Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN

The Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN at Zscaler holds key responsibilities in leading product enhancements and developing solutions for Zero Trust Branch Connectivity. They manage a small team of product managers, collaborate with engineering and sales teams, review use cases with customers, and create crucial documentation for technical requirements.

To qualify for the Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN role at Zscaler, candidates should possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering, along with 12+ years of experience in relevant fields, including at least 5 years in product management focused on network security technologies.

The Senior Director Product Management role at Zscaler is pivotal in driving product innovation within the realm of cloud security. By enhancing offerings and shaping strategic product roadmaps, this position directly contributes to Zscaler’s mission of ensuring a secure and efficient cloud experience for enterprises globally.

The company culture at Zscaler for the Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN position is fast-paced, collaborative, and highly inclusive. As one of the industry's best workplaces, Zscaler emphasizes diversity and teamwork, providing an environment where innovation thrives and every employee feels valued.

In the role of Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN at Zscaler, you will work closely with engineering teams, sales teams, and a small team of product managers. This collaborative effort is crucial for driving product development and effectively addressing customer needs.

As the Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN at Zscaler, you will focus on Zero Trust Branch Connectivity and other access control products, managing enhancements and strategy for both on-premises and as-a-service offerings. This includes contributing to the comprehensive design and functionality of Zscaler's innovative products.

The salary range for the Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN position at Zscaler is between $210,000 to $300,000 USD. This range reflects the minimum and maximum base pay and may vary based on experience, skills, and other relevant factors.

To drive product success in the role of Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN, I would prioritize customer engagement and feedback, ensure cross-team collaboration, and focus on iterating product features based on real-world use cases and market trends. A proactive approach to understanding customer needs is essential.

In my previous roles, I have extensively worked with SD-WAN technologies, focusing on how they can enhance network performance while ensuring security through Zero Trust architectures. My approach combines a strong technical understanding of networking protocols with the implementation of secure connectivity options.

Managing a small product team effectively involves encouraging open communication and collaboration, setting clear goals while giving team members the autonomy to explore innovative solutions. Regular brainstorming sessions can also foster creativity and allow for diverse viewpoints to emerge.

The biggest challenges in product management for SD-WAN include rapidly changing technology, customer expectations, and integration complexities. To address these challenges, I prioritize staying updated on industry trends, engaging customers for feedback, and collaborating with engineering to ensure agile adaptation to evolving needs.

Customer feedback is crucial in my product management strategy as it offers direct insight into user needs and preferences. I advocate for integrating feedback loops in the development process, ensuring that product enhancements resonate with real-world applications and deliver tangible benefits to customers.

To create a Product Requirement Document (PRD) for a new feature in SD-WAN, I would begin by gathering requirements through discussions with stakeholders, including customers and internal teams. The document would outline the problem statement, user personas, feature description, success criteria, and timeline for implementation to ensure clarity and alignment.

Collaboration with engineering teams is facilitated through regular meetings, using agile methodologies to align on project goals and timelines. I ensure transparent communication of user needs and technical constraints, fostering an atmosphere where both product vision and technical feasibility are discussed openly.

To measure product success in SD-WAN, I track key metrics such as user adoption rates, customer satisfaction scores, feature usage analytics, and revenue impact. These metrics provide a comprehensive view of how well the product is performing and where adjustments may be needed.

Staying updated on industry trends in network security and SD-WAN involves regular participation in industry conferences, online training, networking with professionals in the field, and following relevant publications. This helps in understanding emerging technologies and market demands.

Essential leadership qualities for a Senior Director Product Management, SD-WAN include strong communication skills, strategic thinking, adaptive problem-solving abilities, and a user-centric mindset. A successful leader should also foster a culture of trust and accountability within the team.