Expert, Product Management

Expert, Product Management

Job Summary

The role of Expert Product Management is to translate business requirements into formal product roadmaps. The Expert works closely with the Business and I&T stakeholders to operationalize these roadmaps for initial development and evolution of the product. The Expert supports the full lifecycle of the product and as such seeks regular customer feedback related to the product to understand and improve customer satisfaction. This person ensures the product and related enhancements meet business needs based on market trends.

Product management is the discipline and business process governing a product from its inception to customer delivery and service in order to generate the largest possible value to CN business. A product is a deliverable that has a value and provides an experience to its users. It can be a combination of systems, solutions, materials, and services delivered. This role provides leadership to activities such as portfolio management, strategy definition and product development.

The position ensures that the product and these evolutions meet CN’s Regulatory and Cybersecurity requirements, have good market practices and modernization objectives. The incumbent also oversees the operationalization of this roadmap.

Main Responsibilities

Customer Partnering

· Create a trusted relationship with customers and support leads, ensuring clear communication channels

· Translate customer and Business needs into solutions through formal product roadmaps

· Collaborate with other departments to define and improve requirements for products and solutions

· Lead the evolution pipeline or the creation of new demands and work with the Business to capture, translate and enrich business requirements for current product enhancements and related services

· On major projects provide support to Business Analysts in defining requirements,

· Work with the Delivery Manager to ensure the clarity and accuracy of major project requirements

· Work with Architecture to allow them to design solutions aligned with the needs

· Work with Project Manager on establishing the support model RACI in collaboration with Service Offering Managers

· Review the pipeline with Service Offering Managers to take the operational reality into account

• Build business cases (including the need for change / objective, strategic alignment, benefits, high-level implementation plan, financial analysis, risks, etc.) and promote Business sponsorship

· Support the annual budget process and service health assessment process

· Measure and handle customer satisfaction

• Based on satisfaction results, develop an action plan to address issues and escalate to leadership, as appropriate

Evolving Product Roadmaps

· Provide an overview of innovative technologies that could impact the product portfolio and add value to CN Business

· Lead and organize the Product Governance (POD) to formally approve the Product Roadmap and review with the Service Offering Managers the proposed initiatives as input for the financial planning processes

· Pay close attention to product lifecycles and enable steady alignment as part of Product Management in collaboration with the internal technical Subject Matter Expert (SME)

• Engage with key stakeholders to achieve a shared vision of product goals and priorities

· Engage with Cybersecurity to assess security risks and factor the risk response plans into the Product Roadmap

· Work with the Delivery Management group to monitor the execution of projects vis-à-vis the Product Roadmap

· Work with the Architecture group to align the product roadmap with Architecture strategies and positions

· Run roadmap priorities and facilitate the definition and tracking of key metrics related to products (e.g., performance and financials)

· Work with other Product Management experts and stakeholders to identify and handle interdependencies to ensure consistency between various products

· Engage with vendors to understand and influence their product evolution based on CN’s strategic needs

· Ensure teams deliver products that meet requirements

• Monitor and analyze technical components to identify potential issues and new capacity requirements for future demands of the Business
• Maintain a product lifecycle perspective, and facilitate the balancing of short-term achievements with long-term goals 

Requirements

Experience

Relevant Work Experience

·Minimum 10 years of overall work experience

· Minimum 5 years of experience in a Product Management or related role

·Minimum 5 years demonstrating technical leadership qualities or overseeing deliverables.

oStrong experience in the Digital Workspace areas (e.g., PC and Toughbooks in a Windows OS landscape, Software Packaging and Distribution, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Printers, etc.)

oExperience in Product Management

oExperience in Corporate Services (Public Affairs, Legal, CN Police, Internal Audit and Strategy).

oExperience shaping, building, scaling and sustaining products

oExperience with requirements analysis

oExperience in transportation logistic companies*

o Experience of engaging senior leaders and other stakeholders to support business decisions

oExperience working with complex technology systems in large organizations*

o Experience in diverse roles and increasing responsibilities across Business and I&T, although a business-only career is acceptable if business roles included sufficient technology focus

o Experience working in or with Design Thinking and Lean / Agile software delivery teams

*Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset 

Competencies

· Corporate Services (Public Affairs, Legal, CN Police, Internal Audit and Strategy). Business acumen, and the ability to communicate with executives, business domain stakeholders and technical staff alike

· Excellent leadership, influence, communication, presentation and facilitation skills

· Effective planning and organizational skills

· Excellent analytical and technical skills

· In-depth knowledge of the Product Management discipline

· Ability to develop a product vision and execute to make that vision a reality, with a passion for building great products

Technical Skills/Knowledge

·Cloud Solutions

· Knowledge of Design Thinking principles, Agile and Safe delivery concepts

· Knowledge of key principles of Cybersecurity Governance Risk and Compliance

· Strong command of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel)

· Knowledge of Confluence and Service Now*

*Any knowledge for any of the above would be considered as an asset

Education/Certification/Designation
· Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Administration, Finance or equivalent