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Product Manager

Posted: August 13, 2025

About Us:

The Organization

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a retailer-owned, board-governed, active network of over 100 independently owned outdoor retailers and 75+ vendor partners, working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Through data collection and analysis, direct member support, specialty events and deep vendor partnerships, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is creating both a vision and roadmap for the long-term success of independent specialty retail. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is recognized as a catalyst for the success of its retailers and vendor partners; an advocate for specialty independent retail; a promoter of education and community within the specialty channel; and a key influencer of the national outdoor industry. For more information, please visit www.grassrootsoutdoors.com.

In addition to providing its members with engaging information sharing opportunities, Grassroots hosts Connect and Discovery Marketplace; two industry leading trade events held in June and November. Connect is primarily focused on existing business between independent retailers and brands in the outdoor space while Discovery Marketplace allows an opportunity for new relationships to be born and grow. Both events prioritize attendee efficiency, cost, and are designed from a retailer point of view. You can learn more about Grassroots events at connect.grassrootsoutdoors.com

Retailers we work with: Here
Brands we work with: Here

Requirements:

  • 5+ years of senior product management experience, with at least 3 years in web application development

  • Background in SaaS, events software, or scheduling applications preferred

  • Proven track record of managing onshore development contractors and vendors

  • Experience conducting stakeholder interviews, harvesting business requirements and translating those requirements into technical specifications

  • Strong knowledge of web application development lifecycle, including responsive design and cross-browser compatibility

  • Demonstrated expertise in Agile/Scrum methodologies and sprint planning

  • Experience with Trello or similar project management tools for backlog management

  • Excellent project management skills with a history of meeting deadlines under pressure

  • Outstanding communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences

  • A suitable workspace with secure internet and reliable phone reception for frequent video meetings

  • A love of the outdoors and independently owned retail

Ideal Profile:

  • Strategic & Analytical: Ability to assess state of current development and create realistic completion roadmaps

  • Stakeholder-Focused: Skilled at conducting interviews, managing expectations, and building consensus across user groups

  • Technically Savvy: Comfortable understanding technical constraints and communicating with web developers

  • Results-Oriented: Track record of taking projects from partial completion to successful launch under tight deadlines

  • Collaborative Leader: Experience managing remote contractor relationships and cross-functional partnerships

  • Detail-Oriented: Strong documentation skills and ability to maintain clear project visibility through tools like Trello

  • Adaptable: Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements and delivery pressures

  • User-Focused: Experience with responsive design principles and creating intuitive workflows for diverse user groups

  • Process Builder: Ability to establish sustainable product development structures for future organizational growth

Position Duties:

Product Management & Execution

  • Conduct comprehensive stakeholder interviews with Grassroots staff, exhibitors, and retailers to define and prioritize remaining requirements

  • Create a revised MVP definition based on user and organizational needs

  • Develop a phase completion roadmap and sprint plans in collaboration with Nomadic development team

  • Own Trello-based backlog, documentation, and development tracking

  • Define product acceptance criteria and lead release milestone coordination

  • Ensure UX flows meet goals for internal users, vendors, and retail representatives

  • Lead user feedback loops and create process handoff documentation for future updates

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with President and VP to ensure platform aligns with organizational strategy and event operations

  • Work with Grassroots team members who will be end-users of the administrative features

  • Coordinate with Nomadic development team to maximize efficiency and output

  • Facilitate alignment between business requirements and technical implementation

Communication & Reporting

  • Provide weekly updates to the President and Director of Events on progress, blockers, and roadmap adjustments

  • Coordinate status alignment with Nomadic and internal stakeholders

  • Present revised MVP roadmap and delivery milestones for executive approval

  • Manage expectations and communicate trade-offs when scope or timeline adjustments are needed

  • Document decisions, requirements, and lessons learned for future development phases

Quality Assurance & Launch Preparation

  • Oversee testing protocols and bug resolution processes with Nomadic team

  • Coordinate production deployment and release planning for February 2026 launch

  • Develop user training materials and support documentation for all user groups

  • Plan and execute beta testing with select vendors and retailers

Success Metrics:

  • A functional, user-friendly MVP is delivered by February 2026

  • Stakeholders across all user groups (staff, vendors, retailers) are confident in using the platform

  • Grassroots has a documented backlog and roadmap for post-launch improvements

  • Nomadic team collaboration is smooth, with effective prioritization and progress tracking

  • Grassroots team gains improved internal product development structure moving forward

  • Development budget stays within allocated parameters while meeting quality standards

Compensation & Contract Terms:

  • Rate: $85-105 per hour, commensurate with experience

  • Hours: 20-40 hours per month (approximately 5-10 hours per week), startup month may require initial heavy lifting and increased hours

  • Travel: Light travel 2-4 days may be required for startup meetings or attendance at Grassroots Connect to gain direct experience with Grassroots events

  • Contract Length: 6-month initial term with potential for extension based on project needs and performance

  • Payment: Hourly or monthly retainer negotiable depending on experience and structure

  • This is a contractor position (1099), fully remote work arrangement

  • Availability: US business hours for occasional team or contractor meetings

Note: Given the complexity of our industry-specific platform, we're seeking a PM who can work efficiently within this budget to complete the MVP while establishing sustainable processes for future development.

How to Apply:

  • Send your resume and cover letter to hiring@grassrootsoutdoors.com
    • PDF format only please

  • We will begin reviewing applications immediately and are seeking to hire starting mid-September.