Director, Product Management

Director Product Management

Department: Information Systems

Reports to: Head Information Systems

FLSA Status: Exempt

The anticipated salary for this position starts at $136500 for the role. The final pay will be determined based on several factors including qualifications experience education and years within the job or industry with a strong emphasis on maintaining internal equity.

Who we are and what were about:

KU Endowment is an independent nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.

As an employee of KU Endowment youll witness firsthand the power of our donors generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students faculty and programs and everyone benefits.

People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed.

What we are looking for:

The Director Product Management is responsible for the strategic direction planning and continuous improvement of KU Endowments advancement and donor technology platforms including Salesforce and related systems. This role ensures that technology investments deliver meaningful operational value to fundraising teams improve donor data quality and modernize how donor operations function across the organization.

This position works closely with fundraising leadership advancement operations finance IT and external implementation partners to align technology solutions with organizational priorities.

The Director leads the advancement technology product function and champions adoption of new platform capabilities and workflows across KU Endowment guiding Product Owners responsible for individual platforms and capability areas. The Director focuses on portfolio strategy cross-platform alignment and organizational roadmaps while supporting Product Owners managing platform roadmaps stakeholder discovery and backlog prioritization.

The individual in this position is expected to embrace KU Endowments stated core values collaboration curiosity empowerment and excellence and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities.

Hybrid Work Environment:
Following the initial training period this position offers a hybrid work schedule with the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. However the role requires multiple days per week on-site at our Lawrence KS office to ensure effective collaboration team engagement and alignment with organizational goals.

Whats a typical day look like

Define and maintain the advancement technology portfolio roadmap ensuring alignment with institutional priorities operational needs and long-term platform sustainability.

Partner with fundraising leadership advancement operations and finance to understand strategic priorities and ensure advancement technology capabilities evolve to support those needs.

Collaborate with IT to ensure strategic vision and roadmap implementation.

Serve as the primary business strategist for Salesforce and related systems working closely with internal technical teams and external vendors to ensure solutions align with organizational objectives.

Ensure effective discovery practices across advancement platforms by supporting Product Owners responsible for stakeholder engagement and requirements discovery.

Manage coach and develop a newly established product team in a mission-driven organization.

Provide leadership and guidance to the Product Team to ensure platform initiatives align with portfolio strategy and organizational practices.

Evaluate platform performance adoption trends and operational outcomes to inform portfolio-level product strategy and roadmap decisions.

Establish and evolve product management practices governance frameworks and prioritization processes that guide advancement technology development across platforms.

Communicate progress priorities and outcomes to senior leadership and key stakeholders.

Support change management efforts by helping teams adopt new tools and workflows.

Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Whats required to be considered:

Bachelors degree required (or equivalent professional experience)

Five (5) or more years of experience in a Salesforce ecosystem.

Five (5) to Seven (7) years of experience in product management business systems ownership digital transformation or related roles supporting operational teams

Prior experience leading cross-functional initiatives or managing Product Owners project teams or complex workstreams preferred

Skills and Abilities Requirements:

Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across technical and non-technical teams including fundraising advancement operations finance IT and external partners

Strong ability to adapt to new technologies platforms and evolving business needs

Demonstrated understanding of team dynamics excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to building positive collaborative working relationships

Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and provide guidance and mentorship to colleagues involved in platform delivery and adoption

Excellent written verbal and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate priorities requirements and outcomes

Proven ability to independently initiate organize and follow through on complex initiatives

Ability to work with minimal supervision while exercising strong judgment discretion and accountability.

Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships inside and outside KU Endowment.

Ability to adapt to new procedures and technology.

What separates the best from the rest

Outcome-Driven Thinker

You focus on measurable impact improved workflows better data quality higher adoption not just completing tasks or delivering features.

Strong Prioritization Judgment

You are skilled at making tradeoffs in complex environments balancing stakeholder needs technical constraints and organizational goals to determine what matters most.

Systems Thinker

You understand how people processes data and technology interact. You design solutions that improve the entire donor ecosystem not just individual tools.

Trusted Cross-Functional Partner

You build credibility quickly with fundraising teams operations staff IT leadership and external vendors. You listen deeply communicate clearly and bring groups together around shared objectives.

Change Leader

You help teams successfully adopt new tools and workflows. You recognize that digital transformation is as much about people and behavior as it is about technology.

Pragmatic Problem Solver

You prioritize practical high-impact improvements over perfection. You know when to move quickly and when to slow down to protect long-term system health.

Data Stewardship Mindset

You treat donor data as a strategic asset. You care deeply about accuracy governance and reporting reliability and you design processes that build organizational trust in data.

Comfortable With Ambiguity

You thrive in evolving environments where problems are not clearly defined. You bring structure clarity and momentum to complex initiatives.

Physical Requirements:

A valid drivers license.

Must have access to reliable transportation to travel between multiple locations for training donor meetings networking events and/or work-related activities.

Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to directions and safety hazards.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office productivity machinery such as computers keyboards and a mouse laptops phones photocopiers filing cabinets and fax machines.

This is largely a sedentary role; however some filing is required. This would require the ability to move files open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.

The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Must be able to communicate with others effectively.

Physical effort/lifting such as sedentary- up to 10 pounds

Travel requirements are rare and can include the following evenings weekends and out of town overnights as a regular part of the job.

KU Endowment is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job as regulated by ADA. If you require accommodation for any part of the application process or during employment please contact to discuss your needs.

Weve got you covered:

KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including:

100% employer-paid pension plan

Health dental and vision insurance

401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program

Section 125 flexible benefits

Generous paid leave including holidays personal and sick leave

Volunteer and community engagement opportunities

Paid Parental Leave

Life AD&D short- and long-term disability insurance

Legal & ID Theft protection

Critical Illness

Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance

KU education assistance

Free parking

Sounds good right Whats next

Please include your resume and cover letter when applying for this position on our website at regarding this vacancy may be addressed to:

Human Resources
KU Endowment
PO Box 928
Lawrence KS 66044-0928
Email:

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Because of the sensitive nature of KU Endowment business and the importance of our reputation with donors KU Endowment conducts a comprehensive review of applicants. By submitting your application you authorize us to conduct reference checks and a review of available public information. Employment is contingent upon background and reference checks that KU Endowment finds acceptable.