Product Manager

Job description

Are you passionate about being part of a dynamic team dedicated to transforming urban environments through data and technology? Do you thrive in a collaborative setting where innovation and excellence drive impactful change in city living? If so, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for! Join us in our mission to enhance urban governance and create more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant cities.

We are looking for a person with an interest and qualifications in business science, data science, data engineering, or software engineering, who wants to work more in an advisory and management capacity. If you enjoy applying big picture thinking in a collaborative environment, while utilising your technical knowledge, then this job is for you. Your primary responsibility will be to advise government organisations on their technology stack, data pipelines, and institutional arrangements, while leading a product team to roll out use cases. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding and passion for implementing data and digital strategy in the public sector. Examples of our work are available on our website. 

As a Product Manager at OCL, you are the de facto expert on digital and data transformation in the public sector. This may mean managing the release of a framework, toolkit or guide and/ or facilitating their implementation in use-case environments. To accomplish this, you’ll work closely with the Chief Product, Technology and Operations Officers, the Technical Team and Partners. You'll be responsible for coordinating all the activities required to meet contractual requirements and achieve maximum impact. You’ll oversee negotiations, timelines and budgets to optimise cost-effective delivery and implementation of solutions and also provide support to Partnership Leads and the Advocacy Team who promote your offerings and secure use-case opportunities. You will contribute to building the aspirational OCL culture and will continually develop your own professional competence. 

Responsibilities: 

• Managing and creating content for OCL’s data and digital governance toolkits and advisory services. 
• Developing and managing timelines and budgets. 
• Market and competitor analysis and user research to inform the development of our data and digital strategy offering
• Ensuring comprehensive data governance, compliance and security.
• Thought-leadership and competency-building around emerging digital and data needs and opportunities in the public sector environment,
• Acting as the primary liaison between partners and internal teams. 
• Understanding the use-case environment and optimising partner satisfaction.
• Monitoring and continually improving the performance and impact of digital and data solutions.
• Providing performance data for reporting. 
• Fulfilling this role according to OCL’s aspirational culture, leadership brand and work ethos.
• Growing professionally and developing personal competence to fulfil this role in a rapidly scaling and increasingly impactful organisation. 

Qualifications: 

• Qualifications in Business Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology, or a related field OR equivalent experience
• Relevant additional qualifications in development studies, international relations, governance, public policy or urban planning or related field OR equivalent experience. 
• Relevant certifications such as Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), or similar are advantageous.

Skills and technical expertise:

• Ability to translate use case strategic requirements into technical specifications and actionable digital and data strategies. 
• Ability to evaluate data and digital organisational readiness and maturity, and to guide technical teams to close any gaps.
• Passion for urban futures strategy and public policy together with the role digital and data plays in this space.
• Facilitation and leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills at all levels.
• Organisation, time and project management.
• Budgeting. 
• Strong business acumen - and knowledge of civic environment. 
• Knowledge of NPO environment. 
• Ability to analyse complex data sets and derive actionable insights for clients.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple use cases simultaneously. 
• Product management tools and methodologies.
• Strong understanding of digital and data architecture, open source technology, open APIs, data modelling, and ETL processes in order to advise internal and external stakeholders on good practice
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks and compliance standards.

Experience:

• 5 years of experience in delivering digital products and advisory services. 
• Proven experience of successfully launching and managing digital and data strategies in multiple use case environments.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience within public sector or with public sector clients.
• Above all else we are looking for a public sector digital expert.

Culture and values 

• Personal values aligned with OCL's aspirational culture.
• We are a driven team of researchers, developers, economists, scientists, designers. Learning, growing, united by equality and open inclusion. We care deeply about:
• Alignment with constitution
• Democracy & transparency
• Openness
• Independance, equality & inclusion
• Positive social change
• High ethical standards, integrity, and a strong desire for continuous learning and growth.
• Commitment to ongoing performance improvement and coaching programmes.

Please note: Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Company Description

Open Cities Lab is a non-profit organisation that creates tools and interventions that strengthen capacity within government, empower citizens and improve trust and accountability in the civic space. Our vision is to build African cities where every resident regardless of income, identity or location can access essential services they need with dignity and ease

Posted on 18 Dec 15:31, Closing date 1 Feb