Senior Manager - Retail Technology Special Projects

Summary

Imagine what you could do here! The people here at Apple don’t just create products — they build the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. At Apple, inclusion is a shared responsibility, and we work together to foster a culture where everyone belongs and is inspired to do their best work. We’re a diverse collective of thinkers and doers, continuously reimagining our products and practices to help people do what they love in new ways. That innovation is inspired by a shared commitment to great work — and to each other. Because learning from the people here means we’re learning from the best. Retail Operations creates the tools and programs that empower our teams to provide, a one of a kind, only at Apple experience. We do this by obsessing over the employee and customer experience, and driving a global strategy that sets the bar. The Retail Technology Special Projects team has their finger on the pulse of our industry and across Apple. They surface what’s next, evaluate and translate what’s possible, and keep us connected to our users’ reality, enabling the full arc of product development from earliest signal to shipped experience. We do this by acting as a big picture catalyst with informed insights that seed the future of our retail store technology experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

10+ years experience in Product Management or Architecture in a retail, e-commerce, and/or customer experience function. 7+ years of direct people management, including leading leaders: hiring, developing, and managing teams of individual contributors and managers, including at senior levels. Proven ability to stand up a net new function and team within an existing organization, ensuring alignment, collaboration, and seamless operating model to deliver distinct impact. Proven ability to shape, conduct, and assess proof of concept tests with deep expertise in innovation, market and solution assessment best practices and deep knowledge of emerging technologies in Retail and Consumer domains. Proven ability to self-navigate matrixed organizations and collaborate effectively with business and engineering teams to define and deliver the how of innovative customer and/or employee experiences at scale globally. Experience creating artifacts including but not limited to data and systems diagrams, product market fit evaluations, prototypes, composable architecture maps, detailed product requirements, executive presentations. Experience optimizing workflows, developing toolkits, and digital experiences using AI and/or ML. Superb communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex stories to technically variable audiences, including extensive experience presenting to senior leadership and executives.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience delivering experiences across global markets with localized nuance where appropriate. High comfort in ambiguous, fast-paced environment operating at both strategic and tactical levels with a strong attention to detail. Proven leadership in establishing and refining a new function within an existing team that acts as a catalyst to deliver high quality impact faster. Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional environment and effectively manage multiple priorities. Actively contribute to an inclusive environment through inclusive hiring, encouraging all voices to be heard and valuing those voices, and serving as an example of leading a culture of belonging for others

Description

The Senior Manager, Retail Technology Special Projects will lead a high performing multi-disciplinary team of product managers, experience strategists, and technical architects leading the technical and experience approach and delivery of Apple New Product Introduction while also assessing existing and emerging technology, identifying viability and product market fit across the Retail Stores portfolio. This position requires close collaboration with multiple global teams, broad knowledge across the Retail Store experience portfolio, self-led ability to navigate a highly complex matrixed organization, and technical thought leadership. Establish and lead two distinct cross discipline teams, the first focused on New Product Introduction, engaging earliest in the product development process, assessing and delivering the full Retail Technology experience work required (from ideation to prototyping to development and delivery). The secondary team is focused on evaluating nascent technology for real-world viability, identifying how existing technologies can solve new problems, researching the biggest ambiguous opportunities, and delivering proof of concepts with clear outcomes and recommended next steps that can be consumed by core teams to deliver at scale. Manage resources, coach and develop team members. Create and socialize reusable framework for technology evaluations, Proof of Concept testing and results, and sourcing tests from both internal and external sources. Create, manage, and prioritize backlog of emerging technology explorations directly connected to business strategy and priorities. Source, manage, and deliver Proof of Concept tests with clear outcomes and recommendations. Lead team to assess and deliver full Retail Technology experiences supporting New Product Introductions and other special projects as needed.

Responsibilities

Responsible for the end-to-end technology to powerfully introduce new Apple products to customers in Apple Retail stores (including but not limited to customer demos, employee education, commercial and service offerings, payment and affordability programs, and connected ecosystem). Responsible for establishing, socializing, and maintaining clear opportunity spaces to explore emerging technologies that solve evergreen business needs. Responsible for sourcing solutions (internal and/or external) and conducting clearly defined Proof of Concept tests with clear outcomes and recommended actions to further business goals. Collaborate closely with internal teams (hardware, software/OS, marketing, commercial, channels…) to deliver cohesive, only at Apple experiences in Apple Retail Stores. Directly manage and lead cross discipline team, including hiring, resource planning, coaching and development, performance management, and career development. Be the Retail Technology expert on emerging technology and how it can be leveraged in Apple Retail Stores.