Product Service Line Manager

JOB PURPOSE:

The Product Service Line Manager (PSL Manager) holds the responsibility of harmonizing the product portfolio strategy for multiple products with the overarching business goals and objectives of the company. She/he has a comprehensive understanding of the entire Digital Transformation (DT) portfolio, offering technical leadership, and overseeing a team of Product Owners and technical experts in planning, building, and running enterprise level platforms in an EGA agile development framework.

Furthermore the PSL Manager plays a crucial role in advising and guiding stakeholders in identifying and understand business needs, gather & validate industry standards, and work closely with cross-functional teams to define and execute the roadmap in line with evolving business requirements on EGA's journey to become a digital lighthouse for the industry and the region. The role also creates a working environment where digital talent thrives in line with EGA values and leadership principles.

On the other hand, the role of a PSL Manager encompasses establishing and nurturing positive relationships within various business areas, spotting opportunities, and skillfully handling conflicts and escalations. Positioned at the confluence of vision, strategy, and execution, the Manager PSL ensures that products advance according to plan. In essence, the central objective of the PSL Owner role is to oversee all dimensions of the product & service line's success.

The role manages interdependencies with other product teams and strategically forging and managing partnerships across different teams. This cooperative approach ensures alignment and enhances the success of the product line. The Manager PSL operates in close collaboration with their designated product teams, guaranteeing the delivery of business value and user feedback-oriented development.

Notably, PSL Manager possesses exceptional communication and problem-solving skills, working in tandem with the business to deliver value that aligns with EGA's overarching vision.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

General

• PSL Manager is accountable for aligning the product portfolio strategy for multiple products with the overall business objectives of the company. Their primary focus is for establishing and maintaining positive relationships with various business areas, identifying opportunities, and effectively managing conflicts and escalations.
• She/he focus to comprehend the business requirements, gather industry insights, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define and implement the product roadmap.
• PSL Manager revolves around being the central figure responsible for the overall success of the service line. They harmonize business goals with technical solutions to drive the development and evolution of a successful PSL.
• PSL Manager bears the responsibility of managing business stakeholders and ensuring that the product vision aligns with the needs of end users and the overall business vision.
• Possess deep insights into business needs, pain points, and preferences. They conduct market research, monitor industry trends, and gather business feedback to inform product decisions and enhancements.
• Possess exceptional communication and problem-solving skills, they collaborate closely with the business to deliver value in line with EGA's vision.
• The PSL Manager provides leadership and guidance to the product team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. They set clear goals, mentor team members, and ensure effective coordination and communication within the team and across the organization.
• Need to ensure that the team is performing at its best and continuously improving. This involves setting clear performance expectations, providing constructive feedback, and identifying opportunities for skill development and training.
• Manages conflict within the team, fostering a positive work environment, and aligning the team's goals with the department's objectives.
• The PSL Manager monitors key product metrics, such as user engagement, adoption rates, and customer satisfaction. They analyze data to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to optimize product performance and meet business objectives. They also gather feedback from internal and external stakeholders to continuously enhance the product.
• Review business cases for proposed projects and track and communicate the realized value.
• The PSL Manager oversees the product development process, working closely with design, build and run teams. They ensure that products are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards. They coordinate and communicate across teams to address any challenges or issues that may arise during the development process.
• Organize, facilitate, and support prioritization sessions with the leadership team to establish goals.
• Embrace and work in an agile environment, keeping track of changing business needs and refining priorities accordingly. Lead and coordinate change activities, working with lead translators to maintain a strategic delivery roadmap.
• Recruit the right team members and be responsible for their performance evaluation.
• Manage and lead the team's day-to-day operations using a performance management process and drive continuous process improvement.
• Coach, mentor, and guide the team in accordance with EGA's values, policies, and procedures.
• All Product and Services shall be Industry 4.0 products in nature and representing value added solutions that have an impact on the business unit KPIs.
• The PSL manager shall be responsible for multiple portfolios of products of different business units either in EGA operations or EGA corporate areas (e.g. marketing and sales, supply chain etc).

Authority/ Decision making:

• Operate within established policies, standards, and objectives while exercising discretion in determining the necessary actions. The incumbent is responsible for developing a plan, setting priorities, and defining the required processes to achieve the objectives.
• Receive general direction and adhere to broadly defined functional policy objectives. Actions that may have an impact on other functional or operating areas typically require approval prior to implementation.

MAJOR PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED IN THE POSITION

• Plan and allocate resources effectively to various products and initiatives within the PSL including budgets, effort and human resources. Balancing competing needs and ensuring that resources are utilized optimally.
• Need to ensure that the team is performing at its best and continuously improving. This involves setting clear performance expectations, providing constructive feedback, and identifying opportunities for skill development and training.
• Develop and refine product and service line strategy that aligns with business and market needs.
• Foster a culture of creativity within the team and facilitate the process of generating and evaluating new ideas.
• Ensure that the product features are strategically aligned to drive the adoption of digital technologies and promote new ways of working.
• Serve as a role model for implementing the principles of scaling agile within the digital platforms, ensuring alignment with business use cases.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS or MS in either Computer Science, Mathematics or Engineering or related discipline.

Minimum Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience, with a preference for at least 3 years in the manufacturing industry. Additional experience in metal, mining, and energy sectors would be advantageous.
• Experience working with distributed teams and remote stakeholders.
• Demonstrated track record of working with various products, specifically in corporate areas ( marketing and sales, supply chain) .
• Possess a formal project management qualification, such as PMP, PRINCE2, Agile Project Management, or an equivalent certification.
• Proven understanding of agile tools and frameworks, including Scrum and Kanban.
• Ability to plan ahead of different product teams by 2-3 steps and identify hidden risks at deeper levels within each team.
• Proficient in drawing storyboards, creating wireframes, grooming product backlogs, writing user stories, and developing acceptance criteria.
• Strong collaborator with cross-functional teams encompassing technology, business, and design. Experience in working with design teams to deliver optimal user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), as well as engaging and managing third-party vendors and consultants.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior business and IT executives in agile transformation and building a product and platform vision. Capable of switching between strategic discussions with senior business leaders and providing on-the-ground agile coaching to teams.
• Demonstrable experience in managing a diverse change portfolio with concurrent initiatives, showcasing adaptability, creativity, and efficient resource utilization.
• Solid experience in delivering all stages of the project and software development life cycle, particularly in managing complex business change projects, preferably within a digital transformation context. Extensive knowledge of technical engineering best practices, such as test-driven development and continuous integration.
• Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, or other similar tools.