Sr. Director, Product Planning & Optimization

Ookla® is a global leader in connectivity intelligence, offering unparalleled network insights through the combined expertise of Speedtest®, Downdetector®, RootMetrics®, and Ekahau®. Ookla’s complementary datasets combine crowdsourced and controlled, public and private collection methods, QoS and QoE metrics, and more to unlock correlations and actionable insights — helping organizations optimize networks, enhance digital experiences, and create better connected experiences for end-users. Our team is a group of people brought together through passion and inspired by possibility. We are looking for team members who love solving problems, are motivated by challenges, and enjoy turning clever ideas into exceptional products. When you work for us, you are using Ookla data and insights to advance our mission of better connectivity for all. Role Summary As  Sr. Director, Product Planning & Optimization, you will work closely with research, engineering, data science, sales and service teams to envision innovative solutions that empower our users to derive maximum value from their combined Ookla data. The successful candidate will lead the development and enhancement of our telecom products, ensuring they meet market demands and deliver exceptional performance. You will own the roadmap, feature prioritization and product guidance for the engineering teams while supporting the go-to-market teams and customer engagements for your product area. You will create the network planning and optimization recommendations that our consumer data can unlock to meet the service provider’s competitive goals or to improve government policies at local and federal levels. You will have an array of technical and non-technical data at your disposal; from data produced by our own consumer app, to that from the SDK embedded in our partners’ apps and other third party sources. You will have data across service providers which will enable you to make meaningful contributions to those consuming the recommendations you produce. Not only can you deliver QoE comparisons across service providers but you can even identify which tower site they are doing that from and recommend how to beat the competition.  You will be responsible for setting up the strategy and direction for transforming the existing Planning and Optimization intelligence portal to a recommendation-driven approach alongside the rest of the Applications product management team with clear focus on our customers business needs and maintaining the company profitable growth. Expectations for Success 

• Lead the product lifecycle from concept to launch, including market research, product definition, roadmap planning, and go-to-market strategy.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for product improvement and innovation.
• Develop and prioritize product features, specifications, and requirements based on technical knowledge and customer feedback.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineering, marketing, and sales to ensure product success.
• Manage product performance metrics, gather customer feedback, and implement strategies to optimize product performance and user satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations, and stay updated on the latest advancements in telecom technologies.

 Requirements We are looking for the right person, not the exact list of requirements. If you believe your life experience has prepared you for similar challenges, we’d like to hear from you. 

• Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree is a plus.
• Strong understanding of RF principles, network planning, and optimization techniques with proven record in the telecom industry.
• Proven track record in product management is an asset
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders. Excellent presentation skills, with comfort in engaging customer stakeholders.
• Skill in managing relationships with various stakeholders, including customers, sales, engineering, and executive leadership.
• Familiarity with telecom industry standards, regulations, and best practices

 Benefits We care deeply about each other and the work we do, and our perks are just one way we demonstrate this. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including (but not limited to):

• 401(k) matching 
• Unlimited PTO
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan options