Senior Manager, Product & User Experience - Craft Education Job at WGU in Nashvi

Craft Education Opportunity

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our countryand you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that futureconsider Craft Education as the next step in your career. Craft Education is on a mission to solve skilled labor shortages by powering work-based learning pathways for all. At Craft, we're revolutionizing the apprenticeship degree, combining on-the-job learning with accredited instruction to create innovative educational pathways that accommodate working professionals and meet employer needs. Our flagship product - Craft Connect - helps organizations administer apprentice degree programs and address mission-critical data and reporting needs. Through the same platform, Craft is also transforming how on-the-job learning converts into academic credits. Our team of technology, education and workforce professionals also provides technical assistance to organizations looking to launch and manage apprenticeship degree programs. We are working tirelessly to accelerate the expansion of these programs along with the data infrastructure that underpins them. If you're looking to join the work-based learning revolution, we'd love to talk with you. At Craft, you'll have the opportunity to solve hard problems in a high-growth startup environment and make a lasting impact on the future of education and workforce development. We couldn't be more excited to advance this work as a team of innovative, collaborative and mission-oriented professionals - we hope you'll consider joining us.

Job Title: Senior Manager of Product and User Experience

The Senior Manager of Product and User Experience will drive product execution, develop our product management team, and establish user experience as a strategic capability. This role thrives at the intersection of operational excellence and hands-on development; coaches Product Managers at varying stages of autonomy while ensuring reliable product delivery.

Product Execution & Delivery

Owns outcomes across a significant product portfolio; ensures delivery from discovery through launch. Guides product decisions within established strategic frameworks and empower your team to make autonomous calls. Translates strategic vision into executable plans; partners with senior leadership to clarify priorities and surface execution risks. Drives cross-functional alignment with Engineering, Sales, Customer Success, and Operations. Represents Product in leadership forums and with key stakeholders.

People Leadership & Development

Builds, mentors, and develops a team of Product Managers across levels of seniority and autonomy. Leads performance management with clear accountability, including difficult conversations. Adapts leadership style to individual needsstrategic partnership for autonomous PMs; intensive development where needed. Creates structures, rituals, and expectations that drive high performance across the team.

User Experience (UX) Leadership

Defines and champions UX vision and standardswhat "great design" means for our customers. Leads or partners closely with UX professionals (designers and researchers). Embeds user-centered design early starting in discovery, not bolted on at delivery. Builds scalable UX capabilitiesdesign systems, research practices, and quality standards.

Operational Excellence

Establishes team rituals and communication patterns that enable high performance. Ensures product development processes are optimized and repeatable from discovery through delivery. Drives predictabilityoversees release management, quality standards, and cross-team coordination. Creates visibility into performance via metrics, dashboards, and regular reporting.

Execution Partnership

Enables team autonomy while maintaining visibility and accountability for outcomes. Surfaces execution risks early with solutions, not just problems. Executes product organization initiatives and build team capabilities. Builds trust through reliable delivery and strong judgment.

Qualifications

Proven track record shipping high-quality products in B2B or B2B2C environments. Strong product execution and delivery skills; can lead product development with minimal oversight. Comfortable guiding decisions with incomplete information and adjusting as you learn. Experience in regulated or compliance-heavy environments (education, workforce development, healthcare, fintech, government). Experience managing and developing Product Managers or readiness to step into people leadership. Strong POV on what makes great UX; design or research background preferred. Strong communication and influence skills; can build alignment across functions. Comfortable operating independently in high-growth environments. Education Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent experience considered.

Location

This position will work in office at our beautiful new location in downtown Nashville, TN. Travel: This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed.