Lead Product Manager | Advisor Technology

Job Description Summary

Job Description

As part of the Advisor Technology group, the Lead Product Manager will focus on delivering tools and applications that support the advisor and support staff's day-to-day branch operations. The associate will have extensive knowledge and skills obtained through education, and experience is used to identify, analyze, and document complex business requirements and processes using specific extensive input from industry and/or business units. The associate will demonstrate subject matter expertise, the ability to integrate domain knowledge into project work, and an understanding of financial services standards and practices and will serve as the primary point of contact on the most complex or escalated issues. Furthermore, the associate may provide direction and guidance to team members as well as apply specialized business knowledge and skills to produce significant deliverables. The associate will coordinate projects across multiple departments and business units that have an enterprise impact.

Responsibilities:

• Works independently on difficult assignments that are broad in nature, requiring originality and ingenuity with appreciable latitude for unreviewed actions or decisions.

• Reviews operational procedures and methods; maps current business processes; defines and analyzes business activities; conducts benchmarking activities to identify best practices; and recommends changes for improvement.

• Defines project scope and requirements by collecting and analyzing information, interviewing subject matter experts (SMEs), observing operations, and using knowledge of business systems and processes.

• Develops an understanding of the business case behind all projects, including the motivating factors for all stakeholders.

• Develops and maintains release schedules, working with the technology team to prioritize features. Collaborates with other business units and technology teams as necessary for release management.

• Serves as a functional subject matter expert (SME); provides internal consulting services to assigned functional area(s); coordinates activities with other functional areas; and facilitates the implementation of cross-functional business system modules, models, and/or enhancements.

• May serve a dual role as the point of contact for both business users and technical staff to discuss and clarify the interpretation of business requirements to technical specifications.

• Partner with stakeholders such as financial advisors, operations, and legal and compliance to research, analyze and resolve business problems/opportunities.

• Drives/leads efforts to plan and implement change initiatives. This includes developing rollout plans, training IT and operational support areas, and assisting in communications and documentation to support releases.

• Assists in identifying requirements for each phase of testing and develops test plans and scripts, as required.

• Prepares and delivers written and oral presentations to project stakeholders and presents at conferences and events, both one-on-one and in classroom settings.

Skills/Previous Experience:

• Six (6) to ten (10) years of experience in a product management role, ideally working with enterprise teams navigating complex systems.

• Financial services / wealth management experience preferred.

• Experience defining and documenting business and technical requirements and processes, systems analysis, business process modeling, representing stakeholders on project teams, and problem-solving with large, complex cross-functional systems and processes is highly preferred.

• Facilitate information-gathering sessions, ensuring that all viewpoints, ideas, and problems are included in the project specifications.

• Incorporate needs, wants, and goals from different business unit perspectives into project specifications.

• Attention to detail while maintaining a big-picture orientation.

• Solve complex problems and model the business and financial impact of proposed scenarios.

• Working knowledge of AI/ML concepts and generative AI capabilities, including prompt design, evaluating outputs for accuracy/bias, and partnering with data/engineering teams to identify and deliver AI-enabled product features within governance and risk requirements.

• Ensure that all project activities have a focus on quality and adhere to any identified best practices.

• Perceive information, linkages, and trends to apply this knowledge to assignments.

• Resolve complex analytical challenges, independently analyze information, and make recommendations based on analysis.

• Read, comprehend, and apply technical information.

• Use collaborative skills to accomplish work as a team.

• Solve problems with large, complex, cross-functional systems and processes.

• Organize and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels of the organization, including negotiating resources.

Knowledge of:

Knowledge of the following highly preferred to required:

• Concepts of risk management, issue tracking, change management, and requirements gathering.

• Principles of banking and finance and securities industry operations.

• Information technology support and technical documentation.

• Business planning and analysis—with a demonstrated ability to develop a product strategy and deliver detailed business requirements based on that strategy.

• Knowledge of branch operations and advisor-facing technology is preferred.

• Clarifying system interface requirements and relationships.

• Interpreting client input, clarifying issues, and developing solutions.

• Preparing various reports, summaries, surveys, and written recommendations.

• User acceptance testing principles, with the ability to develop test plans and scripts.

• Project planning and reporting and coordinating project activities across organizational lines. Understanding of project management methodologies and fundamentals of the software development lifecycle.

• Preparing and delivering written and oral presentations.

Licenses/Certifications:

• None required.

Education

Work Experience

Certifications

Travel

Workstyle

At Raymond James our associates use five guiding behaviors (Develop, Collaborate, Decide, Deliver, Improve) to deliver on the firm's core values of client-first, integrity, independence and a conservative, long-term view. 
We expect our associates at all levels to:
•  Grow professionally and inspire others to do the same
•  Work with and through others to achieve desired outcomes
•  Make prompt, pragmatic choices and act with the client in mind
•  Take ownership and hold themselves and others accountable for delivering results that matter
•  Contribute to the continuous evolution of the firm

At Raymond James – as part of our people-first culture, we honor, value, and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all of our Associates.  When associates bring their best authentic selves, our organization, clients, and communities thrive. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs.