About Chicago Public Media
Home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media is the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times serve more than 2 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to become the essential and most trusted news source that Chicago turns to each day for understanding the people, events, and ideas that shape our community.
WBEZ is home to local and national news programming as well as a growing portfolio of popular podcasts. WBEZ serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information, and its award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. WBEZ is supported by more than 86,000 members, hundreds of corporate sponsors and major donors. In 2022, WBEZ received more than 20 awards for its journalism, including two prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Chicago Sun-Times is Chicago’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper serving Chicago and is known for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, timely behind-the-scenes sports analysis, and insightful entertainment and cultural coverage. Chicago Sun-Times is the winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes and countless other awards. In recent years, the Sun-Times has focused on a digital transformation to deliver its news and content to a growing digital audience. Most recently, the Sun-Times dropped the paywall on suntimes.com to expand access to its journalism, and shifted to a community-funded digital membership program supported by voluntary member donations.
Chicago Public Media believes independent journalism is essential to a well-functioning democracy and access to fact-based, objective news and information is a right of every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse, compelling content that informs, inspires, and enriches. We connect diverse audiences and help them make a difference in the community, the region and the world. And, we employ 300+ staff who want to belong to an organization that inspires, supports, and challenges them to do their best work.
For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.
The Opportunity
The Sr. Product Manager will manage multiple high-impact digital products from ideation, design and specification through development, launch and maintenance. They are responsible for the delivery of complex consumer-facing projects that support the service journalism mission of Chicago Public Media. They are strong in their ability to collaborate with software engineers and designers, provide specifications, conduct thorough quality assurance testing, manage multi-disciplinary projects and make critical decisions throughout. They have experience in agile product management, prioritizing the most impactful features and applying test-and-learn and MVP techniques to their decision-making.
In addition, they are a strong communicator who is equally comfortable presenting information to stakeholders, executive teams and scrum teams. They have a talent for gathering feedback from users and using it to create better products and experiences. They are an expert at analyzing metrics from Google Analytics, Firebase, A/B testing suites and other marketing tools and distilling the information into actionable insights. Finally they are results-driven and know how to achieve impact and outcomes for their product portfolio. They should be comfortable being accountable for meeting KPIs in support of our broader strategic goals.
Qualifications
3-5 years of product management experience in an agile software development environmentMultiple examples of launching successful features and digital products in areas of consumer product, e-commerce, digital media, or related fieldsExperience using analytics data to make product decisions that led to better outcomes, using sources like Google Analytics, Firebase, Mixpanel, Parsely, or related toolsExperience working directly with software engineers and designers, authoring detailed requirements with examples of successful collaborationsTop-notch communication skills in writing and presentation
Nice to Have
Domain expertise in one or more of the following areas: website development, mobile app development, e-commerce, subscription or fundraising products, or digital media applications. Previous experience in news media organizationsUnderstanding of web technologies including HTML / CSS / JS as well SQL or database languages
Working at Chicago Public Media
At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact. Our culture is one where collaboration, ideas, and innovation are encouraged. We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, diverse experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.
Chicago Public Media’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion is reflective across our brands, WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo 91.1 FM, in our staff and in our work. We are fully focused on equality of opportunity and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, experience, and all other fascinating characteristics that make us different.
At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for you at hire and in the years to come.
Our benefits include:
6 weeks fully paid family leaveHigh quality Medical, Dental, and Vision plans at an affordable costA 403(b)retirement plan with a company matchGenerous paid time off, including starting with 3 weeks’ vacation and 4 personal days.
The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and may change periodically to meet the needs of Chicago Public Media (CPM). The information contained in this job description is not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.
Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.