*Director of Product Management, Kognito (Security)

Ascend Learning is a national leader in data driven, online educational solutions for learners, educators and employers in high-growth, licensure-driven professions spanning healthcare, fitness and wellness, skilled trades, insurance and financial services. We are passionate about accelerating learning while impacting job readiness, employment success and employee retention with the belief that our work changes lives.

Our culture is intentionally results-driven and selfless, with a relentless focus on our customers. We believe in trust, transparency, freedom, and responsibility with a commitment to meritocracy, inclusion, and diversity of thought. Continual investment in our over 1400 employees is also a core principle realized through ongoing professional development and providing opportunities to grow, develop and lead. Ascend Learning is headquartered in Burlington, MA, with additional office locations and remote workers in cities across the U.S. and in the U.K.

Kognito, a brand within Ascend Learning, LLC. is a health simulation company. We develop role-play simulations where users engage in conversations with fully articulated and emotionally responsive virtual humans and learn how to lead critical conversations in real life that result in improved social, emotional, and physical health.

Kognito's simulation platform integrates research in neuroscience and adult learning with the power of gaming technology to create impactful and engaging experiences with AI-powered virtual humans. Our library of simulations has been utilized to train over 1 million people across K-12, higher ed, and healthcare. Our team of 80+ people includes learning scientists, psychologists, software engineers, graphic artists, writers, and business professionals.

We are seeking a Director of Product Management to oversee the strategy and roadmap for Kognito simulation solutions for the K-12, Higher Ed, and Social Work markets. This role manages the full lifecycle of revenue-generating products and oversees product managers and product owners. The ideal candidate likes to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented, dynamic environment with experience building teams in growing organizations.

 

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategy and manage product roadmap for Kognito solutions
• Direct supervisor for team of product managers and product owners
• Manage department-level and product budgets
• Contribute to market and financial objectives including revenue generation, profitability realization, market penetration, pricing strategy, and market share goal attainment
• Collaborate with business and cross functional leaders/departments on strategic direction and growth opportunities for the broader organization
• Define and validate market problems, leading research approach with external and internal stakeholders as well as industry experts
• Lead approach and strategic effort for future market expansion
• Oversee monitoring of the competitive landscape and strategy development for winning against the competition
• Lead partnership development as it aligns to the product strategic roadmap

 

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree; Master's preferred
• Pragmatic Marketing
• 7+ years of product management experience
• Experience managing others
• Experience in building effective teams
• Experience in the K12 space, experience in Higher Ed a plus
• Experience in social work
• Experience developing key strategies for product-related business objectives
• Experience in virtual and gaming environments preferred
• SAFe (Scaled Agile) experience a plus

 

Skills and Abilities

• Expertise in developing strategy, product roadmaps, and go-to-market tactics
• Comprehensive understanding of the market and educational software industry
• Demonstrated ability to create and implement strategy
• Market and competitive research expertise
• Advanced executive leadership skills with a proven ability to think strategically
• Executive presence and the ability to influence at all levels within the company and within the client base
• Ability to define and recognize opportunities
• Excels at translating customer feedback, data, and intuition into high performing product solutions
• Strong ability to guide and prioritize based on product solution and client needs
• Proven ability to drive financial results
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

 

Candidates should be aware that Ascend Learning currently maintains a policy requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated. Newly hired employees must be fully vaccinated by their start date.  Ascend Learning is an equal opportunity employer and will provide a reasonable accommodation to those unable to be vaccinated where it is not an undue hardship to the Company to do so as provided under federal, state, and local law. Exceptions to the vaccine requirement may apply for employees living or working in Montana. 

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

 

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