Director, Product Operations

The Enterprise Technology Product Operations Director is responsible for leading the product management discipline standards across all Cox Automotive product delivery streams and managing initiatives of strategic importance to the organization to enable product management excellence.
This role works cross-functionally with key partners in the product development lifecycle to define and operationalize best practices, develop learning and development programs to educate team members on topics which aim to mature the Product organization and drive adoption of enterprise standards. This role supports driving on-going improvement in product development and management practices at scale to ensure our Product team member's efforts achieve maximum impact.
This role will operate in a portfolio focused on internal customer-facing products and practices. There is specific focus on accelerating discovery, stakeholder management, enabling customer feedback throughout the lifecycle, alignment of highly inter-dependent product roadmaps, driving efficiency, and improving alignment, communications, and processes around the products the Cox Automotive Product and Technology Group (CAPTG) team develops and manages. This role also will need to implement enterprise standards, practices, and processes to align with the stakeholder and work context in the Enterprise Technology portfolio.
The ideal candidate has an advanced experience in product management and a strong background in working in large technology organizations with matrixed teams to build trusting relationships, understand needs, consult on the best ways to address them, all while driving change and measuring continuous improvement. They also must have excellent facilitation and communication skills, be process oriented and disciplined, as well as possess the ability to think through broad needs across the enterprise.
The Enterprise Technology Product Operations Director is responsible for helping SVPs, VPs, and AVPs assess and improve the product management discipline within specific delivery streams and/or across enterprise initiatives.
This role works cross-functionally with key partners in the product development lifecycle and the Enterprise Transformation COE to propagate best practices and develop learning & development programs to educate team members and drive adoption of these standards. This role is ultimately responsible for driving a successful step-change improvement in product management practices within the portfolio and delivery streams supported.
This role will operate in a portfolio focused on internal customer-facing products and practices. There is a specific focus on accelerating discovery, stakeholder management, enabling customer feedback throughout the lifecycle, alignment of highly inter-dependent product roadmaps, and improving alignment, communications, and processes around the products the Cox Automotive Product and Technology Group (CAPTG) team develops and manages.
The Product Operations Director must have excellent facilitation skills and a track record of product management excellence, an awareness of key practices and skills necessary to effectively perform the job of product manager, and an ability to work with leaders and team members in a supportive manner to elevate their performance as a product managers or product management leaders. The ideal candidate has advanced experience in product management and a strong background working in large technology organizations with matrixed teams to build trusting relationships, understand needs, consult on the best way to address them, all while driving change and measuring continuous improvement.
Position responsibilities:

• Maturing Product Management: Drive processes that improve various levels of product management maturity and skills and well as elevate our ability to function as one Cox Automotive. Accountable for improvements in product discipline maturity within Enterprise Technology

• Enterprise Stewardship: Partner with Product Operations, Product Management and other teams internal to the Product COE and CAPTG to coordinate efforts and promote awareness for Product Operations initiatives

Required Qualifications:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Strong ability and desire to:

• catalyze behavioral change through knowledge and compelling, thoughtfully curated information

• provide excellent service to internal clients / stakeholders, always seeking to add incremental value

• think critically and broadly about the ways tools can be used, can be used together

• teach others and illuminate best practices in a compelling way that drives buy-in and sustained adoption

• manage multiple tasks simultaneously to meet aggressive goals and objectives

The candidate must think in terms of how to meet diverse needs while driving enterprise cohesion. They also must be technical and creative, while understanding what a role a Product organization plays in a technology company.
Other key attributes:

• self-motivated, able to independently drive initiatives with minimal oversight

• thinking and operating broadly across diverse teams/stakeholders, macro/enterprise-level thinking

• excellent team player who brings a passionate, positive, high-energy approach to working across diverse internal stakeholders and delivering results

Experience and education required:
Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 10 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 8 years' experience; a Ph.D. and 5 years' experience in a related field; or 14 years' experience in a related field

• 5-7 years of experience in a Product organization directly in Product Management or Product Operations

• Experience specifically in the technology space with a software company

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Product Management practices and processes

• An extensive background in leading large multi-discipline organizations to create and deliver programs at scale that result in improved operational excellence

• Strong leadership, facilitation, negotiation skills

• Direct involvement in driving continuous improvement and large operational change management initiatives

• Strong ability to build key business relationships and contribute to the enterprise vision at Cox Automotive

• Strong ability to assess capabilities, gaps, and build plans for addressing training needs

• Managing initiatives with diverse stakeholders / needs to address

Working knowledge of:

• Product Lifecycle

• Agile Delivery

• Double Diamond framework
• Change Management Experience/Work

Nice to have:

• Consulting experience

• Previous use of Human Centered Design methods, certification not required

• Knowledge of Lean (Six Sigma) concepts, certification not required

USD 129,100.00 - 215,100.00 per year
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary of $129,100.00 - $215,100.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, parental leave, and COVID-19 vaccination leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
About Cox Automotive
At Cox Automotive, people of every background are driven by their passion for mobility, innovation and community. We transform the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses cars, accelerating the industry with global powerhouse brands like Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim and more. What's more, we do it all with an emphasis on employee growth and happiness. Drive your future forward and join Cox Automotive today!
About Cox
Cox empowers employees to build a better future and has been doing so for over 120 years. With exciting investments and innovations across transportation, communications, cleantech and healthcare, our family of businesses - which includes Cox Automotive and Cox Communications - is forging a better future for us all. Ready to make your mark? Join us today!
Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page .
Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.
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