Who you are

• We’re looking for a leader with strong, empathetic leadership and management principles that align with our company values
• If you have experience influencing without authority in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment, and a track record of successful results and managing others to achieve the same, we’d love to talk to you!
• 7+ years of experience in product management, business operations, program management, management consulting, or operations; ideally within a high-growth SaaS or B2B company
• 3+ years of experience directly managing other people in a people management role
• Experience collecting, organizing, analyzing and presenting qualitative and quantitative data
• Experience influencing senior executives and shaping product decision-making at the organizational or portfolio level
• Proven track record of hiring, scaling and developing high performing teams
• Cross-functional leadership and relationships working company-wide with teams like design, engineering, operations, success, sales, support and more
• Exceptional verbal and written communication; including small group discussions, large-scale presentations, or to executives
• Strategic thinker with experience in change management and organizational design
• Experience with a variety of work management tools, Google Suite, Atlassian (Jira, Confluence, Atlassian Home)
• Ability to inspire, motivate and evangelize

What the job involves

• Our R&D Operations team is responsible for helping us achieve product excellence and rigor in our product team’s processes
• This includes program management, data analysis, inter-departmental communication, new-hire onboarding, product feedback analysis and presentation, ownership of the product team’s tech stack, release process and management and more
• This role, reporting to the Chief of Staff for R&D and Head of Product Operations, will play a key part in scaling how we plan, prioritize, and deliver products as Sprout grows, ensuring our operating model keeps pace with increasing complexity
• Lead and develop a team of Product Operations Managers and Technical Program Managers, responsible for driving outcomes and running the operational “engine” that keeps Sprout’s product development moving efficiently
• Evolve and manage our release process in close coordination with R&D and GTM partners, ensuring teams are aligned, launches are well-coordinated, and customers experience smooth, high-quality releases
• Drive operational excellence by setting clear priorities, providing coaching and guidance, and ensuring your team has measurable, sustained impact on how Sprout delivers impact to our customers and teams
• Foster cross-functional alignment with engineering, product, design, and GTM teams to improve how we plan, track, and communicate product work
• Model strong leadership by building trust, cultivating accountability, and supporting both performance and career growth of your team members
• Within 1 month, you’ll plant your roots, including:
• Completing Sprout Social’s new hire training and onboarding alongside fellow new team members to gain a broad understanding of our products and how your role fits into the organization
• Make a plan with your manager to set initial priorities, align on expectations for your role, and learn about Sprout’s approach to product development
• Try using the Sprout product yourself—to see it the way a customer does
• Building relationships across product, engineering, design, and GTM teams
• Within 3 months, you’ll start hitting your stride by:
• Do a deep dive into our existing tools and processes, including release rituals, to understand their application, functionality, current state, and where there are strengths or gaps to address
• Build trust with your direct reports, providing coaching and clarity on expectations
• Identify early opportunities to streamline processes around release coordination with GTM and deliver recommendations
• Establish credibility with product and engineering leaders by providing insight and reliable execution
• Within 6 months, you’ll be making a clear impact through:
• Lead tangible improvements to our release process, ensuring higher predictability, smoother communication and ultimately stronger customer adoption
• Guide your team to consistently delivery value by owning clear pieces of the product operations “machine”
• Demonstrate measurable impact on how effectively we plan, deliver, and release new product functionality
• Within 12 months, you’ll make this role your own by:
• Own the performance of your team against agreed goals and metrics, with clear evidence of improved execution
• Scale and refine operational practices so they are predictable, transparent and durable
• Ensure your team is seen as a trusted, high-impact partner across R&D and GTM
• Be ready to anticipate and solve the next set of operational challenges as our product and business continue to grow

Benefits

• Insurance and benefit options that are built for both individuals and families
• Progressive policies to support work/life balance, like our flexible paid time off and parental leave program
• High-quality and well-maintained equipment—your computer will never prevent you from doing your best
• Wellness initiatives to ensure both health and mental well-being of our team
• Ongoing education and development opportunities via our Grow@Sprout program, employee-led diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and mentorship programs for aspiring leaders
• Growing corporate social responsibility program that is driven by the involvement and passion of our team members
• Beautiful, convenient and state-of-the-art offices in Chicago’s Loop and downtown Seattle, for those who prefer an office setting