Working Title: Product Manager

Job Class: Associate Product Management Specialist

Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development

Job ID: 95587

Location: St. Paul Telework Eligible: Yes, may be eligible for some telework Full/Part Time: Full-Time Regular/Temporary: Unlimited Who May Apply: This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 07/23/2026 Date Posted: 07/17/2026 Closing Date: 07/30/2026 Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Department of Employment and Economic Development / MAPE Division/Unit: Paid Family and Medical Leave Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift Days of Work: Monday - Friday Travel Required: No Salary Range: $34.07 - $50.53 / hourly; $71,138 - $105,506 / annually Classified Status: Classified Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees / MAPE FLSA Status: Nonexempt Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

About The Paid Leave Division

Paid Leave is a new program that launched in January 2026. The program provides partial wage replacement to Minnesota workers who are out of work due to a qualifying condition, such as a severe health condition that prevents them from working, or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child.

We are building a program that will be easy for every Minnesotan to use. We are engaging the people who depend on us—workers, employers, caregivers, and insurers—to learn from them and build the program around their needs. We are using modern service delivery and product practices to deliver the program.

The Paid Leave team has high standards and an unrelenting commitment to serving Minnesotans. It is a start-up environment without legacy systems or preconceived ways of working, so we have a unique opportunity to create human-centric processes and systems to deliver this new benefit to Minnesotans.

Position Purpose

We are looking for an energetic, self-motivated Product Manager who is excited to work through ambiguity and deliver exceptional user experiences and lasting value to Minnesotans.

The Product Manager will play a key role in helping us continue our innovative approach of building and delivering a modern, intuitive, easy-to-use Paid Leave Product and Program. You will collaborate closely with engineering teams, business stakeholders, and user experience design teams to develop the Paid Leave product. You will communicate and drive strategy as well as day-to-day decisions regarding product development and product releases.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of the product roadmap for your area. Socialize this roadmap with the engineers, designers, and business analysts to create alignment and focus within the team. Generate detailed user stories, acceptance criteria, and supporting documentation required to translate business needs into product features. Lead prioritization for your backlog and regularly facilitate discussions with leadership around the “what, why, and how” of these decisions with supporting details. Collaborate with Design, Customer Engagement, Legal, and Policy teams to ensure the product is in-line with all relevant statutes, regulations, and rules while still meeting user and business needs. Anticipate product issues proactively and offer ideas and approaches to adoption of potential solutions. Define success metrics and consistently measure the impact of the team’s work. Work with Product Leadership, stakeholders, and architects to define product scope and prioritization and be flexible to iterate/change per latest developments to meet deadlines. Have a deep understanding of the “why” behind the work you and your team are doing and the impact it will make, regularly share and socialize this, generating energy and buy-in for the Paid Leave product. Communicate product updates and roadmap to stakeholders, leadership, and partners at a regular cadence. Participate in Agile ceremonies like sprint planning, daily scrums, product demos, test phases, retrospectives to ensure on time high quality delivery.

If you’re a leader passionate about customer experience, being part of a high-performing team, and making a difference in Minnesotan’s lives, we want to hear from you!

This position is telework eligible. Staff are provided with the tools and equipment to be successful in a virtual work environment. Please note, the telework policy could change with notice based on business needs.

This posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

This position will be based out of the St. Paul office.

Minimum Qualifications

To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment.

Three (3) years of experience in a Product Manager or Product Owner role, or a combination of Product Manager/Product Owner and Product-focused Business Analyst experience, working within an agile product team or a closely related product team as determined by the agency.

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following:

Skills determining and communicating the critical next steps needed to create and maintain momentum on a project. Experience building strong, positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Skills in writing clear, complete user stories with acceptance criteria and supporting documentation. Ability to prioritize work and clearly communicate your prioritization strategy.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience building a product from 0-1. Experience influencing without authority to drive alignment and buy-in. Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. The background check may consist of the following components:

Criminal Background Check

Employment Records Check (current and former State employees only) Employment Reference Check Conflict of Interest Review Driver’s License and Records Check

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

How To Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

Connect 700 Program

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Talent Acquisition at talent.acquisition.deed@state.mn.us.

Veterans

To be considered with Veteran's Status, you MUST indicate this on your application and submit a copy of your DD-214 form and other required documentation to talent.acquisition.deed@state.mn.us by the closing date.

Recently Separated Veterans (RSV): Effective July 1, 2009, legislation provides that the top five RSV applicants who apply and meet the qualifications for a vacancy shall be granted an interview.

Certain Disabled Veterans: Effective August 1, 2012, legislation provides state agencies with the option to appoint certain disabled veterans on a non-competitive basis.

See the above links for criteria and eligibility.

Current State Employees

Please apply via Self Service. If eligible for bidding or expression of interest: This vacancy will be open for bids/expression of interest and all qualified applicants simultaneously. Current employees of DEED who are currently in the same classification, who are eligible, and apply within the seven (7) day period will be considered prior to filling the position by other means.

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Timothy High at timothy.high@state.mn.us

Working together to improve the state we love.

What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

A sense of purpose in their work

Connection with their coworkers and communities Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your Benefits May Include

Paid vacation and sick leave

12 paid holidays each year Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans Fertility care, including IVF Diabetes care Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years) Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being Support To Help You Reach Your Career Goals

Training, classes, and professional development

Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) For Work/life Support

A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. State agencies are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state and strongly encourages persons of color and Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve Minnesotans.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants With Disabilities

Minnesota state agencies make reasonable accommodations to their employees and applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in searching or applying for jobs with the State of Minnesota, call the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and let us know the support you need.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employer, and encourages all qualified candidates to apply for job opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application and search tools, please contact Karen Lilledahl at Karen.Lilledahl@state.mn.us. Please indicate what assistance is needed.