Product Operations Specialist

The Product Operations Specialist works closely with Product and UX team members to ensure that the product vision is executed efficiently and effectively under the guidance of the Product Operations Manager. This role assists in analyzing team performance and operational effectiveness. This role drives organization within the Product and UX teams, ensuring work is communicated cross-departmentally and is of a high quality. This role serves as the primary go-to for special initiatives-sharing the projects, guiding analysis, and managing the projects cross-functionally. Overall, this role supports the processes necessary for Product and UX teams to perform at a high level, delivering highly-valuable, usable, accessible, and performant solutions to our customers.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including women and people of color, to apply for this role. We're eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check all the boxes. We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we recognize that unique perspectives and experiences contribute to the strength of our team. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role. We value your potential, and we are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive and contribute their best.

Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Team Tool Administration: Admin for work tools within the department
  
  
  
  • Train team members on tool and process use.
  • Serve as point of contact with tool vendors.
  • Evaluate new tools for team use as required.
  • Monitor tool use, announcements, and updates to ensure teams are following best practices.
  
  
  
  
• Performance Analysis: Discover and identify new process efficiencies through data analysis.
  
  
  
  • Construct and coordinate operational and process-based OKRs.
  • Implement data visualizations that aid the Product and UX teams in data-driven decision making.
  • Develop summary reports and provide to management.
  • Provide data insights that inform the Product Development Framework.
  • Develop and track key metrics that inform scorecards.
  
  
  
  
• Initiatives: Manage overall day-to-day product tasks in order to ensure the product teams are running efficiently.
  
  
  
  • Implement Product Development Framework with the Product and UX teams, including developing risk mitigation plans.
  • Understand and manage cross-team dependencies for initiatives through the Development phase.
  • Monitor and provide insights into teams and progress against initiatives and milestones.
  • Work with UX/Product leadership team to manage staff and resources for initiatives across UX Design and Research.
  • Liaise with technology team to increase awareness of Product and UX processes.
  • Coordinate and run training for initiative teams as needed.
  • Gather team feedback and present insights.
  • Report on initiative performance to executive team and directors from Discovery to Release Planning.
  • Identify opportunities for continual improvement.
  • Ensure relevant standards, process, and regulations are upheld.
  
  
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 3+ years' project management experience with a history of delivering projects on time.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders verbally and in writing.
• Experience applying excellent stakeholder management skills to interact with staff, colleagues and cross-functional teams, and third parties.
• Track record demonstrating the ability to self-start and communicate effectively across teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with the higher education market and buying cycle.
• Experience with lean and agile methodologies or product development frameworks.
• Bachelors degree in Business or a related field.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $90,000

Exemption Status: Exempt

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to concentrate in busy, open office environment. Must be able to multi-task and maintain calm and focus under stressful situations. Must be able to travel occasionally and work more than 40 hours per week as needed.

The position is eligible for remote employment, excluding the following locations: Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming. Preference given to candidates from New York City, NY; or Austin, TX.

Benefits

Regular full-time and qualifying part-time employees and their dependents are eligible for Macmillan benefits, effective on the employee's date of hire. Macmillan also offers health benefits coverage to qualifying same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners (may require additional documentation) of active employees.

• Competitive pay and bonus plan
• Generous Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Contributions to your 401k retirement account through Fidelity
• Generous paid time off, sick time, floating holidays, and paid holidays (Spring Reset Day , Juneteenth, Indigenous People's Day, Election Day, and more!)
• Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance Program
• 100% employer-paid life and AD&D insurance
• And much more!

Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what's possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com, join our Macmillan Community, stay connected to our Learning Stories blogs, or see us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or X. Macmillan Learning is a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a global media company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are actively seeking job applicants who reflect a broad representation of differences, including race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical ability, neurodiversity, age, veteran, family and economic status and background, geographical background and status, and perspective. We believe that the best companies reflect the incredible diversity in viewpoints, backgrounds, and identities of the world in their staffs, and are committed to inclusive hiring across departments and levels. You can read more about our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiatives here.

The successful candidate for this position will be an employee of Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC d/b/a Macmillan Learning. Bedford Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC has developed an affirmative action program in compliance with the NY Department of Education's guidance. Portions of the affirmative action program are available for review by applicants and employees by contacting Human Resources at Macmillan Learning.