Product Manager
At Robots & Pencils, we build meaningful, scalable digital products that solve real business problems. We are seeking an experienced Product Owner to work embedded within cross-functional delivery teams, owning product execution across complex digital platforms. About the role One of the key initiatives this role may support involves building a next-generation academic degree planning platform for a large public university. The platform is designed to help students and advisors navigate degree requirements, course sequencing, and graduation planning through a centralized, interactive experience. It aims to reduce friction for students making critical academic decisions while giving advisors better visibility into student progress. Product Ownership & Delivery • Manage the product backlog, ensuring work is clearly defined, prioritized, and aligned to business outcomes • Translate business needs and stakeholder requests into structured requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria • Partner closely with engineering and design to ensure requirements are well understood and delivered with quality • Support sprint planning, backlog refinement, and day-to-day execution to keep delivery on track • Identify and manage dependencies, risks, and scope changes throughout the delivery lifecycle Requirements & Analysis • Elicit, analyze, and document functional and technical requirements across multiple stakeholders • Break down complex business processes into clear, actionable work for delivery teams • Ensure traceability between business needs, requirements, and delivered solutions • Continuously refine requirements based on feedback, testing, and evolving priorities • Support QA and UAT efforts by clarifying expected behavior and validating outcomes Stakeholder Collaboration • Facilitate working sessions, requirement discussions, and decision-making forums • Communicate progress, risks, and tradeoffs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences • Build strong relationships with client stakeholders and serve as a trusted partner in delivery Product Thinking & Continuous Improvement • Frame requests in terms of user and business outcomes, not just features • Support prioritization decisions by balancing business value, technical constraints, and delivery timelines • Contribute to defining scope and iterative delivery plans • Identify opportunities to improve processes, workflows, and product experience • Leverage data, feedback, and team insights to continuously improve the product Required Skills & Experience 6–10 years of experience in a Product Owner, Product Manager, or similar role. Strong understanding of agile delivery practices and product ownership responsibilities. Strong client communication and relationship management skills. Strategic thinking paired with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset. Consultative problem-solving and the ability to guide conversations beyond immediate deliverables. Adaptable, calm under pressure, and comfortable navigating ambiguity. High accountability, ownership, and follow-through. Collaborative, outcome-driven, and user-centered. Why Join Robots & Pencils? At Robots & Pencils, Product Owners play a critical role in shaping how ideas become impactful digital products. You’ll work alongside architects, engineers, and designers to deliver modern solutions across mobile, cloud, and AI-enabled platforms, while building trusted client partnerships and driving meaningful outcomes.