Product Line Manager/ Solutions Manager

The Product Line Manager is responsible for the worldwide business planning and management of the software product line during its entire life cycle, from its initial conception to its retirement from the market. This includes extending the product with new features and functionality based on customer needs.

The product manager must coordinate and work with program management to drive the cross-functional groups and the resources necessary to ensure the successful definition, delivery and maintenance of the software products within the defined business areas for a world-wide market.

These software solutions should focus on:
1) reinforcing the unique characteristics of the products as it pertains to the customer needs, and
2) developing a long lasting customer by continuing to offer product extensions and services to meet their needs.

The product manager is the primary champion and advocate for the product line and is responsible for the appropriate level of communication about the software product(s), internally and externally.

Specific responsibilities fall into 3 major categories: Identify Needs and Opportunities for software products (focused on solving real customer problems)
Launch the product lines into the marketplace.
Manage product while in market (customer feedback, positioning, messaging, tracking results, competitive situations, etc)

Within these categories, there are these responsibilities: Researching the customer, the market, and the competition to determine what software product would solve a key customer problem within the overall strategic focus of the company worldwide.
Developing initial financial models necessary to obtain funding of the software product; providing the ongoing revenue and expense forecasts for the product; tracking the product?s performance against forecasted objectives and working with sales to initiate appropriate corrective actions when objectives are not being met.
Driving the negotiation of appropriate contracts for expanding the product?s technology base
Managing, with program management and development, the process of product delivery using the company?s life cycle process and meeting the company?s predictability metrics
Defining for marketing the strategic position of the product in the market worldwide, the target customer for the software product, and the key messages and unique selling proposition. These are deliverables to the marketing manager for use in creating and executing on the comprehensive marketing plan for the product
Coordinating with program management all other cross-functional work on the product, ie, Development, Software QA, documentation, manufacturing, technical support, localization to the overall business plan and insuring that corrective actions are taken as required

Key Responsibilities: Works with program manager to define the feature set based on the worldwide customer needs.
Works with program manager to identify trade-offs between feature set/cost/time as schedule milestones are achieved or new customer needs are established. Works with team to balance implementation trade-offs on technology and tools.
Ensure product is delivered within project constraints as agreed upon with program manager.
Works with team to produce technical competitive analysis.
Works with team to coordinate usability testing.
Providing sales with the target customer?s profile for evaluating the software and the sales tools necessary for them to be successful in closing business
Ongoing monitoring of all relevant market changes including competitive activities and adjusting product activities to respond appropriately to ensure product continues to meet its objectives or triggering the decision that the product cannot be successful and retiring it
Providing the ongoing definition and refinement of the product strategy, to meet both short term and long range goals, for the duration of the software product?s market viability


Experience and Skills:
Must have current or recent Commercial Software Product Management experience Must possess excellent communication skills (both written and verbal)
Must possess excellent project management skills
Must have 3-5 years experience in product management
BS/BA in Computer Science and/or marketing required
MBA preferred

Blackbaud is the world's leading provider of software and related services specifically tailored to meet the needs of nonprofit organizations. Publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol BLKB, Blackbaud is a successful, growing company with more than 25 years of experience and annual revenue in excess of $166 million. The company, led by chief executive officer (and former Microsoft? executive) Marc Chardon, offers an integrated suite of nonprofit management applications built with Microsoft? technology and delivered by our professional services team. Headquartered in Charleston, SC, Blackbaud has a team of more than 1,000 talented employees across its three global locations in positions ranging from product development, consulting, sales, and marketing to customer support, human resources, and finance.
Submit Your Resume With Us By Clicking Here.