Group Product Manager (Onsite Discovery)

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 175 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities – enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow.

Visit: group.springernature.com and follow @SpringerNature

Purpose of the Role

The new role, Group Product Manager (Onsite Discovery) enables Springer Nature’s strategy to create and optimise discovery journeys that help researchers increase their knowledge, learn new skills, and find the right Springer Nature journal in which to publish their upcoming research. 

Working closely with the Head of Product and internal development teams, the role will develop Springer Nature’s onsite search and browse experiences. Success will be measured by our impact on core publishing KPIs (e.g. content usage, submissions or revenue) supported by discovery journeys.

Core Responsibilities

Manages onsite search and browse journeys on our customer-facing websites, ensuring that users can quickly discover and connect with SN content, journals, imprints, tools and information that are relevant to them.  

• Close working relationship with Head of Product to deliver overall success for Springer Nature and its customers.

• Owns the relationship with third-party partners, focussing on product development and delivering end-to-end value.

• Embeds within internal development teams to deliver core user journeys.

• Ensures that discovery experiences iteratively use data-led use cases to create a best-in-class customer experience together with the UX and CX teams at Springer Nature.

• Works proactively and independently with stakeholders, partners and other Product Managers to create, own and execute a product strategy that blends commercial, editorial, technical and customer needs.

• Sponsors and applies original customer research and data insights to shape the product, where applicable.

• Works with Product leadership to ensure that managed products are aligned to overall company product portfolio and strategy.

• Line manages a small team of Associate Product Managers, Product Managers and/or Senior Product managers, helping them to develop core product management skills as well as providing regular support and guidance.

• Manages a portfolio of products producing ownership and consistency across the portfolio.

• Work with Product leadership to develop overall product strategy and portfolio. 

• In some product teams, this role will enable efficient delivery of the products as an expert Product Owner within one or more Agile development teams, and works with delivery leads to report progress and manage resources.

• Develop products across the full product lifecycle from inception to retirement, proactively seeking decisions to create and retire products.

• Represent the Product Management discipline internally and externally for Springer Nature ensuring that SN keeps-up-to-date with the latest product management practice. 

Core experience, skills and qualifications

• Demonstrable experience (3+ years) in Product Management, Agile methodologies, OKRs, rapid prototyping, and working with full stack squads to deliver relevant customer products

• Demonstrable experience (3+ years) in managing consumer facing products (academic publishing experience valuable, but not essential) 

• Experience of working collaboratively with third-parties and internal teams to deliver end-to-end value

• Experience working in fast paced organisations, managing uncertainty and balancing thinking strategically but also focusing on the detail to deliver tangible customer value

• Proven success in meeting product goals including quantitative, qualitative and commercial measure. 

• User focused, expert at using data and customer research to drive product strategy. 

• Demonstrable experience of Agile working within software development teams and influencing them to improve technical capabilities. 

• Expert in stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills, able to facilitate timely decision making. 

• University education in a relevant area or equivalent demonstrable experience. 

• Demonstrable experience of managing products at different stages of the product lifecycle from inception to retirement.

What you will be doing

0-3 Months

• Understand Springer Nature’s customers and their needs

• Build a strong relationship with with SN internal (digital, publishing and editorial) teams and external partners 

• Host a product inception and confirm the initial roadmap

• Implement product metrics and funnels for key journeys

• Select the first customer journeys for creation or optimisation and deliver value

3-12 Months

• Focus internal development effort on priority search and browse experiences and capabilities

• In collaboration with the user research and engagement teams, refine the model of user needs for onsite discovery 

• Refine roadmap in the light of development and research experience

• Build and shape the Onsite Discovery product group, recruiting or promoting team members to deliver to Springer Nature’s product strategy.

12 Months on

• Discover where search and browse experiences could add additional value for our customers, including but not limited to experiences that grow content usage, submissions, and revenue

• Continuously deliver customer and business value

• Articulate customer value through quantitative and qualitative reporting

• Work with Product leadership to develop overall product strategy and portfolio

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent.

Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here. #LI-CO1

If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation.

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent.

Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here.

If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation.