Senior Product Manager, New Premium Products

About Us 

Academia.edu is a venture-backed, for-profit, and profitable company based in San Francisco. We are recognized as the world’s leading platform for researchers and scholars to share work, discover research, and connect with academics globally. Our bold vision is to democratize and accelerate the world's research, enhancing the speed of scientific discovery and technological progress for the benefit of everyone. We imagine a world where accessing academic papers is effortless, keeping track of cutting-edge research is seamless and collaborating with researchers is easier than ever before. Our platform empowers millions of scholars worldwide to push the boundaries of human understanding. We believe that academic research is a lever that improves the progress of humanity, and our commitment to this mission drives everything we do.

Join us as we continue to redefine what's possible in the world of research. Discover careers that challenge, inspire and propel you toward a future where your ideas can truly change the world. At Academia.edu, we're not just shaping the future of research—we're shaping the future of possibilities.

Location

Our office is located in San Francisco's Financial District (580 California St) and we all gather for All Hands meetings, collaborative sessions, innovation-driven brainstorming, and events that bring us closer together. Our space has everything we need—from cozy rooms for 1:1 mentoring and focused work to larger rooms designed for team activities.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead our New Premium Products team. This team operates as an incubator to develop innovative one-to-one products aimed at expanding Academia's offerings beyond the current scope. Your role will focus on identifying new product opportunities, rapidly prototyping, and launching new premium products that provide exceptional value to our users.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategize, define, and prioritize the product roadmap for new premium products
• You will lead and coordinate cross-functional teams across engineering, design, and data to bring new ideas to market
• Rapidly prototype and validate new product concepts through iterative testing, ensuring alignment with customer needs and business goals
• Utilize product metrics to guide decision-making and evaluate success, ensuring continuous improvement
• Develop and present strategic plans based on market and data-driven insights, ensuring the successful rollout of new premium offerings

Requirements

• Candidates should have experience starting a software business and, as part of their zero-to-one journeys, have focused on key areas such as product-market fit, identifying target customers, and being adaptable, versatile, and resilient in driving initiatives forward
• The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of B2C online product management experience with a proven track record of working on products serving millions of users
• Experience in social media, software-as-a-service, or academic technology platforms is preferred. Strong communication skills, both written and oral, are essential, along with the ability to engage in high-level technical discussions
• A customer-centric approach with a data-driven mindset and extensive experience in experimentation and rapid iteration are also required
• Startup experience is essential
• Success in this role requires expertise in engaging with customers, rapid prototyping, and iterative development
• Strong capabilities in growth and innovation are crucial, including the ability to identify the ideal customer profile and rapidly test and iterate on product strategies
• Candidates must also exhibit drive, resilience, and versatility by being proactive and adopting creative approaches to testing new ideas
• Nice to have: Experience in the education technology or academic space, previous work in high-growth technology companies, and a background in growth-focused product functions are considered valuable additions.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Benefits

Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents

Generous Time Off: 21 paid vacation days, 12 paid company holidays, and unlimited sick days; paid parental leave and other leaves for life’s needs; 6-week paid sabbatical every 4 years

Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible daily schedules within a hybrid work environment, annual remote-office budget, and monthly WFH internet stipend

Competitive Compensation: Competitive salary, 401k plan, and stock options

Mission-Driven Company: Join a mission-driven company to accelerate and democratize the world’s research

Learn more on our Careers Page!

Academia is a proud equal-opportunity employer and we are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.