Sr Technical Product Manager - Accessibility

We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture 

Ascend Learning is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning. 

Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers. 

We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more. 

Ascend Learning leads the way in innovation and solution creation to improve outcomes and deliver results for students, educators, and healthcare workers in the ever-changing field of healthcare. We offer advanced resources that drive nursing success, empower front-line certified allied health workers, help physicians pass boards and stay current, and provide education management tools for medical education programs. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO  

As a Sr Technical Product Manager, Accessibility (TPM) role you will help Ascend achieve a more strategic, effective, and streamlined approach to platform management, by having a dedicated role accountable for developing and managing the long-term platform strategy and roadmap for implementing and supporting accessibility needs and standards across our technology. This role is designed to simplify technology prioritization and minimize hand-offs across Product and Tech teams.  

WHERE YOU’LL WORK  

This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Leawood, KS or Burlington, MA office location preferred. Remote will be considered within the United States.  

HOW YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME 

• WCAG Compliance: Leading and performing comprehensive accessibility evaluations to ensure digital properties comply with WCAG standards and usability requirements.
• Integrating Accessibility: Partnering with design, development, and content teams to embed accessibility into processes and procedures across the software development lifecycle.
• Accessibility Tools Integration: Assisting teams in integrating accessibility tools into their design, development, and monitoring workflows.
• Accessibility Testing: Monitoring accessibility compliance throughout the software development process, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyzing and providing accessibility metrics to identify trends and gaps, and reporting on accessibility progress to stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working closely with various teams (engineering, design, product, success) to drive the delivery of highly accessible products and services.
• Project Management: Managing accessibility programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timelines.
• Stakeholder Communication: Effectively communicating accessibility strategies, progress, and challenges to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Vendor Management: Managing relationships with third-party vendors in the accessibility space, coordinating and documenting features for audit. 

• Develop and execute long-term strategic capability roadmap in alignment with overall Ascend strategy and objectives and market trends.  

• Ensure roadmap is inclusive of and enables clear implementation.   

• Work closely with Capability TPMs, Business Product Owners and Product Delivery Teams to review, rationalize, and prioritize requirements from different solution areas. Guide, educate and support Product Delivery Teams as needed to ensure alignment to customer and strategic value/priorities 

• Own, oversee, and provide regular updates to relevant stakeholders on product    

• Provide guidance to development teams responsible for product build and maintenance Plan, manage and prioritize features and product increment cycles (PIs) for agile development, as needed 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED 

• Bachelor’s degree in related fields, such as Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration or other areas combined with relevant work experience (relevant work experience alone may provide sufficient experience)   

• 8+ years of combined experience in product management, technical product management, business management, or consulting, preferably in a technical or software-related environment   
• Expertise in WCAG: Strong understanding of WCAG guidelines and related accessibility standards like VPAT and ACRs.
• Technical Skills: Ability to understand and integrate accessibility tools and processes within the development lifecycle.
• Program Management Skills: Experience in managing complex programs, utilizing data-driven insights to identify accessibility challenges and opportunities.
• Collaboration Skills: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and advocate for inclusive design.
• Communication Skills: Strong communication skills to effectively convey accessibility concepts and challenges.
• Commitment to Inclusion: Motivation to create inclusive platforms and products for all users, including those with disabilities. 

• Experience with educational assessment including test security, proctoring, and assessment workflow development preferred  

• Experience working in an Agile environment is strongly preferred   

• Familiarity with data analysis, market research related to SaaS/technology trends, and customer feedback methodologies to inform capability decisions   

• Proven ability in managing a complex strategic roadmap with multiple dependencies.   

• Proven communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively collaborate with product teams, engineers, content teams, and other stakeholders   

• Combines strong technical acumen with deep understanding of the customer/markets being served   

• Strong understanding of software development principles, technologies and Agile methodologies    

• Proven expertise in making critical technology-related decisions and trade-offs to drive overall business value and capability effectiveness   

• Ability to align capability roadmap with product requirements and overall business objectives    

• Ability to derive insights from technical trends/capabilities to champion improvements to the capability   

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams 

• Strong project management skills to oversee development of capability requirements.     

• Proven expertise in capability area for which he/she is responsible (e.g., Assessment, Instructional Content)   
• Demonstrated leadership to provide technical leadership and guidance to capability development teams 

BENEFITS 

• Flexible and generous paid time off  

• Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance  

• 401(k) employer matching program 

• Parental leave 

• Wellness resources 

• Charitable matching program 

• Hybrid work  

• On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington) 

• Community outreach groups 

• Tuition reimbursement 

Fostering A Sense of Belonging 

We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued and be their authentic selves. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.  

About Ascend Learning 

As a tech-enabled services company, Ascend Learning is a national leader in developing and delivering data-driven online educational content, software, assessments, analytics, and simulations serving institutions, students and employers across healthcare, fitness and wellness, public and workplace safety, skilled trades, insurance, financial services, cybersecurity, and higher education. We're committed to accelerating the learning pathways that can move people into careers where they have the knowledge and skills to have an impact and help change lives in the communities they serve. Headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America's 2023 Greatest Workplaces for Diversity. 

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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