Manager of Digital Product

Apple Federal Credit Union•Fairfax, VA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a hybrid role in Fairfax, VA. Under the direction of the AVP of Digital Solutions and in accordance with established policies, procedures, and protocols, the Manager of Digital Product provides leadership, coaching, and operational support to the Digital Product Management and Continuous Improvement teams. This role enables and supports all product employees to establish clear direction, make informed decisions, manage priorities, and deliver measurable improvements across Apple FCU’s digital channels and services. The position supports the development and execution of digital and technology strategies that reflect organizational priorities, industry trends, regulatory expectations, and evolving member needs. The Manager provides day-to-day leadership for product management activities, promotes consistent product practices, and partners with business, technology, operations, marketing, and vendor teams to improve processes, remove barriers, and strengthen the member experience. Areas of responsibility include product management and continuous improvement for mobile and online banking, digital account opening, omnichannel experiences, digital channel feedback and surveys, digital development, digital research, knowledge base management, and other member-facing digital services. The role leads or supports critical initiatives that improve operational efficiency, product quality, service delivery, and organizational readiness for the Digital Product team. The position requires comprehensive knowledge of the product management lifecycle and the ability to guide products from discovery and research through business analysis, opportunity assessment, business case development, prioritization, requirements definition, design, testing, implementation, adoption, measurement, maintenance, and ongoing optimization. The role must understand both the member experience and the business considerations involved in launching and sustaining digital products, including operational impacts, resource requirements, financial considerations, risk and compliance expectations, vendor dependencies, training, communications, support models, and performance outcomes. This position supports the management of Digital Solutions personnel by helping establish priorities, maintaining effective operating rhythms, and ensuring essential activities are completed with appropriate follow-through. The Manager assists with the resolution of internal and external member issues and complaints, ensuring concerns are addressed in a timely manner and in alignment with Apple FCU’s Member First philosophy, organizational standards, and applicable regulatory requirements. The role performs all duties and responsibilities in accordance with The Apple Way principles: Team Up, Serve with Purpose, Challenge Yourself, and Own It. The position remains knowledgeable and compliant with credit union policies and procedures, including requirements related to the Bank Secrecy Act. Performs other duties as assigned by the Digital Solutions Senior Management Team.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of digital banking support, bank systems administrator or product management of a financial institution.
Minimum 2-3 years or more of demonstrated experience in a leadership position or operational and system management experience.
Minimum of 5 years or more of product management experience is required showing progressively responsible experience supporting banking or credit union products, including Digital Banking systems, and Core Banking systems.
Experience with Banking vendors, including Alkami, Fiserv, Vertifi and Jack Henry Symitar EASE is required.
Experience with Atlassian Products including Jira and Confluence, is required.
Experience releasing member/member-facing software at a scale in a fast-paced work environment.
Technical Certifications such as Scrum Master, Scrum Product Owner and Product Management are required.
Bachelor’s degree or similar work experience is required.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with team members, other departments, and stakeholders.
Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to manage, develop, and motivate high performing teams. Ability to inspire and guide team members toward achieving organizational goals.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, fostering a cooperative and inclusive work environment. Skilled in building and maintaining productive working relationships.
Strong prioritization, problem-solving, diagnosis, and troubleshooting skills to identify, triage, and resolve issues efficiently.
Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Advanced analytical skills to interpret digital analytics and user feedback for continuous improvement of digital platforms.
Strategic thinking and planning abilities to align digital initiatives with overall business goals.
Change management capabilities to lead the adoption of new technologies and processes within the organization.
Knowledge of current digital banking trends and technologies to drive innovation and enhance member services.
Ability to interact positively and effectively in group and individual situations at all levels within and outside the credit union.
Ability to work in a team environment, meet deadlines, and take on a high level of responsibility and accountability.
Skilled in negotiating with vendors and stakeholders to ensure favorable outcomes for the organization. Ability to manage vendor relationships and resolve conflicts effectively.
Extensive experience in digital product management, including product lifecycle management, requirements gathering, and release management. Knowledge of best practices in digital product development.
Proficient in project management methodologies and tools, with the ability to lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Experience in defining project scopes, establishing timelines, and tracking progress.
Familiarity with digital technologies, online and mobile banking platforms, and digital account opening systems. Understanding of IT infrastructure and software development processes.
Experience with software release management, system validation, and user acceptance testing.
Proficient in drafting and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and using knowledge management systems like Confluence.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze market trends, member needs, and competitive offerings. Experience in using data to drive strategic decision-making and product development.
Experience in providing technical support and troubleshooting for digital solutions and services.
Understanding of UX design principles and best practices. Ability to collaborate with design teams to create user-friendly digital products and services.
Experience in managing relationships with digital solutions vendors, ensuring system reliability, and resolving issues promptly. Ability to evaluate vendor performance and negotiate contracts.
Knowledge of process improvement methodologies and ability to recommend and implement technological advancements to enhance operations.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the digital product team that includes digital product managers, product analyst and continuous improvement.
Hold regular team meetings and one-on-one sessions to give feedback, set goals, and solve performance or operational issues.
Encourage a team environment that promotes innovation, continuous improvement, and excellence.
Work with business, product, and operations teams to improve workflows, processes, and member communications, enhancing the member experience.
Interview, schedule, train, and manage team members' performance.
Promote professionalism and excellence to deliver great member services and support.
Ensure staff are ready through effective training programs and keep necessary documentation for personnel actions.
Partner with senior leadership to enhance member experiences and increase usage of Apple FCU products.
Collaborate with IT teams to develop and deploy digital solutions, oversee internal communications, and prepare training materials.
Manage vendor relationships to ensure operational systems and resolve issues.
Test and recommend improvements to digital solutions.
Engage and maintain vendor relationships, represent business needs, and hold vendors accountable.
Collaborate with Digital Solutions leadership teams and cross-functional teams to propose and execute new digital products and services.
Lead product lifecycle management from requirements gathering through to release management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and member needs.
Lead product management efforts, including requirements gathering, evaluation, prioritization, and release management.
Own the comprehensive communication of product features and functions across the organization.
Collaborate with IT, marketing, and other departments to align digital operations with overall organizational goals and strategies.
Communicate effectively with all levels of the organization to report on digital operations performance, project progress, and strategic initiatives.
Represent the digital services team in cross-functional meetings and projects.
Ensure that all stakeholders are informed and enrolled in the product development process, from initial concept through to launch and post-launch evaluation.
Lead and participate in projects aimed at launching new digital services, features, or enhancements.
Ensure communication to impacted areas are delivered and ensure timely delivery and alignment with organizational goals by coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation and adoption of new initiatives.
Resolve complex member issues, ensuring adherence to credit union policies and procedures while maintaining positive member relations.
Prepare and deliver accurate reports to senior leadership in a timely manner to support informed decision-making.
Oversee the review and maintenance of digital systems essential to business operations, including but not limited to Digital Solutions Helpdesk, Fraud Solutions, and various banking platforms.
Liaise with IT for system-specific issues and improvements.