Product Manager (Transit Data)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority • Boston, MA

5d

About The Position

The Product Manager serves as the product owner for an assigned product within the MBTA’s Technology Innovation Department, a technology team focused on making the transit system easy for all riders to use. The role sets priorities, develops well-scoped requirements, and collaborates with cross-functional partners and leaders to define a product roadmap aligned with Program-level strategy and positive user-facing outcomes. The position advances product management excellence in civic technology while working within the MBTA’s operating constraints.

The Product Manager builds relationships with stakeholders, develops and maintains the product roadmap and backlog, translates user and stakeholder needs into actionable requirements, and guides the product team through agile ceremonies. The role uses quantitative data and user research to prioritize work, communicates priorities and acceptance criteria across teams and leadership, and monitors product initiatives while identifying and addressing risks. There are no direct reports. The position may include responsibilities focused on one or more departments or locations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or an applicable substitution described in the posting.
• At least two years of experience in product management and/or product development, subject to the stated degree substitutions.
• Experience serving as a product owner or equivalent on a cross-functional team.
• Experience contributing to a product roadmap, quarterly roadmapping process, and/or standardized product management processes.
• Experience translating user needs and stakeholder input into actionable product requirements.
• Ability to present a product management case study relevant to the role; candidates may be asked to complete a job-related technical assessment, including a case study exercise.
• Ability to read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions and other communications in English.
• At least eighteen years of age, except for participants in an approved high school internship/co-op program.
• Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, Massachusetts metro area as required.
• Ability to provide courteous and professional experiences to internal and external customers, and to work effectively independently and as part of a diverse workforce team.
• Ability to uphold MBTA rights and interests while maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers, and to follow MBTA rules, regulations, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and policies.
• Satisfactory work record for the two years immediately before the posting’s closing date, subject to the exceptions and conditions in the posting.
• Ability to pass applicable CORI, background, and/or medical clinic screenings, which may include a physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
• Ability to work assigned shifts and locations; the posting notes that some transit/operations roles may require coverage up to 24 hours per day, seven days per week during severe weather, emergencies, or other circumstances affecting service or safety.
• All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States on an unrestricted basis; employer sponsorship is not available. A U.S. Social Security Number and completion of Form I-9 are required.

Nice To Haves

• More than four years of experience in product management and/or product development.
• Experience in the public sector, a transportation agency, and/or a civic technology team.
• Experience managing a product with technical and/or organizational complexity.
• Experience driving features or improvements end-to-end, managing discovery, prioritization, and delivery for a product team.
• A nationally recognized or statewide/professional certification in a related field may substitute for one year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships within the assigned Program area, with relevant MBTA stakeholders, and with industry contacts to align work with the agency’s mission and industry best practices.
• Serve as product owner for an assigned product.
• Contribute to product vision with cross-functional Program, Research, UX Design, and Engineering peers in alignment with Program-level strategy, long-term outcomes, and investment priorities.
• Build and execute a roadmap for one product; document and clarify the problems the product solves.
• Maintain a prioritized product backlog aligned with strategy.
• Translate problems into clear, actionable requirements, breaking epics into smaller increments and tickets with user context, use cases, scope, and acceptance criteria.
• Lead the product team through agile ceremonies and run concise, outcome-oriented meetings that give the team clarity to deliver effectively.
• Use quantitative data and user research to prioritize work, including sprint-to-sprint priorities and backlog tasks in collaboration with research, design, engineering, and program teams.
• Communicate priorities and acceptance criteria effectively across levels and job functions.
• Develop an understanding of stakeholder priorities, portfolio applications, user and stakeholder needs, product technical architecture and features, and how to communicate these to the product team and MBTA leadership.
• Prioritize user needs throughout delivery in partnership with program and product development teams.
• Identify potential product development risks, escalate them or develop mitigation strategies, and incorporate risk planning into the product development process.
• Monitor product development initiatives and collaborate with stakeholders within the department and across the authority.
• Perform other assigned duties and projects; responsibilities may focus on one or more departments or locations.
• Participate and contribute in local safety committee meetings as needed.

Benefits

• Intern/co-op employees are eligible for accrued paid sick leave and a monthly transportation pass, based on the city from which they commute, at no cost. The posting states that no additional benefits are currently offered for interns or co-ops.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level