Director | Product Manager, Digital Platforms & Experience (APIs)
New York, New York  Hybrid

Employer is open to contract to hire and, possibly, FTE.

Digital Platforms & Experience Summary:
The ‘Digital Platforms & Experience’ Product Team is laying the groundwork for a top tier financial services firm's digital future. This newly formed team aspires to deliver seamless and scalable client-facing solutions through APIs, client-facing portals, and CRM-driven workflows. In its early stages, the team is focused on developing a cohesive digital strategy and executing foundational initiatives to establish core capabilities. Key priorities include enabling greater self-service and putting more control in the hands of our clients through intuitive client portals, streamlining onboarding and implementation by building solutions that facilitate seamless data exchange, and empowering clients to access the data they need when they need it via robust, API-driven solutions. By prioritizing automation, operational efficiency, and client-centric thinking, the team will partner with IT and the ‘Core Products’ product team to develop a platform for innovation, growth, and exceptional client experiences.

Position Summary:
Reporting to the SVP, Head of Digital and Client Experience, The Product Manager, Digital Platforms & Experience (APIs) will play a pivotal role in defining and executing R&T’s inaugural API strategy. This position will focus on creating a robust API offering that enables clients to seamlessly transact and consume the data they need, when they need it, through intuitive, secure, and scalable API solutions. The successful candidate will own the end-to-end lifecycle of API products, including strategy development, roadmap creation, and delivery, while working closely with internal teams, including core Product Management, IT, Operations, and Client Services. As API capabilities are being developed from the ground up, this role requires a hands-on product manager with the experience and ability to help stand up new capabilities, navigate complex challenges, and deliver foundational solutions that will set the stage for long-term growth and innovation.

In this role, the candidate will collaborate across a dynamic team, in various capacities to bridge the gap between business needs and technical execution. They will leverage a working knowledge of both waterfall and agile project management methodologies, to assist R&T as it evolves its approach to product delivery. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in API product management, a passion for creating impactful client experiences, and the versatility to thrive in a startup-like environment.

Responsibilities:
 Define and drive the API product strategy and roadmap, aligning with R&T’s broader digital strategy to deliver secure, scalable, and client-centric API solutions.
 Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle, including ideation, requirements gathering, prioritization, delivery, and iteration of API capabilities.
 Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, including engineering, operations, client services, and leadership, to ensure alignment and successful execution of API initiatives.
 Act as the primary advocate for API products, articulating the vision, benefits, and roadmap to internal and external stakeholders (including regular updates to executive management).
 Analyze client and market needs to identify opportunities for API and data sharing solutions, incorporating feedback into product roadmap.
 Develop and document detailed product requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria, ensuring clarity and feasibility for development teams.
 Support hands-on problem-solving and analysis, conducting API testing, reviewing technical documentation, and troubleshooting integration challenges as needed.
 Monitor and measure the success of API offerings, using data and metrics to evaluate performance, drive adoption, and inform continuous improvement.
 Champion innovative ideas and approaches, helping to establish firm's API capabilities as a foundational component of our digital strategy.

Qualifications:
 Bachelor’s degree in related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA) or equivalent experience is a plus
 5+ years of experience in product management, with a proven track record of delivering successful software or API-based products.
 Demonstrated experience in financial services or fintech, with a strong understanding of industry trends, client needs, and regulatory considerations.
 Experience managing software development or product management efforts within a regulated environment, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and standards.
 Strong familiarity with both waterfall and agile methodologies, with the ability to navigate and adapt processes to fit evolving organizational needs.
 Exceptional analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex business needs into actionable product requirements.