Overview
The Department of IT Strategy, Policy & Insights partners with Infrastructure, Operations & Cybersecurity leadership to strengthen how IT delivers for the Library. The team sets direction for IT products, establishes governance, and measures performance to ensure the work is aligned, effective, and delivering real value.
The Associate Director, IT Products & Business Relations leads the Product Management practice and the relationships that inform it. Reporting to the Senior Director, this role aligns product strategy to NYPL priorities, drives multi-year roadmapping, and ensures IT is building and delivering against what the organization actually needs.
We are looking for someone we can count on to:
Own:
- IT product strategy aligned to organizational priorities and service model
- A clear, maintained product roadmap that balances new work with operational stability
- Product-related relationships across the organization, ensuring needs are understood and reflected in decisions
- The performance and development of the Product Management team
Teach:
- How to connect technology decisions to business outcomes
- Practical roadmapping and prioritization approaches
- How to build business cases and communicate product direction clearly
Learn:
- How NYPL's strategic plan and organizational priorities should shape the IT product portfolio
- Where the current practice has gaps and what improvements would have the most impact
- How needs across the organization are evolving, and what that means for IT products and service delivery
Improve:
- The consistency of how product management is practiced across teams
- The feedback loops between end users, stakeholders, and the product team
- How IT communicates its work and value across the organization
Some expectations for this role are that within:
1 month, this person will:
- Complete an assessment of the current product portfolio, team structure, roadmap status, and key stakeholder relationships
- Build rapport with direct reports, technology leads, and business partners across the Library
- Identify early priorities and any areas needing immediate attention
3 months, this person will:
- Develop a clear point of view on the state of the practice and share recommendations with leadership
- Establish or refine roadmapping processes that connect product priorities to organizational strategy
- Be actively engaged with stakeholders across the Library
6 months and beyond, this person will:
- Own and communicate a multi-year product roadmap aligned to NYPL's strategic goals
- Operate as a trusted partner to Library business units, with structured channels for ongoing engagement
- Lead the team with clear direction, measurable goals, and a consistent operating rhythm
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Product Management team, setting clear expectations and supporting professional growth
- Define and maintain a product strategy aligned to NYPL's organizational goals, IT's operating model, and the needs of Library staff and patrons
- Own multi-year roadmapping efforts across the IT product portfolio, facilitating cross-functional alignment and transparent prioritization
- Lead engagement for the IT product portfolio, driving partnerships across the organization to shape direction, selection, and priorities
- Partner with Infrastructure, Operations & Cybersecurity to ensure alignment between product and engineering
- Maintain a requirements and estimation process that supports accurate scoping and sound investment decisions
- Establish feedback mechanisms, including demos, retrospectives, and stakeholder reviews, that keep the roadmap responsive to real user needs
- Define and track KPIs and measures of success for the product portfolio, using data to inform decisions and report value to leadership
- Monitor technology trends and assess their relevance to the product management strategy
- Represent product management and business relations in cross-departmental planning and governance conversations
- Perform other related duties as required
Required Education & Certifications
- Bachelor's degree in technology, business, or a related field
Required Experience
- 10 years of experience in IT or technology product management, with demonstrated growth in scope and responsibility
- 5-7 years leading and managing product or technology teams
- Proven experience owning a product roadmap and aligning it to organizational strategy in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment
- Experience managing relationships or serving as a liaison between IT and the departments it supports
Required Skills
- Working knowledge of agile and product management methodologies
- Ability to think strategically and connect technology decisions to business outcomes
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present to and work with senior leadership
- Ability to drive alignment across teams with competing priorities
- Experience building or improving a product management practice
- Comfort working with data and using KPIs to evaluate product performance
Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities
- Directly manages the Product Management team
- Responsible for hiring, performance management, and career development of direct reports
Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:
- Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
- Be Resourceful in solving problems
- Be Curious in all aspects of your work
- Be Welcoming and Inclusive
Work Environment
Pre-Placement Physical Required?
No
Union/Non Union
Non-Union
FLSA Status
Exempt
Schedule
- Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM, Hybrid Schedule 3 days onsite, 2 days remote
- Evenings & weekends as necessary
This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.
The New York Public Library Salary Statement
At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.
Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).
