Are you passionate about creating exceptional student experiences through innovative digital products? We are looking for a strategic and collaborative Product Manager, Student Experience and Academic Products, to lead the development and continuous improvement of our online academic offerings and student-facing initiatives.
The Product Manager, Student Experience and Academic Products, manages the lifecycle of assigned online academic offerings and student-facing product initiatives. Reporting to the Head of Student Experience, the role translates institutional priorities, student insight, market evidence, and academic direction into clear product recommendations, roadmaps, requirements, launch plans, and performance reviews.
The Product Manager makes evidence-based recommendations, leads cross-functional delivery, coordinates product governance, and ensures assigned programs remain aligned with market demand, student needs, accreditation expectations, and the University of Fredericton service model.
Role Purpose and Scope
This role connects strategy to execution. The Product Manager converts concepts into approved business cases, product requirements, implementation plans, and measurable student experience improvements. The role manages assigned product roadmaps, frames analytical questions for the Product Analyst, synthesizes evidence for decision-makers, and coordinates the work required to introduce, revise, evaluate, or retire online offerings.
Key Responsibilities
1. Product Roadmap and Portfolio Management
- Develop, maintain, and communicate the roadmap for assigned online academic programs and student experience product initiatives.
- Translate priorities from the Head of Student Experience into sequenced initiatives with clear owners, timelines, dependencies, risks, and decision points.
- Recommend program enhancements, product changes, and lifecycle decisions using student data, market evidence, academic input, and operational performance.
- Coordinate recurring portfolio reviews and maintain a clear record of product decisions, assumptions, and follow-up actions.
2. Market, Student, and Competitive Insight
- Lead applied research on labour market demand, competitor offerings, Canadian post-secondary trends, student demographics, learner profiles, and unmet student needs.
- Direct and review Product Analyst research outputs to ensure accuracy, relevance, methodological soundness, and decision value.
- Synthesize enrolment trends, inquiry patterns, student feedback, survey results, NPS themes, completion signals, and external market indicators into actionable recommendations.
- Maintain awareness of online learner expectations, emerging program models, and competitive positioning within relevant Canadian and selected international markets.
3. Business Case and Program Opportunity Development
- Prepare or lead business cases for new programs, revised offerings, certificates, specializations, and student-facing product improvements.
- Define target learner segments, value propositions, employment outcomes, competitive differentiation, enrolment assumptions, tuition considerations, and operational implications.
- Assess the fit between proposed offerings, UFred academic strengths, the online delivery model, accreditation pathways, and student support requirements.
- Present concise recommendations to the Head of Student Experience and relevant academic, operational, and executive stakeholders.
4. Product Requirements and Cross-Functional Delivery
- Document product requirements, launch requirements, change requirements, and acceptance criteria for assigned initiatives.
- Coordinate work across academic leadership, student experience, marketing, admissions, finance, regulatory or accreditation support, technology, and operations.
- Manage launch readiness activities, including timelines, checklists, student-facing information, internal communications, web content inputs, and post-launch review plans.
- Identify delivery risks early and escalate decisions related to budget, academic ownership, compliance, partnership commitments, or major strategic trade-offs.
5. Product Performance and Student Experience Improvement
- Define appropriate product performance measures, including demand, conversion, enrolment, retention, satisfaction, NPS, completion, student support demand, and career relevance.
- Review post-launch performance and recommend product, service, communications, or process improvements based on evidence.
- Use student feedback and operational data to identify friction points in the learner journey and prioritize improvements that strengthen student outcomes.
- Prepare summaries, dashboards, briefing notes, and presentations that support clear management decisions.
6. Accreditation, Governance, and Documentation
- Contribute market evidence, student need analysis, competitor analysis, employment outcome evidence, and rationale statements for internal approvals and accreditation submissions.
- Maintain product records, decision logs, source files, roadmap documentation, and evidence repositories for assigned offerings.
- Ensure proposed product changes are documented clearly and align with applicable academic governance, quality assurance, and accreditation expectations.
- Support periodic review of existing offerings by identifying whether programs remain current, differentiated, relevant, and sustainable.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree required in business, marketing, product management, educational technology, data analytics, or a related field.
- Master's degree in a related field is considered an asset.
Experience
- Three or more years of progressive experience in product management, market research, business analysis, higher education administration, EdTech, student experience, or a related field.
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, discovery, roadmap planning, launch coordination, performance measurement, and lifecycle review.
- Applied understanding of the Canadian post-secondary market, online learner expectations, labour market research, and competitive positioning.
- Strong analytical capability, including the ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative evidence and convert it into concise recommendations.
- Excellent writing, presentation, and documentation skills for executive, academic, operational, and accreditation audiences.
- Strong project coordination skills, including timeline management, risk tracking, stakeholder alignment, and follow-through.
- Proficiency with common analytical, survey, spreadsheet, presentation, and documentation tools.
A Little Bit About Us: University of Fredericton
Since its establishment in 2005, the University of Fredericton (UFred) has aimed to provide innovative and adaptable online education. From its inception, UFred has remained devoted to delivering accessible, high-quality education to professionals across Canada and beyond. Nearly two decades later, the University is recognized for its distinctive approach to online learning, particularly in the fields of business administration and occupational health and safety.
As UFred prepares for its next phase of development, the University has made strides toward global growth. In May 2023, UFred was acquired by IU Group (IUG), a prominent educational institution based in Germany. Both establishments share a commitment to making education broadly accessible, emphasizing flexibility, innovation, and quality within their programs. This shared vision facilitated the acquisition and positioning of UFred for further expansion. With IUG's support, UFred aims to utilize additional resources and expertise to enhance its offerings and reach a wider audience of learners both within Canada and internationally.
UFred's educational philosophy is anchored in a dedication to accessibility, flexibility, and personalization. As an online educational institution, UFred is committed to providing learners with a rigorous academic experience that equips them for success in a changing global environment. The University values diversity, integrity, and lifelong learning, incorporating these principles into all aspects of its operations. Program curricula are carefully designed to be challenging, pertinent, and aligned with the needs of both learners and the industry. UFred employs a diverse faculty of experienced professionals who bring a blend of practical knowledge and academic proficiency to the virtual classroom.
Are you interested? Work With Us
In addition to your base compensation, joining the UFred team means becoming part of a growing organization with a mission to provide quality and affordable education globally. UFred values its employees and supports them with opportunities for Wellness and Balance, as well as Professional Development.
Wellness and Balance
UFred employees enjoy subsidized Health and Vision Care, an RRSP Match program, and a minimum of three weeks of vacation to start. All staff also receive additional paid time off between Christmas and New Year's. Flexible work arrangements and an Active Living Benefit support overall well-being.
Professional Development
UFred supports ongoing learning and development through internal and external opportunities and resources to support your growth.
Hours of Work
This is a full-time permanent position (35 hours per week) under regular business hours. The position is based in Fredericton, NB, with the option to work remotely from anywhere in New Brunswick and attend in-person meetings as required.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The University of Fredericton is passionately committed to ensuring a positive and professional working environment in which all people are treated with dignity and respect. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and aim to provide a fair and consistent method for filling job openings in support of equality of opportunity and cultural diversity within the organization. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including women, persons with disabilities, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), and individuals from LGBTQ2SIA+ and other equity-seeking communities.
This position is currently vacant, and the job posting will remain open until August 14, 2026. We appreciate all applications received.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: $75,000.00-$85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Fredericton, NB E3B 6Z6
