Product Manager Editor Relationship System

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Job Title: Product Manager, Editor Relationship System

Location(s): Heidelberg, Berlin, Dordrecht - Hybrid Working Model

About the Role

This is a newly created Product Manager role that will report to the Director of the Centre of Excellence, Publishing Performance & Intelligence (PP&I). This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced Product Manager who likes to build out a new activity in a growing part of the organization. This role will develop into a people management role, managing one direct report.

The Product Manager will have a measurable impact on accelerating Springer Nature’s open access journal initiatives, by streamlining processes for the recruitment of external editors from academia and the acquisition of high-quality content proposals.

The Product Manager will serve as the business representative and primary liaison between the business, IT, and Operations, ensuring optimal use of systems like Salesforce by user groups in Collections Management and Editorial Engagement. The Product Manager owns the development roadmap and drives continuous improvements initiatives.

Role Responsibilities:

• Define and implement quantifiable objectives, such as reducing turnaround time for editor recruitment and onboarding.
• Engage closely with PP&I management and users, identify needs for further optimization of workflows and capabilities.
• Engage closely with peers in the Centre of Excellence for strategic direction setting and annual planning.
• Apply best practices in stakeholder management to reach consensus with teams in Publishing, Operations, IT, Marketing, and others, ensuring reliable planning and release schedules.
• Act as an expert for the Editor Relationship System, providing guidance and support to internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with development team(s) in IT and Operations, prioritizing the development backlog in line with user needs and business priorities.
• Lead user group sessions and steering committee meetings, fostering collaboration and driving alignment across teams.
• Manage support resources effectively to ensure timely resolution of user issues.
• Set, analyze and share metrics to gain insights into product use and effectiveness, driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Continuous Improvement: driving continuous improvements in the systems and processes based on feedback from users and stakeholders. This includes creating and managing a backlog of improvements to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.

Key Relationships:

• Directors in PP&I for Collections Management and Editorial Engagement
• IT departments - Global Business Systems and Production Technology
• Global Marketing
• Publishing
• Legal
• Operations

Experience, Skills & Qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years' experience in a product management or product development role, preferably in a publishing organization.
• Experience with stakeholder management in a matrixed and distributed organization.
• Experience with Salesforce development is advantageous.
• Cultural awareness of working in a global, diverse organization.
• Effective communication skills and ability to influence outcomes.
• Team collaboration and partnership-building skills.
• Championing change and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• MSc University education in a relevant area, or equivalent demonstrable experience, preferably in Business, Information Sciences or Technology.
• Certified in Lean & Agile methodologies and mindset.
• Ability to use a range of project and product management best practices and methodologies.

Note for candidates in the Netherlands: As per our local policy, please be aware that this role will be open only for internal candidates within the first 2 weeks. Afterwards, external applications will be progressed

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent. Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion

If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation.

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatureCareers

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