What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Product Manager position at SmartBiz Bank?
Overview
We are looking for an early-career Associate Product Manager (APM) to support the execution and improvement of SmartBiz’s internal lending technology platform.
This role is designed as a developmental product role. The APM will work closely with a Senior Product Manager to support sprint execution, triage issues, conduct lightweight discovery, and deliver small product improvements.
Over time, the APM will take ownership of small features and workflow improvements while developing the skills required to manage a product area independently.
Key Responsibilities
Product Execution & Delivery Support
- Work closely with a Senior Product Manager to support the execution of product initiatives
- Prepare and maintain backlog items including user stories, requirements, and acceptance criteria
- Ensure work is ready for sprint planning by organizing requirements and clarifying open questions
- Track development progress and surface risks or blockers early
Issue Triage & Product Support
- Monitor product support issues and help triage bugs or operational friction points
- Work with engineering and internal users to clarify issues and assess impact
- Identify recurring issues and propose improvements to workflows or system behavior
- Help prioritize small fixes and improvements within the product backlog
Discovery & Product Analysis
- Gather feedback from internal users, operations teams, and support channels
- Conduct lightweight analysis to understand user pain points and workflow inefficiencies
- Help frame problem statements and assist in evaluating potential product solutions
- Contribute to documentation of user needs, problems, and proposed improvements
Documentation & Communication
- Write clear product documentation including user stories, specifications, and release notes
- Provide updates to engineering and cross-functional partners on work in progress
- Maintain organized documentation of product changes and feature definitions
Learning & Professional Development
- Develop foundational product management skills including discovery, backlog management, and feature definition
- Learn SmartBiz product systems, customer workflows, and lending operations
- Receive ongoing coaching from a Senior Product Manager
Qualifications
Required
- 1–3 years of experience in product management, business analysis, consulting, operations, or technology roles
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Ability to structure ambiguous problems and break them into actionable tasks
- Strong organization and attention to detail
- Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering and cross-functional partners
Preferred
- Experience working with Agile development teams
- Familiarity with Jira, Confluence, or similar tools
- Exposure to fintech, banking, or workflow-heavy software systems
- Interest in product management as a long-term career path
What This Role Offers
- Direct mentorship from experienced Product Managers
- Exposure to the full product development lifecycle
- Opportunity to ship real product improvements quickly
- A pathway to grow into a Product Manager role over time
Opportunities & Benefits at SmartBiz Bank
Join a mission-driven team that’s reimagining small business banking. At SmartBiz Bank, we’re building the future of financial access — empowering entrepreneurs to thrive while creating meaningful careers for our people.
What We Offer:
- Shape the future of small business banking— help drive innovation and financial inclusion for business owners nationwide.
- Competitive compensation— including salary, performance-based incentives (for certain roles), and equity participation in a fast-growing financial institution.
- Comprehensive benefits— 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, spouses, and dependents. 100% employer-paid life and disability insurance, and an employee funded 401(k) retirement plan.
- Time to recharge— a flexible vacation policy designed to promote rest, balance, and well-being.
- Inclusive, people-first culture — guided by our values of empathy, excellence, and bold innovation, with equal opportunities for all.
-- SmartBiz Bank is an Equal Opportunity employer and proud to provide equal employment opportunity to all job seekers without regard to any status protected by applicable law. California residents can learn more about how we use your information by visiting https://sites.google.com/view/smartbizloans-employment-ccpa