Lead Technical Product Manager

As a Lead Technical Product Manager at PENN Entertainment, your primary responsibilities include driving strategic initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams to execute product and technical goals, developing and mentoring junior TPMs, and ensuring alignment with business objectives. You will lead impactful projects while fostering a culture of innovation and data-driven decision-making, ensuring successful delivery and operational efficiency across our platforms.

To qualify for the Lead Technical Product Manager position at PENN Entertainment, candidates should have a minimum of 8 years of experience in product management, with at least 1 year in a mentoring role. A strong technical background in computer science, IT, or a related field is essential, along with proficiency in tools such as Datadog. Exceptional problem-solving skills, the ability to work autonomously, and excellent communication capabilities are also required.

PENN Entertainment is committed to supporting the career growth of its Lead Technical Product Managers by providing mentorship opportunities, access to training resources, and a collaborative work environment. The company encourages continual learning and skill enhancement, enabling TPMs to expand their expertise and explore new leadership opportunities within the organization.

At PENN Entertainment, the team culture for Lead Technical Product Managers emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and innovation. Team members are encouraged to share ideas, challenge conventions, and work together to drive high-performance initiatives. The environment values data-driven decision-making and fosters a supportive workplace where mentorship and professional development are key components of success.

Lead Technical Product Managers at PENN Entertainment typically utilize various tools and technologies to execute their strategies effectively. One key tool is Datadog, which helps in monitoring system performance and achieving operational excellence. Additionally, you'll work with enterprise systems design software and project management tools that facilitate collaboration across cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on objectives and deliverables.

The most critical skills for a Lead Technical Product Manager include strong leadership abilities, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of technical challenges. Being able to mentor teams effectively and make data-driven decisions is also essential. When preparing your answer, consider discussing your unique experiences and how your skills align with the responsibilities of the role.

When asked this question, it's beneficial to follow the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Provide a specific example detailing your role, the challenges faced, stakeholders involved, and the project's outcome. Highlight how your leadership and decision-making contributed to the project's success and aligned with business goals.

To effectively answer this question, discuss your approach to prioritization, such as using frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix or RICE scoring. Share an example of a particularly demanding situation and how you navigated competing priorities while ensuring that critical projects remained aligned with strategic goals.

When addressing your experience with mentoring junior TPMs, be sure to provide specific examples demonstrating your mentorship style. Discuss how you provide feedback, encourage professional development, and create a supportive environment that fosters growth. Emphasize the importance of mentorship in strengthening team dynamics and achieving project success.

In your response, outline the methods you use for staying informed and engaged with the latest trends, such as attending industry conferences, participating in webinars, reading relevant publications, and networking with peers. Explain how this knowledge has impacted your work and decisions as a Lead Technical Product Manager.

To answer this, talk about your strategies for fostering a data-driven mindset, such as incorporating KPIs and SLOs into projects, promoting data access among team members, and encouraging discussions around data insights. Provide examples of how you've implemented these practices in past roles and the positive outcomes that followed.

Addressing stakeholder communication requires a nuanced approach. Share your key strategies—like regular updates, transparency about project risks, and proactive problem-solving. Use an example of a past project to demonstrate how good communication can build trust and enhance project alignment.

When responding, focus on your conflict resolution approach. Use a specific example, if possible, to illustrate how you addressed conflicts by facilitating discussions, encouraging collaboration, and finding common ground. Emphasize the importance of maintaining team morale and ensuring project focus.

Discuss the significance of customer feedback as a driving force in your product management strategy. Provide an example of how you’ve utilized customer insights to influence product features or improvements, underscoring the link between customer satisfaction and successful product outcomes.

In your answer, highlight your flexibility and ability to adapt strategies based on evolving technology and market demands. Share instances where you re-evaluated your approach in response to new information or changes in the industry landscape, and how new strategies led to improved results.