Skillsoft
VP, IT & Developer Products
Brand: Skillsoft
Req#: 465646
# of Positions: 0
Updated: 07/16/2018
Job Type: Regular
Location: Boston MA
Category: Content Development
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Job Description
Position Overview

The VP, IT and Developer Products (VP, IT & Dev) is responsible for driving the overall growth and execution of Skillsoft’s IT certification and developer product portfolio based on the needs of customer base, industry intelligence and trends, as well as the goals of the broader business. This role is ultimately responsible for the product vision, scope, positioning and go-to-market of the IT certification & developer product offering within the context of the broader Skillsoft portfolio.

The VP, IT  & Dev works with the broader content team, to manage existing products and develop new offerings to drive the overall growth and adoption of the company’s content portfolio. The VP, IT & Dev, shares accountability for the overall revenue target of the product line, with the global sales organization. The successful candidate will possess an authoritative knowledge of the IT and software developer marketspace, as well as a verifiable network of industry contacts and a market-facing persona that is highly visible in the industry. This role, requires unique blend of business development skills, expert product knowledge, technical proficiency and proven experience in executing against a business plan. The VP, IT & Dev requires a big-picture vision, paired with the drive and operational knowledge to make that vision a reality.

This VP, IT & Dev serves as both the internal and external evangelist for the company’s IT certification and developer product portfolio, working with the global sales team, key customers and user communities to articulate the value proposition. This role is also accountable for all IT certification and developer product marketing activities including product messaging, positioning, go-to-market, field enablement, promotion, media placement and other on-going support. The successful candidate will be an expert in the buyers and the users that they serve. Through the aggregation of customer feedback, market research and trend analysis the role will support the broader marketing team in imparting this knowledge to the field and channel sales teams. The ability to grasp and translate technical capabilities and features into meaningful customer benefits is critical.

Position Responsibilities
• Product
o Lead curriculum strategy and design for entire IT certification and developer portfolio across the spectrum of learning assets including self-study video tutorials, digital books, virtual practice labs, virtual instructor-led courses, mentoring, assessment, cert-prep and other learning modalities as required.
o Assess and reconcile the gaps in the product offerings; work with the broader content team and curators to formulate product options, which might include internal development, partner development and content licensing or acquisition.
o Lead title selection and curation effort for IT certification and developer products within company’s larger learning channel structure.
o Develop and implement product strategies and tactics that differentiate Skillsoft’s IT and developer product portfolio in the market.
o Future-proof product offering through competitor analysis, customer research and predictive analytics based on user consumption patterns and market trends.
o Actively manage and maintain the product roadmap and orchestrate broader product maintenance strategy for IT certification and developer products.
o Manage the product life cycle for each IT certification and developer offering from strategic planning to tactical activities, through product concept, launch, growth, maturity and retirement.
o Collaborate with the broader engineering and technology teams to formulate the learning experience and feature set for IT certification and developer products within company’s learning platforms.
o Work with competitive intelligence team to fully understand the feature set, catalog and value proposition for all relevant competitors. Distill perspectives into concise, well-thought positioning that can be leveraged within the field enablement and product marketing efforts.
• Sales & Marketing
o Work with product marketing team to develop and implement programs that drive product awareness and demand.
o Articulate and convey the value proposition for the IT certification and developer portfolio to the field sales teams. Work with product marketing team to develop sales tools and resources that accelerate revenue growth.
o Articulate vision and products in a compelling fashion; serve as the resident thought leader and evangelist with respect to IT certification and developer products. Speak and present at company customer events, as well as industry and user conferences.
o Work with broader product marketing team to initiate the launch of new products and releases and oversee the cross-functional implementation of the plan.
o Serve as the expert on the buyers and the users of the product, which includes how they buy and their buying criteria; be the expert on the competition and how to differentiate and position the company’s products.
o Work with the broader product marketing team to lead user groups, Executive Advisory Board, product newsletters and customer events.
o Collaborate with the broader field sales force, to support major account renewals and new business opportunities. Track and manage pipeline of major account renewals, upgrades and new business opportunities with field sales force.
• Business Development
o Oversee the company’s portfolio of IT certification and developer learning content partners. Ensure that business models are both competitive and sustainable, and that content received from partners is of the highest commercial quality. Ensure that the company maintains favorable business terms that ensure the continuity of service to customers, as well as maximum flexibility for distribution and pricing.
o Work with finance and legal teams to monitor expiration and renewal of partner relationships to ensure that business terms are closely examined, evaluated and altered (where necessary) within each agreement.
o Lead business development activities with company’s current and prospective content and technology partners, to ensure the relevance and competitiveness of product. Work with partners ensure a steady and growing flow of new content, as per business targets.
o Cultivate and establish relationships with leading IT certification and developer communities and thought leaders to effectively build Skillsoft user community and promote Skillsoft products with individual learners.
o Develop relationships with leading IT and developer practitioners and analysts to gather insights and endorsements on product strategy and road map.

Desired Skills and Experience
• 7-10 years Product Management and/or Product Marketing experience in a digital content, technology and/or learning company.
• 7-10 years of proven experience in a combination of IT, software development, cloud computing, cyber security, data and analytics, mobile application development, web development, agile development and/or user experience design.
• Excellent communication, leadership and management skills.
• Highly organized and successful in managing competing business priorities, setting aggressive deadline commitments and meeting them.
• Self-starter, team player and have the ability to lead and work with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to focus on and manage the detailed execution while understanding how these activities fit into the bigger picture.
• Ability to solve complex problems independently.
• Willing to travel as needed.

Education and Certifications
Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree Preferred




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Skillsoft is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer: It is the policy of Skillsoft Corporation to provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability (mental or physical), protected veteran status, genetic information or any other class protected by law