This is a full-time opportunity to work either as a contractor or employee in our Chicago office. The position reports to the UI LABS Chief Technology Officer.
+ Position Overview
As business owner of the complete DMC product lifecycle, this position understands how to create a successful Software as a Service (SaaS) offering, including what needs to happen to drive beneficial economics for UI LABS and its membership. This leader has a track record of delivering high quality product, can tell good from bad and support their assertions with evidence and reasoning. This Product Owner is equally comfortable operating at high and low levels and gets things done to regularly ship value to customers. They collaborate to invent solutions to problems and quickly become a domain expert in their area of work. The Product Owner is the consummate evangelist, truth teller and marketer. Ideal candidates will have proven expertise in Agile/Scrum methodology, product adoption, customer retention, and user growth on SaaS platforms.
+ Key Duties and Responsibilities
Product Management:
· Use Agile/Scrum methods to identify and validate the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for launch
· Engage potential customers and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of the voice of the customer
· Partner with engineering to rapidly ideate, mock-up and test concepts with customers
· Build, continually refine and execute prioritized product and sprint backlogs for the development team
· Ensure that the right product is being built to deliver maximum customer value and ROI to UI LABS
Business Development & Strategic Partnerships:
· Use Agile methods to develop and execute DMC commercialization strategy in collaboration with engineering and business colleagues
· Build high quality business models and plans that clearly articulate solution strategies, go to market activities and key execution steps including ramp up scenarios, pricing, service level agreements, M&A, and strategic partnering
· Align DMC operations to goals; develop success metrics; work with DMC team to achieve targets
· Develop long term plans for revenue streams and expenditures; scale DMC operations to provide member value within funding constraints, identify new sources of revenue and work with team to exploit opportunities
· Develop strategy to attract, engage, and grow membership of the DMC.
Marketing:
· Develop and implement marketing strategies, identifying target customers and building use cases to expand the pool of content providers and users of the platform
· Drive activities that influence the market and energize the user base
· Identify, develop and execute on opportunities to expand the DMC user pipeline
· Create and launch effective marketing materials
· Collect market and competitive intelligence to create unique customer value
· Communicate product updates and best practices for effective use of the DMC
+ Position Requirements:
· Strong track record of success with Agile/scrum methodology; Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certification highly desirable
Experience in a manufacturing environment highly desirable
· Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in engineering or computer science.
· 4+ years software product management or marketing experience, ideally in the enterprise SaaS arena
· Strong reputation for effective management, ethics, and integrity
· Effective communication skills and the ability to guide and influence C-suite decision-making through strategic thinking, in-depth analysis, and fact-based, objective reasoning.
+ Anti-Discrimination Policy and Commitment to Diversity
UI LABS is an equal employment opportunity employer. We encourage individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization.
+ About DMDII
DMDII is part of an expansive and interconnected network of institutes throughout the United States focused on securing America’s future through manufacturing innovation, education, and collaboration. DMDII is the nation’s flagship research institute in digital manufacturing and design innovation and a world-class, first-of-its-kind manufacturing hub with the capabilities, innovation, and collaboration necessary to transform American manufacturing.
+ About UI LABS
UI LABS is a not-for-profit, independent research, training, and commercialization engine focused on solving big problems. It curates partnerships that bring together innovative industrial partners and best-in-class technical capabilities and resources to tackle grand challenges. UI LABS accelerates innovations that contribute to the economic prosperity of Chicago and the greater Midwest by solving company-specific and industry-wide technological problems with global impact potential.