Product Manager, Smarter Balanced

This position works remotely, requiring a telecommuting agreement and adherence to the UCSC Telecommuting/Remote Work Guidelines. The employee shall be available in a full-time capacity during assigned telecommuting work hours (specific hours to be discussed with supervisor). While telecommuting/remote working, the employee is responsible for ensuring a worksite environment suitable for accomplishing their regular job duties during scheduled hours of work and, if applicable, arranging for dependent care just as they would if they were working at the regular UCSC worksite.

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the on our website.

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, .

The IRD for this job is: 9-16-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is a public agency supported by 12 (states and territories). Through the work of thousands of educators, Smarter Balanced created an online assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as well as tools for educators to improve teaching and learning. Smarter Balanced is housed at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) Silicon Valley Extension.

Our work is guided by the belief that a high-quality assessment system can provide information and tools for teachers and schools to improve instruction and help students succeed, regardless of disability, language, or subgroup. We involve experienced educators, researchers, state and local policymakers, and community groups working together in a transparent and consensus-driven process.

More information can be found at

JOB SUMMARY

The Product Manager at Smarter Balanced is responsible for Lifecycle Management, including driving the end-to-end product strategy, requirements, and long-term integration roadmap for Tools for Teachers and assigned applications, while navigating complex variable factors and technical trade-offs.

The incumbent partners closely with consortium members to build deep insights into diverse user personas and needs, translating member requirements into solutions that elevate user satisfaction and deliver measurable educational impact. Internally, the position guides cross-functional and matrixed teams to successfully deliver high-impact products and enhancements on scope, schedule, and budget.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $99,040 - $106,400/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: Remote

Union Representation: TX Union

Job Code Classification: 005475 (PRODUCT DEV PROFL 3 TX)

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

40% - Product Strategy and Relevancy

• Leads roadmap planning and backlog refinement discussions for the Tools for Teachers product and other applications with members, various internal stakeholders, and the Director for Tools for Teachers.
• Operationalizes requirements into a roadmap for Tools for Teachers product and other applications in partnership with content and technology teams; sizes and prioritizes enhancements with the technology team; and ensures roadmap alignment to member needs and organizational strategy.
• Leads efforts in evaluating new technologies and industry trends as they emerge based on educational assessment market and competitive analysis; evaluates application to current Smarter Balanced Tools for Teachers product.
• Identifies emerging market targets and serves as the primary contact and / or lead for discussions and negotiations, with support from technical SMEs across content and technology.
• Monitors product and applications development life cycle in terms of both member satisfaction, technology, and content from initiation through delivery, interfacing on technical matters with SMEs and membership.
• Interacts with executives on matters concerning innovation, product investment, and / or customers for Tools for Teachers and other applications.
• Leads the identification of additional opportunities for value-added innovative product and service features and workflows based on customer / member interaction, market analysis, and feedback.
• Identifies, organizes, and leads technical and educational discussions with key advisory groups and other customers / members.
• Participates in the development of the organization's long-range strategic product plans for Tools for Teachers and other applications.
• Identifies emerging market targets in accordance with the organization's strategic plans and serves as the primary contact and / or lead for discussions and negotiations, with support from technical SMEs across content and technology.
• Establishes membership empathy and understanding that leads to product excellence.

40% - Product Development and Operations

• Partners with technology team to balance roadmap requirements with ongoing member needs.
• Collaborates with Project Management to develop project plans including goals, deliverables, resources, budget and timelines for launches of multiple Smarter Balanced Tools for Teachers products, services, and enhancements of diverse scope, size, impact and budget.
• Assembles and leads cross-functional teams for assigned deliverables.
• Demonstrates creativity and ingenuity in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions to complex design, financial, marketing, or administrative problems. Provides feedback on content prototype lesson design with Director of Tools for Teachers team for revised or new materials based on member input and market needs.
• Creates metrics / key performance indicators and provides corresponding analysis / reporting.
• Manages periodic content progress reports outlining key activities, risks / mitigation strategies, and progress toward achieving overall goals for member state educational agencies.
• Ensures the preparation and maintenance of documentation including end-user documentation and release notes.

20% - Products Launch and Outreach

• Acts as product / service liaison across the organization, external agencies, and members to ensure effective production, delivery and operation of new products, services and / or enhancements.
• May conduct product or service training.
• May provide educational and technical consultation to customers / members to ensure product reliability and responsiveness to problems, complaints and suggestions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience and / or training.
• Experience in Product Management or as a Product Owner.
• Experience in driving a product enhancement roadmap and managing a product development life cycle for a product (content and technology preferred).
• Experience ensuring that organizational policies, practices, services, and behaviors support and promote inclusion and collaboration among staff.
• Experience in implementing contracts with state education agencies and / or school districts.
• In your most recent position, engaged in work necessary to address the terms of a contract either as a direct service provider or part of an organization that provides products and services.
• Advanced knowledge of the education market and a track record of understanding the needs of educational customers.
• Advanced knowledge of product management and development concepts, practices, standards and processes (requirements gathering, user personas, competitive analysis, road mapping, software development life cycle).
• Advanced understanding of how products and programs relate to the overall business strategy.
• Advanced organization and project management skills to lead large or multiple cross-functional teams.
• Advanced oral communication skills to effectively present, negotiate, convey and explain information.
• Advanced written communications skills to draft clear, concise documentation, reports and specifications.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and feature/roadmap management software.
• Proven ability to identify key issues critical to the organization's long-range success of a desired product or service.
• Ability to lead, build consensus and promote the exchange of information among project team, internal and external constituencies. Leadership through influence skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven ability to research, collect and analyze information to use in determining product options or alternatives.
• Experience creating business plans for products or enhancements.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• This is a fully remote position, and the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Ability to travel nationally.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will