Product Strategy Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Strategy Manager

Company: National Restaurant Association

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Management / GTM Strategy

Date Posted: June 07, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic planning and execution for a portfolio of B2B and B2C digital learning products within the foodservice industry's risk and compliance segment.

• Manage the complete product lifecycle, from inception to retirement, ensuring alignment with market needs and business objectives.

• Conduct comprehensive market analysis, competitive intelligence, and customer research to identify opportunities for product innovation and growth.

• Act as the primary internal advocate and leader for the assigned product portfolio, fostering collaboration across Development, Marketing, Sales, IT, and other key departments.

• Develop and implement go-to-market strategies, pricing models, and technology roadmaps to enhance product performance and user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Strategy Manager," the core responsibilities heavily lean into product management with a strong strategic component. The emphasis on managing a portfolio, product lifecycle, and cross-functional collaboration points to a role that requires both strategic vision and tactical execution within the product development and GTM framework. The mention of "learning products" and "eLearning capabilities" places this role within the EdTech or professional development space, requiring an understanding of educational trends and delivery platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, articulate, and execute a comprehensive strategic plan for the assigned multi-product portfolio, focusing on increasing market share and revenue within the Health & Safety business segment.

• Cultivate and maintain deep expertise in the restaurant, food service, and food retail industries, including understanding customer needs, competitive dynamics, market trends, and potential threats or opportunities.

• Oversee the entire product lifecycle for all products within the portfolio, from business case development and scoping to successful launch and eventual retirement, ensuring adherence to budget and timelines.

• Collaborate effectively with functional leaders across the Business Services team and the broader Product organization to ensure cohesive strategy and execution.

• Partner with course and exam development teams to align product roadmaps with content creation efforts and ensure seamless integration.

• Work closely with Platform and IT teams to define and frame business requirements for technology solutions that support product implementation and enhance customer experience.

• Collaborate with Business Analysts to translate business needs into detailed Product Backlog Items (PBIs) or user stories that guide technical development.

• Liaise with other Health & Safety teams, such as Regulatory and Accreditation, to ensure product strategies support overarching business segment goals.

• Employ a data-driven and research-based approach to validate that products meet B2C and B2B customer expectations for purchase, access, and delivery.

• Serve as the primary visionary and advocate for the product portfolio, championing its goals and initiatives among internal partners and stakeholders.

• Provide strategic thought leadership on pricing strategies, business models, and technology adoption for the portfolio.

• Identify, test, and validate product ideas, assumptions, and features through methods like focus groups, customer interviews, user testing, and advisory boards.

• Regularly analyze product and portfolio plans, contributing to revenue forecasting and measuring progress against defined goals.

• Support the Sr. Director, Product Management in driving departmental objectives and initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on strategic market understanding, lifecycle management, and cross-functional leadership, which are critical for a Product Strategy Manager role. The mention of "Health & Safety business segment" and "restaurant, food service, and food retail industries" provides specific domain context. The requirement to frame business requirements for IT and work with Business Analysts on PBIs indicates a need for understanding Agile development processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree is required.

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) is preferred, indicating a strong preference for candidates with advanced business acumen and strategic thinking capabilities relevant to product strategy. Experience:

• Minimum of three years of progressive experience in product management, product marketing, or product development roles.

• Experience with B2B and B2C digital education/training software products is a significant advantage, demonstrating familiarity with the target market and product types.

• Proven experience and knowledge of educational/training and certification software, including familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and other delivery solutions. Required Skills:

• Product Lifecycle Management: Ability to manage products from ideation through retirement, including business case development, launch, and ongoing optimization.

• Strategic Planning & Execution: Proven ability to develop, communicate, and execute strategic plans that drive market share and revenue growth.

• Market & Competitive Analysis: Skill in conducting thorough research on market trends, customer needs, and competitor activities to inform product strategy.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Development, Marketing, Sales, IT, and other departments to achieve product goals.

• Business Requirements Definition: Proficiency in framing business needs and translating them into actionable requirements for technical teams (e.g., user stories, PBIs).

• Financial & Business Acumen: Functional knowledge of financial metrics, pricing strategies, business models, and revenue forecasting.

Preferred Skills:

• eLearning & EdTech: Deep understanding of eLearning capabilities, educational trends, and digital training solutions.

• CRM & Sales Operations Understanding: Familiarity with how sales organizations operate and interact with product offerings, crucial for B2B product success.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development frameworks, understanding user stories and sprint planning.

• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Ability to leverage data and research to drive product decisions and measure performance.

• Stakeholder Management: Strong interpersonal, negotiation, conflict management, and diplomacy skills to effectively manage diverse stakeholder expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred mention of "B2B and B2C digital education/training software products" and "Learning Management Systems" is critical. This role requires a candidate who understands the nuances of selling and delivering educational content digitally, not just generic product management. The "3-5 years" experience level inference is based on the typical progression for a "Manager" title in product strategy and the explicit "minimum three years" requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Roadmap Development: Ability to create and maintain a multi-year product strategy roadmap for a portfolio of digital learning products, aligned with market opportunities and business objectives.

• Lifecycle Management Documentation: Proficiency in documenting and executing all stages of the product lifecycle, including detailed business cases, requirements documentation, and retirement plans.

• Market & Customer Intelligence Integration: Demonstrated capability to integrate market analysis, competitive intelligence, and customer feedback into ongoing portfolio strategy and decision-making.

• Cross-Functional Alignment Frameworks: Experience in establishing and managing frameworks for aligning product strategy with Sales, Marketing, Development, and IT to ensure cohesive Go-to-Market (GTM) execution.

Process Documentation:

• Product Strategy & Business Case: Documented processes for developing comprehensive business cases that justify new product initiatives or significant portfolio changes, including market validation and ROI projections.

• Agile Development Workflow: Experience in documenting and contributing to agile development processes, specifically framing business requirements into user stories (PBIs) for development teams.

• Product Performance Measurement: Established processes for tracking, analyzing, and reporting on key product and portfolio performance metrics, including revenue, market share, customer engagement, and user satisfaction.

• Customer Feedback Loop Implementation: Documented methods for gathering, analyzing, and acting upon customer feedback from various channels (e.g., user testing, interviews, advisory groups) to drive product improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial for operations-minded candidates. The emphasis on "portfolio strategy," "lifecycle management documentation," "business cases," and "performance measurement" aligns with the need for structured approaches in product management. The mention of "user stories (PBIs)" points to a need for familiarity with Agile documentation within product development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The estimated salary range for a Product Strategy Manager in Chicago, IL, with 3-5 years of experience, is between $95,000 and $125,000 annually. This estimation is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major metropolitan areas, considering the specified experience level and the nature of the organization. Factors such as the specific skills in digital education products, B2B/B2C strategy, and market analysis can influence the final compensation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Outstanding healthcare coverage including medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Competitive Compensation: Salaries are designed to be competitive within the market.

• Generous Time Off: Ample vacation and leave time to support work-life balance.

• Retirement Savings: A matching 401(k) plan to help employees save for the future.

• Exclusive Perks: A unique collection of corporate discounts and memberships.

• Professional Development: Programs dedicated to career and skills development, including learning assistance and tuition assistance.

Working Hours:

The standard work week is 40 hours. The role requires a hybrid work arrangement with a mandatory three days onsite (Monday-Wednesday) and flexibility to work remotely on Thursdays and Fridays.

📝 Enhancement Note: Chicago is a major metropolitan hub with a competitive job market for product management roles. The estimated salary range reflects this, considering the specified experience level and the hybrid work model. The benefits listed are typical for established non-profit organizations or industry associations, emphasizing comprehensive support for employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The National Restaurant Association operates within the Foodservice and Hospitality industry, a dynamic and consumer-facing sector. The Educational Foundation arm focuses on workforce development and training within this industry. This context means the products developed are aimed at professionals and students within restaurants, catering, and related food businesses, often dealing with compliance, safety, and career advancement.

Company Size: The organization is of a significant size, likely employing several hundred to over a thousand individuals, based on the breadth of its operations and its role as a national association. This implies a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for impact within specialized teams. For operations professionals, this size often means dedicated teams for various functions, clear reporting lines, and potential for internal mobility.

Founded: The National Restaurant Association was founded in 1919, and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation was established in 1987. This long history indicates a stable organization with deep roots in the industry, a strong reputation, and a legacy of service and advocacy. This stability can translate into a culture that values established best practices while also embracing innovation needed to stay relevant.

Team Structure:

• Product Management Team: This team is likely structured to manage various product lines or segments. The Product Strategy Manager will be part of this team, potentially reporting to a Sr. Director of Product Management. The team size could range from a handful to a dozen or more individuals, depending on the portfolio's complexity.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with Development, Marketing, Sales, Platforms, Information Technology (IT), Regulatory, Customer Operations, and Finance & Accounting. This structure suggests a matrixed environment where project teams are formed to bring products to market and manage their lifecycle.

• Reporting Hierarchy: The Product Strategy Manager will report to a Sr. Director, Product Management, indicating a clear leadership structure within the product organization. This senior director will likely oversee multiple product managers and their respective portfolios.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The job description explicitly mentions leveraging a "data-driven and research-based approach," indicating that product decisions are informed by analytics, customer research, and market insights.

• Agile Product Development: The mention of framing "business requirements for the PBIs (user stories) that drive technical work" suggests an adoption of Agile methodologies within the development and product management processes.

• Customer-Centric Innovation: The emphasis on "customer-focused solutions," "customer learning activities," and "identifying customer needs" highlights a commitment to understanding and serving the target audience.

Company Website: https://www.restaurant.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The organizational context is crucial. Understanding that this is a national association and educational foundation provides insight into the company's mission-driven nature. The emphasis on "hospitality, opportunity, and quality of life" suggests a culture that values service and impact. The detailed breakdown of cross-functional collaboration is key for operations roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level management track within product strategy. It requires significant experience (3+ years) and the ability to manage a portfolio of products, demonstrating strategic thinking and execution capabilities. It's a step beyond a junior product manager, requiring ownership of business outcomes and cross-functional leadership.

Reporting Structure: The Product Strategy Manager will report to a Sr. Director, Product Management. This structure offers mentorship from a senior leader and exposure to higher-level strategic discussions. The manager will also be responsible for influencing and collaborating with peers and leaders in Development, Marketing, Sales, and IT.

Operations Impact: The Product Strategy Manager's impact is directly tied to the growth and success of the assigned product portfolio, specifically within the foodservice industry's risk and compliance learning segment. This includes driving revenue, increasing market share, enhancing customer satisfaction, and ensuring the portfolio remains competitive and relevant. The role contributes to the broader mission of developing a strong industry workforce.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advanced Product Leadership: Potential for advancement to Senior Product Manager, Director of Product Management, or Head of Product, managing larger portfolios or multiple product teams.

• Specialization Deepening: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in digital education, risk management products, or specific segments of the foodservice industry.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into related GTM roles such as Product Marketing, Business Development, or Strategy roles within the organization or broader industry.

• Strategic Leadership Development: Exposure to executive-level strategy sessions and the opportunity to influence the organization's overall product vision and direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis focuses on the career trajectory within product management and related GTM functions, emphasizing the strategic and leadership aspects of the role. The "Operations Impact" section connects the role's responsibilities to tangible business outcomes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role operates out of the National Restaurant Association's Chicago office, described as a hybrid environment. This suggests a modern office space designed to accommodate both in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Chicago, Illinois, with a specific postal code of 60606. This is a central business district location, likely offering good accessibility via public transportation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office is designed to foster collaboration, with the expectation of three days onsite. This implies meeting rooms, common areas, and team spaces conducive to brainstorming and project work.

• Technology-Enabled: As a product management role, expect access to standard office technology, project management tools, and potentially specialized software for product development and analysis.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for focused work at home and collaborative engagement in the office. The three-day in-office requirement ensures regular face-to-face interaction with colleagues and stakeholders.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is a standard 40-hour week, with the hybrid arrangement providing flexibility for remote work on Thursdays and Fridays. This model balances the need for in-person collaboration with individual work flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement (3 days in-office) is a key detail for operations professionals to consider for their daily work routine and collaboration style. The location in Chicago's business district suggests a professional and accessible work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Sr. Director, Product Management, focusing on product strategy experience, portfolio management, market analysis skills, and understanding of the foodservice/education industry.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Development, Marketing, Sales, and IT to assess collaboration capabilities, understanding of their respective functions, and ability to frame business requirements.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to prepare and present a case study on a past product strategy initiative, demonstrating their approach to market analysis, strategic planning, lifecycle management, and impact measurement.

• Final Interview: Potentially a meeting with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, strategic vision, and long-term potential within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Relevant Examples: Showcase projects that demonstrate your ability to develop and execute product strategies, manage product lifecycles, conduct market analysis, and drive revenue/market share growth.

• Highlight B2B/B2C Digital Education: If possible, include examples involving digital learning products, LMS, or educational software to align with the role's specific domain.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the actions taken, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., revenue growth, market share increase, customer satisfaction improvement). Use specific metrics and data.

• Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Explain how you worked with different teams (Dev, Marketing, Sales, IT) to bring products to market and ensure their success.

Challenge Preparation:

• Market Analysis Exercise: Be prepared to analyze a hypothetical market segment within the foodservice education space, identify opportunities, and propose product strategies.

• Product Strategy Presentation: Practice presenting a strategic plan for a product or portfolio, including market assessment, competitive landscape, target audience, value proposition, and key initiatives.

• Requirements Framing: Be ready to discuss how you would translate a business need into clear, actionable user stories or requirements for a development team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The advice here is tailored to a product strategy role, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking, market analysis, and quantifiable results. The portfolio review tips specifically address showcasing experience relevant to digital education and B2B/B2C strategies.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Platforms: Experience with tools for roadmap planning, backlog management, and feature prioritization (e.g., Jira, Asana, Productboard, Aha!).

• Analytics & Reporting: Proficiency in using analytics tools to track product performance, user behavior, and market trends (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Tableau, Power BI).

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) to understand customer data, sales pipelines, and B2B customer interactions.

• Collaboration Suites: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and potentially Google Workspace for day-to-day operations and communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics for understanding website traffic, user engagement, and conversion rates on digital learning platforms.

• Business Intelligence Tools: Platforms such as Tableau or Power BI for creating dashboards and reports on portfolio performance, market share, and revenue forecasting.

• Customer Feedback Tools: Survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform) and user testing tools to gather qualitative and quantitative insights.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Understanding of Salesforce or similar CRM systems to comprehend sales processes and customer segmentation relevant to B2B and B2C offerings.

• LMS Platforms: Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (e.g., Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, or proprietary systems) is highly desirable, given the nature of the products.

• Project Management Software: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing development sprints and project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools mentioned are standard for product management roles but are contextualized for digital education and B2B/B2C products. The explicit mention of LMS platforms is a key differentiator for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Curiosity: A drive to explore new learning technologies, market trends, and innovative solutions to meet evolving customer needs in the foodservice industry.

• Collaboration & Hospitality: Embodying the industry's core value of hospitality by fostering strong, trusting relationships with internal teams and external partners, working collaboratively towards shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A commitment to using data, research, and analysis to inform strategic decisions, measure product performance, and optimize offerings.

• Customer Focus: A deep-seated dedication to understanding and serving the needs of students, educators, and businesses within the foodservice sector, ensuring products deliver real value.

• Strategic Tenacity: The ability to pursue ambitious goals with determination, navigate complex market dynamics, and drive business forward with a clear vision.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Emphasis on building strong working relationships across departments (Development, Marketing, Sales, IT, Regulatory, Finance) to ensure seamless product strategy execution and Go-to-Market success.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent communication and idea-sharing to foster a dynamic environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that embraces constructive feedback from colleagues and customers to continuously improve products and processes.

• Mission-Driven: A shared commitment to the organization's mission of supporting the restaurant and hospitality industry workforce through valuable learning and development resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values are derived from the company's description and the role's requirements, emphasizing innovation, collaboration, and a customer-centric, data-driven approach, all within the context of the hospitality industry and educational products.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Diverse Portfolio: Effectively managing and strategizing for multiple product lines within the risk and compliance segment, each with its own market dynamics and user needs.

• Keeping Pace with EdTech Trends: Staying ahead of rapid advancements in eLearning technologies, learning methodologies, and digital content delivery to ensure products remain engaging and effective.

• Balancing B2B and B2C Needs: Catering to the distinct requirements and purchasing behaviors of both individual learners (B2C) and institutional buyers (B2B) within the foodservice sector.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent buy-in and effective collaboration from numerous departments with potentially competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Product Strategy: Opportunities to deepen expertise in strategic planning, market segmentation, and competitive positioning for specialized markets.

• Industry Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the complex regulatory and compliance landscape within the foodservice and hospitality industries.

• Digital Transformation in Education: Learning about cutting-edge eLearning technologies, learning analytics, and instructional design principles.

• Leadership Development: Potential for mentorship from senior leaders and formal training programs to enhance leadership and strategic decision-making skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed around the specific complexities of managing a portfolio of educational products in a regulated industry. Growth opportunities are tied to skill development relevant to product management and the specific industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a strategic plan for a product portfolio. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, market analysis, and ability to articulate a vision.)

• "How do you approach competitive analysis for digital learning products? What key factors do you consider, and how do you use this information?" (Prepare to discuss frameworks and how insights translate into action.)

• "Walk me through your process for managing the full lifecycle of a product, from ideation to retirement. What are the critical checkpoints?" (Emphasize your organizational skills and understanding of product evolution.)

• "How would you balance the needs of B2B institutional clients versus individual B2C learners for a new compliance training module?" (Demonstrate your understanding of different customer segments and their unique requirements.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about the National Restaurant Association and our mission?" (Research their mission, values, and recent initiatives. Connect your passion to their work.)

• "How do you embody the values of hospitality and collaboration in your work?" (Provide specific examples of how you've fostered positive working relationships and supported colleagues.)

• "How do you ensure your product strategy is data-driven and customer-focused?" (Discuss your methods for gathering and utilizing data and customer feedback.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly define the problem, your strategic approach, the actions you took, and the quantifiable results. Use a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method.

• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Emphasize the "why" behind your decisions. Explain the market insights, competitive analysis, and strategic rationale that guided your actions.

• Showcase Portfolio Management: If you have multiple examples, group them to show how you managed different products or a portfolio. Discuss prioritization and resource allocation.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business impact of your work – revenue growth, market share gains, improved customer satisfaction, or enhanced operational efficiency. Use charts and graphs where appropriate to visualize data.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions are designed to probe the candidate's strategic thinking, understanding of the product lifecycle, market analysis skills, and ability to collaborate, all within the context of digital education and the foodservice industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Ultipro recruiting portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in product management, strategic planning, market analysis, and any relevant experience with digital education, B2B/B2C strategies, or the foodservice/hospitality industry. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your product strategy development, lifecycle management, and impact on business growth. Be ready to discuss these with specific metrics and quantifiable results.

• Research the Organization: Familiarize yourself with the National Restaurant Association's mission, values, current initiatives, and the specific products within the Health & Safety business segment. Understand their role in the foodservice industry.

• Practice Presentation Skills: Prepare to articulate your product strategy approach and present a case study effectively, focusing on clear communication, data visualization, and demonstrating strategic thinking.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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