The Product Manager Club
Product management resources for learning and growing your skills!
Product Manager
You will most likely start your product management journey in a Product Manager role. Some companies also have entry-level positions like Associate Product Manager or Junior Product Manager. These roles are well-suited for students with a recent undergraduate degree, such as B.B.A, B.S., and B.A., and people with only 2-3 years of work experience. You will most likely manage a few capabilities of a product feature or a small product feature. This role is usually set up for individual contributors and will most likely not involve any people management responsibilities.
Senior Product Manager
This role is well-suited for students with a recent graduate degree, such as M.B.A., M.S., and M.I.S., and people with 3-6 years of total work experience. You will most likely manage a few product features or a small product. This role is for individual contributors and people managers leading a team of product managers.
Principal Product Manager OR Senior Manager of Product Management OR Group Product Manager
At this level, you will ideally have 7-10 years of total work experience, with at least 3-6 years of product management experience. You will most likely manage a few products or a small portfolio of products. These roles are for individual contributors and people managers leading a team of senior product managers.
Director
At this level, you will ideally have 11-14 years of total work experience, with at least 7-10 years of product management experience. You will most likely manage a large portfolio of products. These roles can be used for individual contributors and people managers leading a team of principal product managers, senior managers of product management, or group product managers.
Senior Director OR General Manager OR Vice-President
At this level, you will ideally have 15-18 years of total work experience, with at least 11-14 years of product management experience. You will most likely manage a small business unit. These roles are only for people managers who are managing a team of directors. Responsibilities could include management of cross-functional teams like product, engineering, science, design, and analytics. As a result, you will be expected to have extensive business acumen beyond just product management.
Senior Vice-President OR Executive Vice-President OR Chief Product Officer
At this level, you will ideally have 19-22 years of total work experience, with at least 15-18 years of product management experience. You will most likely manage a large business unit. These roles are only for people managers who are managing a team of senior directors, general managers, or vice-presidents. Responsibilities could include management of cross-functional teams like product, engineering, science, design, and analytics. As a result, you will be expected to have extensive business acumen beyond just product management. You will either report to other C-suite executives, such as CEO, COO, CFO, and CIO or work directly with them.
Chief Executive Officer
At this level, you will ideally have 23-26 years of total work experience, with at least 19-22 years of product management experience. You will be managing the entire organization. These roles are only for people managers who are managing a team of senior vice-presidents, executive vice presidents, and C-suite executives.