Senior Product Manager

Role Overview

Senior Product Manager focused on Agile delivery and Scaled Agile (SAFe) execution in a large regulated financial services environment. This is a delivery-focused PM role (not strategy/roadmap/product vision). You will embed in a small team (3–4 PMs) and stand up PI planning cadences and execution from scratch.

Engagement: Contract for 6–12 weeks initially with strong likelihood of extension. Location: Remote (United States). Start: ASAP / late May 2026.

Responsibilities

Weeks 1–2: Readiness & Assessment

• Audit team structure and backlog health
• Score PO/PM capability against PI entry criteria
• Create a gap-to-ready plan with named owners and deadlines
• Configure Jira taxonomy and JPD intake flow

Weeks 3–4: Design & Prep

• Run 2–3 backlog prep sessions per team
• Coach Product Owners on:
  • story writing
  • DoR/DoD
  • capacity planning
• Bridge OKR outputs into PI objective format
• Design/adapt the PI event facilitation guide

Weeks 5–6+: Event & Iteration Support

• Co-facilitate (or support) the 2-day PI planning event
• Manage program board and cross-team dependencies
• Run an Inspect & Adapt workshop after PI
• Build the investment case for the next wave based on PI results

Requirements

• 5+ years experience as a Product Manager or Agile Delivery Lead
• Real-world experience running/supporting PI planning events in SAFe/scaled agile (not just certification)
• Hands-on backlog coaching with Product Owners (story writing, prioritization, DoR/DoD enforcement)
• Proficiency working in Jira at configuration level (work item types, fields, automation rules)
• Experience in regulated industries (financial services/healthcare or similar)
• Strong stakeholder management with senior leaders (executive briefing, Business Owner alignment)
• Track record thriving in ambiguous, fast-moving delivery environments

Preferred / Nice to Have

• SAFe certification (SA, SP, POPM, or RTE) with real-world application
• Experience with Jira Product Discovery (JPD) (initiative → epic workflows)
• OKR framework design/implementation
• Payments/fraud/identity/fintech domain knowledge
• Experience acting as proxy RTE or ART facilitator
• Prior consulting / embedded delivery experience
• Familiarity with EWS, Zelle, or related bank/network ecosystems

Not a Good Fit If

• You primarily operate at the executive product strategy/roadmap layer
• You rely on SAFe certification without hands-on PI event experience
• You provide Agile coaching without product delivery ownership