Chief Product Officer

About Us

We are SVKM’s NMIMS Centre for Distance and Online Education (NCDOE) - India’s Premier Institution for with core focus on Distance & Online learning. Visit us at https://online.nmims.edu/about-

us/ for more information.

Job Purpose

The Chief Product Officer (CPO) will be responsible for defining and driving the overall product vision, strategy, innovation, and execution for NCDOE’s digital ecosystem and product portfolio. The role will lead end-to-end product management across student, academic, operational, and business platforms, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives and user needs. The incumbent will oversee product planning, development, implementation, and continuous enhancement of digital products and platforms while building and leading a high-performing Product organization. The role will drive product governance, technology collaboration, innovation, and delivery of scalable, user-centric digital solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Vision: 

• Define and drive the long-term product vision, roadmap, and digital transformation strategy aligned with organizational objectives. 
• Lead the overall product portfolio including student lifecycle platforms, admissions, academics, LMS, examinations, finance, operations, analytics, and support systems. 
• Identify market trends, emerging technologies, user needs, and innovation opportunities to strengthen the digital ecosystem. 
•  Drive product innovation and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and user experience. 
•  Establish product governance, prioritization frameworks, and product lifecycle management processes.

Product Leadership: 

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing Product Management Team. 
• Provide strategic and operational guidance to Product Managers, Technical Teams, and cross-functional teams. 
• Establish product management best practices, Agile methodologies, delivery frameworks, and performance standards. 
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and customer-centricity within the Product function.

Product Development & Delivery: 

•  Oversee end-to-end product development lifecycle from ideation to implementation and enhancement.  
• Collaborate closely with outsourced technology partners, development teams, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely and high-quality product delivery. 
• Ensure alignment between business requirements, technology architecture, scalability, security, and user experience. 
• Drive effective backlog prioritization, release planning, sprint governance, and delivery management across multiple product initiatives. 
• Ensure robust quality assurance, UAT governance, and product adoption processes.

Product Performance Analysis: 

• Monitor and evaluate product performance through KPIs, user feedback, analytics, and operational metrics. 
• Drive data-driven decision-making and continuous optimization of products and user journeys.

Vendor & Technology Partner Management: 

• Manage relationships with outsourced technology vendors, implementation partners, and third-party solution providers. 
•  Ensure delivery governance, SLA adherence, quality standards, and cost optimization across technology engagements.

Stakeholder Management: 

• Partner with leadership teams and business functions to translate operational requirements into scalable digital solutions. 
• Act as the central point of alignment between business, technology, operations, and external vendors. 
• Drive stakeholder engagement and change management for successful implementation and adoption of products and platforms

Dimensions 

• Manage team of 2 to 4 direct reportees.

Requirements- Skills & Competencies 

•  Strong strategic leadership and product management capabilities with a user-centric mindset. 
•  Deep understanding of digital product ecosystems, enterprise platforms, system integrations, and software development lifecycle. 
• Working knowledge of AI/ML-driven products, automation, analytics, and emerging technologies with the ability to identify opportunities for AI-enabled process and user experience improvements. 
• Ability to drive digital innovation initiatives leveraging AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making.
•  Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and large-scale digital transformation initiatives. 
• Strong techno-functional expertise with understanding of Agile methodologies, product delivery frameworks, and technology operations. 
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, presentation, and influencing skills. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. 
• Ability to manage multiple product streams and prioritize initiatives in a dynamic environment. 
• Strong business acumen with ability to align technology solutions to Institutional goals.

Requirements- Education & work experience 

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Management, or equivalent discipline preferred. 
• 12 to 15 years of relevant experience in Product Management, Digital Transformation, Technology Leadership, or related functions. 
• Proven experience in AI/ML-enabled products, automation initiatives, analytics platforms, or data-driven digital transformation projects will be preferred. 
• Experience in EdTech, Online Education, ERP, LMS, CRM, or enterprise digital ecosystems preferred.

In 1981, Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM) established Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) to meet the growing demand for management education. In 2003, NMIMS was declared a deemed to be university under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. The Vision of the University is to be a globally admired University by 2030. The Mission of NMIMS is to emerge as a Centre of Excellence, best in class in India and Asia and yearning to be the best in the world by 2030. 

With the legacy of 40 years, NMIMS has grown to being not only one of the top-10 B-schools in India but also emerged as a multi-disciplinary, multi-campus University at Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Indore, Shirpur, Dhule, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chandigarh and seventeen constituent schools that include Management, Family Business, Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, Commerce, Economics, Law, Science, Liberal Arts, Design, Performing Arts, Mathematical Science, Agricultural Science, Hospitality Management, Branding & Advertising and Distance Learning. In addition, we have nine Centres of Excellence as well at the University.

The consistent academic quality, research focus, faculty from top national and global institutes and strong industry linkages at NMIMS have placed it amongst the nation's prime centres of educational excellence and research today. More than 17000 students and about 750 full-time faculty members, 10 faculty members with Fulbright Scholarship and Humboldt International Scholarship for post-doctoral researchers are part of India's most sought after academic community.