IT Product Manager responsible for M365 product planning and execution throughout the entire product lifecycle

Our client is seeking a IT Product Manager responsible for M365 product planning and execution throughout the entire product lifecycle

This is a permanent full-time role. Hybrid working model: minimum 2 days/week on-site (Thursdays mandatory) with flexibility to come in as often as required.

Salary Range (offer based upon experience and interview): $92,139 to $122,852

Must Have:

• Product Management experience; solid understanding of product design and business analysis methodologies, tools, and techniques, and agile practices.

• Experience in M365 suite of tools required, including but not limited to SharePoint Online, Power Platform, Teams, Exchange,

and OneDrive.

• Supervisory or team management experience.

• 5+ years of relevant experience in IT and business/industry or government. Post-secondary experience would be an asset.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in requirement analysis and business process re-engineering preferred.

• Experience with data analysis using Power BI, Excel Pivot Tables, or other similar tools preferred.

• Experience with task and workflow automation using Power Automate or similar tools preferred

• Experience with building custom apps using PowerApps or similar tools preferred

Key Overview:

Responsible for product planning and execution throughout the entire product lifecycle including requirements gathering, market research, definition of product vision and strategy, delivery management as well as ensuring quality support and maintenance for the Microsoft (M365) product suite. The IT - Product Manager (PdM) Microsoft 365 collaborates closely with the user groups, market leaders, IT , vendors, Project Managers, Architects, other higher-ed institutions and other related organizations. The IT - PdM (M365) provides leadership and management to the Business Analysis team, in conjunction with the Business Analyst Lead.

1. Manages Microsoft 365 suite of collaboration products and related productivity-based solutions:

• Works with technical team members and stakeholders to ensure success of the product feature delivery and adoption.

• Works as a key member of the Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) team, responsible for the intake process, assessing and evaluating requests for M365 related tools, and ensuring alignment with the vision and technology roadmap, while making full use of the Microsoft 365 product suite.

• Drives the vision, strategy, and roadmap for M365 products in consultation with the various teams within the IT department.

• Promotes and drives adoption of enterprise tools.

• Aligns M365 products with the overall IT enterprise architecture vision and goals.

• Works to lead product change management activities: including outlining training and adoption needs for the IT department and stakeholders.

• Identifies users, creates, and maintain user stories/use cases; develops and prioritizes functional requirements for new or revised features or enhancements.

• Serves as the product owner for M365 suite and its product features, including evaluating the preview to rolling it out to the users.

• Identifies appropriate cross-department/division stakeholders for engagement at appropriate intervals.

• Makes key decisions on priorities and design, and work to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned.

• Understands both the technical and business side of M365 and ultimately responsible for representing the end-user’s needs.

• Develops or contributes to development of job aids and training courses.

• Works closely with the QA Lead and ensures standards and processes are followed during M365 UAT and deployment

activities.

2.Participates in developing product visions, plans, and processes.

• Provides recommendations to the Associate Director, IT Project, and Portfolio Management (PPM), for product visions, plans and product roadmap and implements the department’s product goals and objectives to support the plans and roadmap.

• Responsible for ensuring that all governmental policies, procedures and methods are followed.

• Works with the Associate Director, IT Project, and Portfolio Management, to ensure that information system and practices meet appropriate audit and industry standards.

• Implements product policies, standards and procedures for business analysis, product design, quality assurance and compliance.

• Fosters a progressive culture, which encourages all employees to use available information technology and resources to their full advantage, including tools, applications, methodologies, best practices, and industry standards.

• Oversees business analyst team and quality assurance team in conducting research and maintaining current knowledge and best practices in the Information Technology and Product Design industry and develops innovative plans to ensure that the information technology systems take advantage of emerging technologies.

• Works with the Associate Director, IT Project and Portfolio Management and Product Manager (Banner) to develop and evolve the Product Management framework, methodology, process, and discipline.

3. Responsible for the management of human resources:

• Provides effective leadership and direction to the business analyst team by establishing goals, objectives, and priorities, and fosters effective teamwork among employees.

• In collaboration with the Associate Director, IT Project, and Portfolio Management initiates recruitment of staff and recommends hiring decisions and disciplinary actions.

• Directs, schedules, and assigns duties to staff; reviews work for accuracy and completeness.

• Identifies on-going training needs for all staff to ensure they are trained and knowledgeable in Departmental policies, procedures, processes, and tools.

• Provides strong support to the rest of the IT management team in execution of the department’s vision, strategy, and plans.

• Champions highly collaborative, team oriented and positive working environment.

4. Performs other related duties and projects.

• This role will take on oversight of other products, as required.

• Liaises with representatives of other educational institutions to exchange professional advice and to represent in shared development projects.