Manager - Product Management - Costco Travel na Costco

Costco IT is responsible for the technical future of Costco Wholesale, the third largest retailer in the world with wholesale operations in fourteen countries. Despite our size and explosive international expansion, we continue to provide a family, employee centric atmosphere in which our employees thrive and succeed.

This is an environment unlike anything in the high-tech world and the secret of Costco’s success is its culture. The value Costco puts on its employees is well documented in articles from a variety of publishers including Bloomberg and Forbes. Our employees and our members come FIRST.  Costco is well known for its generosity and community service and has won many awards for its philanthropy. The company joins with its employees to take an active role in volunteering by sponsoring many opportunities to help others. 

Come join the Costco Wholesale IT family. Costco IT is a dynamic, fast-paced environment, working through exciting transformation efforts. We are building the next generation retail environment where you will be surrounded by dedicated and highly professional employees.

As a member of the IT Management Team, you are responsible for managing, developing, and leading a team of employees. Your role includes leading the specific functional responsibilities of your team, which involves overseeing team performance and deliverables. However, your role as a leader within our organization requires more than the management of resources and day-to-day operations. As a steward of the company, you are charged with the development and execution of your team’s strategic vision and plan and ensuring that your team’s actions align with the larger goals of the company and the IT Division.

The Manager of IT Product Management will be responsible for leading a team of Technology Product Management Leaders who define business problems that require technology solutions, then guides a group of development teams through the delivery of those solutions. The selected candidate will support the team in helping realize business benefits and defining a set of requirements that will translate into valuable business solutions and technology systems. 

The Manager will support the team as they work closely with business users and others across multiple programs in all stages of the technology delivery lifecycle including discovery, design, construction, transition, and implementation. This individual should demonstrate the highest levels of customer service, communication, productivity, and professionalism. In addition, the candidate will have the ability and aptitude for leadership and self-motivation, possessing strong analytical skills and Costco business (or other retail) expertise. 

As the primary conduit between your employees and upper leadership, your role in communicating and modeling the values and guiding principles of our company culture is of vital importance. All members of IT Management should strive to consciously and consistently foster a culture of engagement, trust, and “open door” communication. 

If you want to be a part of one of the worldwide BEST companies “to work for”, simply apply and let your career be reimagined.

ROLE

●      INTEGRITY: When achieving benchmarks and goals, use methods/strategies that are consistent with the Code of Ethics and the Standard of Ethics for Managers and Supervisors. Always leads by example. Appropriately handles employee concerns and follows through to resolution.

●      MEMBER SERVICE: Provides and ensures staff provides an exceptional member experience.

●      ADMINISTRATION: Ensures proper department coverage (writing schedule and break aids if needed). Understands department budget, able to research and explain budget variances.

●      MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Coaches and mentors employees to provide support and guidance. Has regular open and honest conversations with employees to discuss work performance and career development. Identifies learning opportunities to strengthen employee knowledge, skill and ability.

●      COMMUNICATION: Regularly shares information with employees via meetings and one-on-one conversations. Successfully navigates difficult conversations with employees, members, and suppliers. Listens, expresses empathy and adapts to get points across. Addresses issues immediately to ensure a timely resolution and to avoid escalating the situation. Consistently demonstrates business knowledge during interactions with senior management.

●      SELF-MANAGEMENT: Demonstrates sound judgment, taking a partner when necessary. Ability to maintain self-control in the face of hostility or provocation or in intense, hectic situations.

●      INCLUSION: Encourages different approaches and ideas to work and to accomplish goals. Seeks employee input. Takes the time to get to know or reach out to candidates who show potential that may not come forward on their own.

●      COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY: Takes measures to ensure employee and member information is kept confidential and adheres to IS security policy.

●      Provides training, encouragement, coaching, and feedback to employees. 

●      Observes employee performance, coaching as needed to ensure department, business and company procedures and standards are met. 

●      Reviews work product, monitors workload and sets standards for productivity and accuracy.

●      Conducts yearly performance reviews and provides regular coaching and training to all staff.

●      Responds to employee concerns using problem-solving skills, tact, and discretion in accordance with the Costco Employee Agreement and other applicable regulations.

●      Develops and maintains a team atmosphere through communication and mentoring.  Establishes new ways of acknowledging positive performance to support employee morale.

●      Reviews applicant submissions for job postings, conducts interviews and makes recommendations regarding hiring status.

●      Builds, leads, and inspires a team of technology product management professionals through strategic hiring, effective mentorship, and candid performance management.

●      Utilizes internal tools and an iterative mindset to create a collaborative environment that fosters autonomy, transparency, mastery, innovation and learning.

●      Promotes continuous improvement in how the team identifies, defines, and delivers technology solutions that provide the most value to the goals of the program, Costco Travel, and Costco Wholesale.

●      Develops trusted relationships with key business stakeholders and technical leaders to drive efficiencies in delivering technology solutions.

●      Manages budgeting for the software, hardware, and training needs for the team.

●      Actively participates in helping develop long-term technology strategies.

●      Negotiates contracts and agreements with vendors as needed to support the delivery of technology solutions.

●      Anticipates and aggressively removes obstacles that slow down or prevent programs from delivering on program objectives.

●      Leads and successfully executes critical initiatives through strong collaboration and agile leadership.

●      Observes procedures and practices, actively looking for process improvements and makes recommendations for changes that will provide labor and cost savings.

●      This is a full-time management/leadership position (45+ hours per week). 

REQUIRED

●      3+ years supervisory experience in the information technology field and the ability to direct technical work teams.

●      5 + years’ experience in information technology, including leading teams in systems analysis or software engineering.

●      3+ years leadership experience in agile software development.

●      5+ years’ experience planning, organizing, and directing software development projects.

●      Proficient at mentoring teams in the methodologies, standards, procedures, and organization that contribute to the success of technology solutions.

●      Ability to mentor experts in requirements elicitation, authoring, and software delivery in an agile environment.

●      Ability to achieve alignment when partnering with individuals from all departments, who possess a diverse set of opinions and perspectives.

●      Strong organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks and respond quickly to critical issues.

●      Excellent analytical skills and demonstrated ability to effectively troubleshoot and provide solutions.

●      Excellent written / verbal communication skills and ability to engage with individuals at all levels of the organization.

●      Ability to convey important and / or complex information in a clear and compelling manner.

●      Develop loyalty and commitment in others by communicating clear expectations and leading by example.

●      Thorough understanding of technologies and products required to bring travel solutions to market at scale.

●      Outstanding organizational, communication, interpersonal, relationship building skills conducive to collaboration; able to work well in a cross-functional, matrix management environment.

●      HIPAA Training and Supervisors Orientation (within 30 days of hire); Leadership Development 101 (within one year); Costco Pay Policies (within 90 days of promotion).

Recommended

●      Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering, or equivalent training and experience.

●      Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a history of hands-on, detail orientation.

●      Ability to establish credibility and rapport with technical and non-technical team members alike.

●      Ability to successfully collaborate with multiple technical functions in the areas of infrastructure, software engineering and design.

●      Experience in implementing large-scale (enterprise-level) initiatives.

●      Proficient in Microsoft Workspace applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

Required Documents

●      Cover Letter

●      Resume

California applicants, please click here to review the Costco Applicant Privacy Notice.

Pay Range: $137,000 - $200,000, Potential Bonus and Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) eligible levels

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health benefits - medical/dental/vision/hearing aid/pharmacy/behavioral health/employee assistance, health care reimbursement account, dependent care assistance plan, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance, AD&D insurance, life insurance, 401(k), stock purchase plan to eligible employees.

Costco is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Costco is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected]

If hired, you will be required to provide proof of authorization to work in the United States. Applicants and employees for this position will not be sponsored for work authorization, including, but not limited to H1-B visas.