Product Manager, Personal Finance for All
Stanford UniversityThis position is a 2-year fixed-term role.
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) has built a global reputation through immersive and innovative management programs. We provide students with a transformative leadership experience, pushing the boundaries of knowledge with faculty research and offering a portfolio of entrepreneurial and non-degree programs that deliver global impact like no other. We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in service of our mission of developing innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change lives, change organizations, and change the world. We invite you to be part of this mission.
The Initiative for Financial Decision-Making (IFDM), a collaboration among the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), and the Economics Department, is recruiting a Product Manager for its Personal Finance for All efforts based at the GSB in Stanford, CA. IFDM is spearheading the effort to improve people’s financial well-being through financial literacy. IFDM’s mission is to equip people, especially the young and underprivileged, with skills for making informed financial decisions based on sound academic research insights. Despite the growth of personal finance education, challenges remain. IFDM works to support high schools, universities, and employers by providing tools, programs, and research-based evidence to promote financial literacy on a large scale.
Funded through a generous gift, IFDM has ambitious goals and seeks a mission-driven Product Manager to lead the development of new technological platforms to transform IFDM’s financial literacy curriculum into engaging, interactive learning experiences. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup-like environment within an academic ecosystem and has experience developing apps. You will lead the full lifecycle of high-impact educational products, such as an app, an online resource library, and a chatbot. Additionally, you will collaborate with Stanford faculty, researchers, engineers, designers, and students to transform the academic curriculum into digital tools that teach core personal finance skills.
Financial literacy is more important than ever. This project presents an opportunity to build something that matters at scale. You will help shape a product that has the potential to transform financial literacy outcomes.
Primary responsibilities of the Product Manager include:
- Lead the design and development of digital applications (web and mobile), ensuring products are user-friendly, scalable, and aligned with IFDM goals.
- Translate financial literacy curriculum into modular, interactive content within a seamless app experience and other digital tools.
- Conduct user research and usability testing to continuously iterate and improve learning outcomes.
- Ensure accessibility and engagement across mobile (iOS/Android) and web platforms.
- Analyze and use user data to inform decision-making and drive product iteration.
- Develop lifecycle strategies to ensure continuity in the face of changes in operating systems and technical advancements.
- Manage planning, timelines, metrics, and stakeholder communications.
- Ensure work completion within schedule, budgetary, and design constraints; make decisions about analysis, design, and testing.
- Solve complex technical problems; provide alternative methods for achieving goals when necessary.
- Provide strategic planning for own work group; may assist higher-level management in broader scope strategic planning for a significant, complex, university-wide function or major initiative.
- Create procedures and guidelines to ensure compliance with university policy and federal and state regulations.
- Develop and manage budgets for projects or work groups.
- Oversee or assist in the preparation and submission of documentation, such as proposals, progress reports, or other contractual requirements.
- Monitor technology trends and evaluate emerging technologies for adoption and implementation.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to leverage the university/school’s investments in information technology.
- Work directly with Stanford faculty, researchers, and instructional designers to ensure educational rigor and engagement.
Additional Responsibilities
- Remain adaptable and willing to take on various tasks as needed to support the IFDM’s goals.
- Provide direction and insights on IFDM technical projects as requested to ensure consistency in the functionality and branding.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree and ten years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proven experience managing the development of web or mobile applications, ideally in the education, fintech, or nonprofit space.
- Detailed understanding of relevant technical knowledge and problem resolution.
- Strong customer relationship skills, consensus-building skills, and ability to establish effective working relationships in a diverse environment.
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, including conflict resolution.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff.
- A strong grasp of digital user behavior and product design principles.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and cross-functional collaboration.
- Experience working closely with designers, engineers, and subject matter experts.
- Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, engaging digital experiences across multiple platforms and for targeted audiences.
- Familiarity with agile development, product analytics tools, and design tools.
- Passion for financial literacy, education, and making knowledge accessible to myriad users of IFDM apps and materials.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Frequently stand/walk, sit, grasp lightly/fine manipulate, perform desk-based computer tasks.
- Occasionally, use a telephone, write by hand, and lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds.
- Rarely sort/file paperwork or parts, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh >40 pounds.
- Ability to use voice to present information/communicate with others.
- On-campus mobility.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- May work extended hours, evenings, or weekends.
- May travel domestically.
- Occasional overnight travel.
WORK STANDARDS:
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
The expected pay range for this position is $152,010-$179,801 per annum.
This position is campus-based with limited hybrid flexibility and requires on-site presence during events and special engagements.
Stanford University provides pay ranges that represent its good-faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Stanford University, the base pay represents only one aspect of the total comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specific details about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.
Why Stanford is for You
Stanford’s dedicated 16,000 staff come from diverse educational and career backgrounds. We are a collaborative environment that thrives on innovation and continuous improvement. At Stanford, we seek talent committed to excellence, driven to impact the future of our legacy and improve lives on a global sphere. We provide competitive salaries, excellent healthcare and retirement plans, and a generous vacation policy, including additional time off during our winter closure. Our generous perks align with what matters to you:
- Freedom to grow. Take advantage of career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or course audits. Join a TedTalk, or film screening, or listen to a renowned author or leader discuss global issues.
- A caring culture. We understand the importance of your personal and family time and provide you access to wellness programs, child-care resources, parent education and consultation, elder care, and caregiving support.
- A healthier you. We make wellness a priority by providing access to world-class exercise facilities. Climb our rock wall, or participate in one of hundreds of health or fitness classes.
- Discovery and fun. Visit campus gardens, trails, and museums.
- Enviable resources. We offer free commuter programs and ridesharing incentives. Enjoy discounts for computers, cell phones, recreation, travel, entertainment, and more!
We take pride in being a culture that encourages and empowers you.
How to Apply
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.