Job Description:
POSITION OVERVIEW:Berklee, a leader in online music education, is seeking a Product Manager to drive innovation in the way music education is delivered in the digital realm. We’re seeking a Product Manager to serve as the strategic lead of a new cross-functional innovation team, charged with defining, validating, and building breakthrough products that harness Berklee’s world-class learning content and resources.
This is a product-first team: lean, entrepreneurial, and experimental. The Product Manager will be the key driver of product discovery, validation, and development. You'll lead a small, agile group of developers and learning strategists working to unlock new ways to personalize learning, expand our global footprint, and ultimately build revenue-generating products for the institution. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, seeks opportunities for disruption, and has a passion for innovation.
ABOUT BERKLEE’S POPP DIVISION
This role will oversee a small innovative Skunkworks operation out of Berklee’s Division of Pre-College, Online, and Professional Programs (POPP). POPP encompasses Berklee Online, Berklee Summer Programs, and Berklee Press, and shapes the next generation of music industry professionals through innovative study in performance, production, music business, and more. We are a global leader in contemporary music education, having served more than 3.5 million students to date. Through acclaimed online courses, certificate programs, and degrees, along with intensive summer workshops and definitive publications, POPP brings the best of Berklee to students worldwide — regardless of ability, background, or experience level. Students emerge from our programs with professional portfolios, practical job skills, and a strong sense of community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Lead Product Discovery: Identify unmet needs, pain points, and opportunities within the music and education landscape using design thinking, user interviews, and market research.
2. Drive Strategic Vision: Define and maintain a clear product strategy aligned with Berklee’s mission and the broader goals of the skunkworks initiative.
3. Validate and Iterate: Rapidly prototype and test product concepts, applying lean methodologies to validate desirability, feasibility, and viability.
4. Leadership: Partner with your developers, learning strategist, and project manager to bring new products from idea to MVP—and beyond.
5. Collaborate with Advisory Committee: Regularly report to – and collaborate with – a small advisory committee to guide and validate the direction of the skunkworks.
6. Build Business Cases: Define success metrics and contribute to go-to-market and revenue planning for ideas with long-term potential.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
1. 5–10 years of experience in product management, innovation strategy, or startup leadership.
2. Experience leading product discovery and development cycles end-to-end.
3. Demonstrated experience managing projects, timelines, and cross-functional teams in an agile or lean environment.
4. Background in EdTech, AI/ML-driven products, media, music or related domains strongly preferred.
5. Deep experience applying product-first frameworks such as Jobs to Be Done, Lean Startup, or Design Sprint models.
6. Demonstrated success in building new products that went to market and generated revenue.
7. Passion for and/or experience in music, music education, or related creative domains is a strong plus.
8. Budgeting, presentation, and data analysis skills.
9. Excellent communication, storytelling, and facilitation skills.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:
We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at hroperations@Berklee.edu or call 617-747-2375.
Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.
*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*
