpreting product and business KPIs to evaluate performance and inform product decisions. Demonstrated experience contributing to the development and launch of new products, features, or product capabilities from concept through client availability and ongoing improvement. Demonstrated ability to gather, evaluate, and incorporate client feedback into product strategy, prioritization, and decision-making. Ability to understand and discuss technical concepts, including product requirements, APIs, data models, integrations, and system dependencies, and collaborate effectively with technical teams. Experience leading or significantly contributing to cross-functional initiatives involving multiple business and technical functions. Demonstrated ability to communicate product strategy, priorities, decisions, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Experience engaging with professional, client, developer, creator, educator, or other relevant communities to gather insights and inform product decisions. Preferred Qualifications Experience with WordPress and its associated ecosystem, including LearnDash or comparable learning products. Experience supporting associations, accredited training providers, regulated training environments, or organizations with certification, recertification, or audit-related requirements. Experience working with corporate learning and development clients, including enterprise procurement, seat-based purchasing, single sign-on, or human resources system integrations. Background or professional experience in instructional design, education, training delivery, assessment design, or a related field. Experience with digital credentials, verifiable credentials, badges, or credential issuance and verification technologies. Experience developing or managing AI-enabled product capabilities, including product evaluation, quality measurement, responsible implementation, and cost considerations. Experience with entrepreneurship, business operations, agency leadership, training businesses, or product ventures involving responsibility for business or product outcomes. Experience working within a multi-product or portfolio organization serving shared or overlapping client segments. Familiarity with open-source software communities, contribution models, governance practices, and commercial models. Experience working with distributed or cross-functional teams in a technology or software environment. Physical Demands & Work Environment The physical demands and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those that may be encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position, consistent with applicable law. This position routinely requires the ability to communicate effectively and exchange information with others. The position requires regular use of a computer, keyboard, and other standard office equipment. The individual may be required to remain in a stationary position and work at a desk or computer for extended periods. The position may be performed in a climate-controlled office environment or an approved remote work environment. The role involves managing multiple priorities, responding to evolving business needs, and meeting time-sensitive deliverables. Occasional movement of office materials or equipment weighing up to 15 pounds may be required. Disclaimer This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and its primary responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Responsibilities may be modified, expanded, or reassigned as business needs and organizational priorities evolve. Nothing in this job description creates or implies an employment contract or guarantee of employment for any specific period. Where applicable, employment remains at-will, meaning either the employee or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice or cause, subject to applicable law. The Company reserves the right to update this job description as appropriate to reflect changes in the position, business needs, or applicable requirements. #LI-REMOTE About Nexcess Nexcess provides specialty cloud solutions for organizations where performance and compliance have to coexist. We serve businesses worldwide, from agencies scaling client sites to enterprises running mission-critical operations. We've built our reputation on deep technical expertise and genuine partnership with every client we work with. Behind every environment we manage is a team of people who take the craft seriously and keep showing up when it matters.