Product Management Transformation and AI Excellence Director

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

THE ROLE:

We are seeking a visionary and execution-oriented leader to serve as the Global Process Owner for Product Management, responsible for defining, designing, and institutionalizing Xylem's next-generation Product Management operating model. This role will lead a multi-year transformation to reimagine the end-to-end product management process, from idea generation through commercialization, lifecycle management, and retirement. Working across segments, divisions/business units, functions, and external partners, the Global Process Owner will architect a future-state framework that simplifies work, improves business outcomes, and embeds AI-enabled capabilities throughout the product lifecycle. Initially, this role will focus on designing and implementing the future-state process, tools, governance, and operating model. Following implementation, the role will assume long-term ownership of the process, driving adoption, optimization, performance management, and continuous innovation. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape how Product Management operates at Xylem for years to come.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:  To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.   

Enterprise Product Management Transformation

·        Lead the design and delivery of Xylem's future-state Product Management operating model.

·        Reimagine end-to-end product management processes from concept through retirement, challenging legacy assumptions and identifying opportunities for simplification and acceleration.

·        Develop a scalable framework that can be adopted consistently across segments, regions, and business units while accommodating necessary business differences.

·        Define future-state workflows, decision points, governance structures, roles, responsibilities, and performance measures.

AI-Enabled Process Innovation

·        Identify and integrate AI-enabled capabilities across the Product Management lifecycle.

·        Partner with Digital, Data & Analytics, Product Management Excellence, and external experts to incorporate automation, predictive insights, and generative AI into core workflows.

·        Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend investments that enhance decision quality, productivity, and business outcomes.

·        Establish a roadmap for continuous advancement of AI-powered product management capabilities.

Cross-Functional Leadership

·        Lead a diverse network of stakeholders spanning Product Management, Engineering, R&D, Commercial, Finance, Operations, IT, Data & Analytics, PLM, and executive leadership.

·        Facilitate workshops, design sessions, and alignment activities to build consensus around future-state processes.

·        Partner with external consultants, technology providers, and industry experts to leverage best practices and accelerate transformation.

·        Drive enterprise-wide engagement and sponsorship to ensure successful adoption.

Process Governance & Ownership

·        Establish global standards, policies, governance mechanisms, and decision frameworks supporting product management excellence.

·        Define process performance metrics and business outcome measures.

·        Ensure alignment between Product Management processes and enterprise initiatives, including PLM, ERP, digital transformation, innovation management, and portfolio governance.

·        Serve as the long-term owner of the Product Management operating model after implementation.

Change Management & Capability Building

·        Develop and execute enterprise change management strategies supporting process adoption.

·        Partner with Product Management Academy and Community of Practice leaders to embed new ways of working.

·        Create training, communication, and enablement approaches to scale adoption globally.

·        Champion a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Continuous Improvement

·        Monitor process effectiveness, user experience, compliance, and business impact.

·        Establish mechanisms for ongoing feedback and optimization.

·        Maintain a strategic roadmap for future enhancements and capability expansion.

·        Benchmark against industry-leading organizations and emerging best practices.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured by:

·        Successful design and implementation of the future-state Product Management operating model.

·        Adoption of standardized processes across business units.

·        Measurable productivity improvements enabled by AI capabilities.

·        Simplification of product management workflows and reduction of administrative burden.

·        Improved portfolio decision-making and execution effectiveness.

·        Increased user satisfaction and process adoption.

·        Establishment of sustainable governance and continuous improvement mechanisms.

·        Demonstrated business impact from the transformation effort.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

·        Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Technology, or a related field.

·        10+ years of experience in Product Management, Product Development, Process Excellence, Business Transformation, or related disciplines.

·        Experience leading large-scale cross-functional transformation initiatives.

·        Demonstrated ability to design and implement enterprise processes and operating models.

·        Strong stakeholder management and executive influence skills.

·        Experience driving organizational change across global organizations.

·        Excellent facilitation, communication, and strategic thinking capabilities.

Preferred

·        MBA or advanced degree.

·        Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Innovation Management, Portfolio Management, or Product Development processes.

·        Experience incorporating AI, automation, digital capabilities, or workflow technologies into business processes.

·        Experience working with consulting firms or leading enterprise transformation programs.

·        Familiarity with process excellence methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Business Process Management, or Design Thinking

The salary range for this position is $160,000 to $175,000 plus bonus. Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience, and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range. At Xylem, we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement.

#LI-SUTTONMOORE

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.

At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment. 

Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation