Hybrid work environment; this is not a remote role. Work is required three days a week in the NYC office.

Overview
The New York Public Library has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for all New Yorkers for over 125 years. Founded in 1895, NYPL is the nations largest neighborhood public library system and the most used research library in the world. NYPL provides a fundamental resource to millions of readers, learners and scholars. The digital portfolio of products and platforms is the core linchpin in how our patrons near and far can access information to create new content, support their personal learning and build stronger communities.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Product Management and User Experience, the Director of Product, eReading is responsible for driving the growth and impact of the Library’s eReading products. We require a seasoned product leader who can provide leadership across the entire digital product lifecycle, from strategy to research & design to delivery. They will empower readers to discover and enjoy digital books and content when, where and how they choose. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of success in aligning cross-functional teams, a passion for uncovering and understanding customer needs, and deep experience in bringing solutions to users. The successful candidate will be a diplomatic leader concerned with how the Library can become an exemplar for the ethical and sustainable use of technology. They will be effective at collaborating with senior leaders across a sizable non-profit organization to deliver well-considered solutions.

Responsibilities

Own the product vision & strategy for the Library’s e-reading portfolio
Have a deep understanding of the eReading landscape, reader needs, and market and partnership opportunities
Analyze competing offerings, conduct user research, and identify & prioritize opportunities in service to our readers
Oversee and shape the creation of product roadmaps, deliverables, and user research
Guide product delivery based on learnings, institutional priorities, and portfolio objectives
Translate broad business and user needs into non-ambiguous requirements and user stories for our development teams
Identify and track key metrics and user data to assess performance and identify potential areas for learning and improvement.
Set and work towards goals to promote and increase reading, and to build a reading community

We are looking for someone we can count on to:

Own:

The product strategy and development for the eReading portfolio
The development of product plans, roadmaps, and KPIs and OKRs
The voice of the customer to ensure our patrons needs are front and center in eReading products
The research, evaluation, recommendation and implementation of vendor tools and external partnerships

Teach:

Best practices of product discovery and development to the e-Reading product and delivery team, to ensure everyone is running in unison

Learn:

The key patron needs, latest technologies, institutional needs and constraints to properly represent them in key decision making moments

Improve:

The reach, impact and value delivered to patrons by our eReading solutions

Some expectations for this role are that within:

1 month, this person will:

Understand the functional structure and core mission of NYPL & Digital
Understand the product vision and strategy for the eReading portfolio
Establish contacts across the Digital Team including: Content Strategy, Technology, Design/UX/Research, Project Management, QA, and begin to develop partnerships with key stakeholders throughout the library and outside of digital

3 months, this person will:

Have an understanding of the competitive landscape, audience priorities, and key factors shaping our eReading solution.
Own product planning, competitive analysis, roadmapping, partnership and delivery conversations for the eReading portfolio
Lead cross-functional team meetings for the assigned products and portfolios, and provide regular and ad hoc reporting to leadership on status and progress
Be conversant in in-house toolsets, including use of JIRA, Confluence, Airtable and other product management tools
Deepen contacts across the institution to discover business needs, set priorities, and ensure that the eReading team is working towards impactful shared goals

6 months and beyond, this person will:

Fully own the strategy and vision for the eReading portfolio, and be an effective advocate for internal partners, patrons, and overall institutional goals, to ensure that the portfolio’s efforts target and embody the key priorities of all stakeholders
Ensure effective communication with stakeholders on the strategy and delivery roadmap of the eReading Products
Communicate stakeholder findings to Design/UX and Engineering
Author business requirement documentation
Develop domain knowledge and understanding of user needs and pain points for assigned areas
Collaborate with Product Design/UX, Engineering, and Project Management teams to drive completion of user research, tech goals, and communicate to different teams, stakeholders and users at the library.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education and Certifications

Bachelors degree - OR - Required Experience (listed below)

Required Experience

10 years of relevant experience, including a track record of accomplishment in a digital product or content leadership role.
At least 7+ years of experience in full lifecycle digital product management, including experience leading product discovery and development
At least 7-8 years of management experience
Strong technical and business acumen; ability to understand complex digital solutions, conduct business analysis and turn recommendations into business impact
Familiarity with leading mobile and e-reading technologies, overall market landscape, providers and apps: SimplyE, Libby, Overdrive, Kindle, etc.
Strong understanding of leading product management frameworks, including Lean/Agile, with experience writing product documentation as well as agile user stories and acceptance criteria

Required Skills

Demonstrable ability to work on a deadline
Organized, focused, extremely detail oriented and adept at prioritization
Ability to work collaboratively with multiple technical and non-technical teams to develop goals
Excellent interpersonal, presentation, oral and written communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with all levels of staff and users

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities:

The Director supervises product managers on the eReading team, and provides cross-functional leadership for the entire portfolio team

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Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
Be Resourceful in solving problems
Be Curious in all aspects of your work
Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

Hybrid work environment; 3 days in office; some days remote work

Physical Duties

Some light lifting/moving may be required

Pre-Placement Physical Required?

Union/Non Union

Non-Union

FLSA Status

Exempt

Schedule

Monday-Friday; 9-5; hybrid work environment; 3 days in office

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public Library Salary Statement

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidates specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).

The New York Public Library (NYPL)

Director of Product, eReading Digital

The New York Public Library (NYPL)

Required Education, Experience & Skills

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