Job Description

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT INTERN

About Smart Columbus

Smart Columbus, an entity of the Columbus Partnership, is an agile, collaborative innovation lab that serves the Columbus Region by anticipating and advancing what is new and next at the intersection of technology and community good.

We seek to increase access to opportunity and an improved quality of life by promoting thought leadership on the future of cities, fostering an ecosystem of regional partners, and deploying human-centered technology in mobility, sustainability, digitalization, and urban technologies.

The role

The Product Management Intern will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in building a highly complex enterprise technology platform from the ground up, with a significant local impact. This role will provide a holistic understanding of Product Management and active participation in the Product Development Lifecycle. You will work closely with the Principal Product Manager and collaborate with a cross-functional team, including Design Research, UX/UI, Engineering, Data Analytics and Integration, Project Management, other interns, and Smart Columbus team members.

You

The ideal candidate is proactive, energetic, and detail-oriented with a passion for technology and community good. You should possess high empathy for users, humility, and curiosity. No prior experience in Product Management, software development, design, or data analytics is required—your mindset and eagerness to learn are key.

Reports to

Principal Product Manager

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Collaborate in design research workshops with Design Research experts and UX studies with UX/UI experts.
• Review existing design research to deepen understanding of user needs.
• Manage the Ideas backlog under Product oversight, assess stakeholder feedback, and escalate issues with recommendations for action.
• Organize and prioritize ideas from design, Product, and stakeholders, promoting them to features with Product guidance.
• Ensure proper documentation of ideas, features, Epics, themes, roadmaps, requirements, and designs in Product Management software.
• Monitor the Sprint board and Product backlog, addressing Engineering’s questions to ensure progress is unblocked.
• Under Product guidance, write detailed Product requirements and guide features through the full Product Development Lifecycle, from development to post-launch iterations.
• Update the Product roadmap as needed to align with current priorities.
• Participate in Scrum meetings with Product, Project Management, and Engineering teams.
• Conduct Product Acceptance Testing to ensure features align with requirements.
• Monitor and report on progress, offering insights to enhance product development, iteration, and implementation.
• Embrace the lighter moments of working with Product, including occasional awkward laughter.

Skills and qualifications

• Undergraduate junior/senior or graduate student, or equivalent experience
• Strong attention to detail and organization
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Curiosity-driven with a passion for technology and community-driven initiatives
• No prior experience in Product Management, software development, or design required

We Offer

• Unique opportunity in an award-winning, entrepreneurial nonprofit located on the Scioto Mile.
• A team of teams. Smart Columbus is an entity of the Columbus Partnership, providing team members an opportunity to be a part of a bigger enterprise and connected to the work of the Columbus Partnership and One Columbus.
• Energetic and collaborative team passionate about making a difference in the community.
• Professional development opportunities.

To Apply

Please email a cover letter and resume to careers@smartcolumbus.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The Columbus Partnership is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or genetic information. The Columbus Partnership requires all employees, vendors, and associates to support its nondiscriminatory policies.

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