Working Title: Information Technology Spec 4 - Cloud & Infrastructure Services Product Manager
Job Class: Information Technology Specialist 4
Agency: Minnesota State
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
The Product Manager acts as the liaison between the System Office IT and its campus stakeholders, transforming institutional needs into a prioritized service roadmap. This role owns the "service lifecycle"—from initial concept and stakeholder requirements gathering to communications and change management. By focusing on the "what" and "why" of IT delivery, the Product Manager ensures that technical resources are aligned with the highest-impact priorities, managing the project portfolio and external communications to deliver transparent, value-driven services to the colleges and universities.
Five (5) or more years of progressive experience in IT service management, product management, program management, business analysis, or a related role supporting enterprise technology services. A bachelor's degree may substitute for one (1) year of professional experience.
Demonstrated experience working in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, such as higher education, government, healthcare, or a large enterprise organization.
Proven ability to translate business needs into clearly defined service requirements, roadmaps, and priorities.
Experience planning, leading, and managing multiple concurrent initiatives across different technical teams while maintaining focus on outcomes, dependencies, and organizational capacity.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts in plain language to non-technical audiences, including facilitation of stakeholder meetings, service reviews, governance forums, and preparation for executive-level materials.
Demonstrated capability in portfolio-level tracking and reporting, including milestone tracking and highlevel status (e.g., Red/Yellow/Green). Produce clear documentation such as:
o Service definitions and service catalog entries
o User Stories of functional requirements
o Stakeholder communication and briefing materials
Working knowledge of enterprise services in at least two of the following areas:
o Collaboration and productivity platforms (e.g., Microsoft 365)
o Identity and access management (e.g., Okta and lifecycle/provisioning concepts)
o Infrastructure operations (servers, databases, data center operations)
Experience working in higher education IT, particularly in a system-level or shared services environment.
Familiarity with enterprise platforms such as:
o Microsoft 365 (e.g., Teams, SharePoint, Power Platform)
o Identity and Access Management (IAM)
o Cloud and hybrid infrastructure services
Experience supporting or coordinating services for multiple institutions, departments, or business units with differing priorities.
Experience developing and maintaining multi-month or multi-year service roadmaps aligned to organizational strategy.
Experience serving as a Product Manager, Service Owner, Project Manager, or Portfolio Manager for enterprise IT services.
Demonstrated ability to balance demand against capacity, helping leadership make informed tradeoff decisions about scope, timing, and risk.
Experience preparing executive-ready materials for directors, CIOs, or senior leadership.
To view the full job posting and to apply please go to: https://minnstate.wd115.myworkdayjobs.com/Minnesota\_State\_Careers/job/St-Paul/Information-Technology-Spec-4-Cloud-Infrastructure-Services-Product-Manager\_JR0000005693-1.
If you have questions about this position, contact Shane Moore at shane.moore@minnstate.edu or 651-273-3967.
To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Shane Moore at shane.moore@minnstate.edu.
Minnesota State is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing talented employees who serve our 200,000 students each year throughout the state. We have a vibrant and diverse system of 33 colleges and universities with 14,444 dedicated faculty and staff focused on student success.
What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?
As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.
Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.
Employment information for this position can be found in its collective bargaining agreement or its plan document at http://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/Labor/.
Minnesota State is an equal opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.