Principal Data Product Manager

Principal Technology Product Manager – Data Foundation

Location:

U.S Remote

Pearson Virtual Schools (PVS) is seeking a Principal Product Manager to lead our Data Foundation program as a senior expert, serving as a key individual contributor. This role is for an experienced, high-impact professional with deep expertise and strategic influence. In this capacity, you will drive the vision and execution of a critical platform modernization initiative (Data Foundation) without direct reports, leading cross‑functional teams by influence across engineering, architecture, data science, and design.

You will blend strong technical acumen in data platforms and cloud architecture with top‑tier product management skills to deliver forward‑looking milestones on the program’s roadmap. The ideal candidate is also passionate about innovation in the software development lifecycle, leveraging generative AI and intelligent agents to enhance product development and user experiences. This is a remote‑friendly role (with a preference for working hours that align with U.S. Eastern Time) and offers the opportunity to shape the future of PVS’s platform at a strategic level.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Vision & Roadmaps: Develop and own the product strategy and multi‑year roadmap for the Data Foundation program, ensuring it aligns with PVS’s overall platform modernization goals. Clearly define phased milestones and outcomes, communicating a compelling vision to stakeholders and team members.

• Data Platform Leadership: Lead the Data Foundation program to modernize PVS’s data architecture and infrastructure. This includes driving the implementation of a unified, cloud‑based data platform (leveraging AWS or similar) that replaces legacy systems, establishes single sources of truth for key data domains, and provides scalable, real‑time data access via APIs. Ensure data governance, privacy, and quality standards are built into the platform from the ground up.

• Cross‑Functional Leadership: Serve as the product lead at the top of the SDLC for this initiative – coordinate and inspire cross‑functional teams of software engineers, architects, data scientists, UX/UI designers, and business stakeholders. Without direct managerial authority, exercise influence and thought leadership to drive decision‑making, resolve conflicts, and keep everyone aligned on product objectives and timelines.

• Product Development Lifecycle Innovation: Introduce and champion the use of generative AI and agent‑driven tools in our product development process. For example, explore how AI can automate parts of requirements gathering, coding, testing, or analytics – improving development efficiency and product quality. Investigate opportunities to integrate generative AI into the products themselves (such as AI‑driven insights or personalization within the PVS platform) in support of a cutting‑edge user experience.

• Execution & Delivery: Oversee the end‑to‑end execution of product initiatives, from concept through launch and iteration. Write clear product requirements (PRDs), define user stories and acceptance criteria in partnership with Agile teams, and maintain a well‑groomed backlog for Data Foundation work streams. Prioritize features by balancing strategic impact, user value, and development effort. Ensure on‑time delivery of key roadmap milestones, adjusting plans as needed based on feedback and changing requirements.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders – including other Product Vertical leaders, Program/Project Managers, and executives – to ensure the Data Foundation program meets the needs of various learning products and operational teams. Communicate program progress, challenges, and next steps through presentations and reports. Act as the voice of the customer and the business
  , ensuring that delivered capabilities drive tangible improvements in user experience, operational efficiency, and platform capabilities.

• Technical Depth & Decision‑Making: Use your strong technical background to make informed product decisions. Understand the complexities of cloud data pipelines, database technologies, and modern data…