PDLC Core Operations Leader

Candescent•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Candescent is the largest non-core digital banking provider. We bring together the transformative technologies that power and connect account opening, digital banking and branch solutions for banks and credit unions of all sizes on any core. Our Candescent solutions power the top three U.S. mobile banking apps and are trusted by banks and credit unions of all sizes. We offer an extensive portfolio of industry-leading products and services with an extensible ecosystem of out-of-the-box and integrated partner solutions. In addition, our API-first architecture and developer tools enable financial institutions to optimize and expand upon their existing capabilities by seamlessly integrating custom-built or third-party solutions. And our connected in-person, remote and digital experiences reinvent customer service across all channels. Self-service configuration and marketing tools give financial institutions greater control of their branding, targeted messaging and overall user experience. And data-driven analytics and reporting tools provide valuable insights to help drive continued growth and profitability. From conversions and implementations to custom development and customer care, our clients get expert, end-to-end support at every step. The Head of PDLC Core Operations is a player/coach role that ensures the Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) runs with clarity, consistency, and discipline. Sitting at the center of Product Operations, this leader builds and manages the core operating systems that drive how Product plans, prioritizes, and launches. Equal parts strategist and operator, you will lead a team responsible for roadmap management, GTM launch operations, intake and prioritization of customer feedback, and partnership program management—while also rolling up your sleeves to execute in key areas. By connecting strategy to execution and creating a single source of truth for the product lifecycle, this role ensures our teams can operate predictably, our customers see value faster, and our partners experience seamless engagement.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in Product Operations, Program Management, or related functions.
Proven experience managing roadmaps, launches, or feedback programs at scale.
Strong background in operationalizing product development lifecycles in SaaS or technology environments.
Skilled in tooling and dashboards for roadmap visibility, customer feedback, and prioritization.
Exceptional communication skills—able to translate strategy and data into clear narratives for executives and teams.
Operational Leadership: Ability to design, build, and scale systems that support a complex product lifecycle.
Roadmap & Launch Discipline: Skilled at turning strategy into clear, communicated, and executed plans.
Customer-Centric Thinking: Experience structuring and synthesizing customer feedback into actionable priorities.
Cross-Functional Influence: Skilled at aligning diverse stakeholders across Product, Engineering, GTM, and Partnerships.
Process Excellence: Track record of building repeatable frameworks that scale and reduce ambiguity.
Coaching & Team Development: Ability to mentor and elevate team members while also delivering hands-on results.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading or contributing to partnership program execution a plus.
Experience working in high-growth, cross-functional environments strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Roadmap Program Management Serve as the central hub for managing, communicating, and aligning both internal and external product roadmaps. Act as the single point of truth for product strategy, roadmap visibility, and associated changelogs. Oversee tooling and frameworks for roadmap communication across internal and customer-facing channels. Support backlog grooming practices in partnership with Product and Engineering.
GTM Launch Operations Orchestrate the operational aspects of bringing new products and features to market. Lead GTM launch planning, execution, and cross-functional coordination across Product, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success. Standardize repeatable GTM launch processes to improve efficiency and predictability. Drive adoption through data analysis, stakeholder alignment, and effective communication strategies.
Intake & Prioritization (Customer Feedback Ecosystem) Own and optimize systems and tools for collecting, storing, and analyzing customer feedback (tickets, surveys, app reviews, social media, etc.). Synthesize qualitative and quantitative feedback into actionable insights for Product teams. Build and maintain dashboards that highlight key feedback trends for leadership visibility. Manage repeatable feedback loops that integrate customer input into the PDLC, sprint planning, and post-launch analysis.
Partnership Program Management Lead the rollout and ongoing management of partnership programs across the company. Serve as the primary point of contact for internal teams and external partners. Continuously assess and improve partnership processes for scalability and efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Sales, Product, Marketing, Legal) to resolve challenges and support execution. Develop training, documentation, and communications to drive adoption and alignment. Track KPIs and deliver insights to guide ongoing improvements.

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