Product Manager

ABOUT APPLY APPLY is the Agentic Customer Experience (ACx) partner for the world's most ambitious consumer and entertainment brands. We bring together deep domain expertise across Retail, CPG, Sports, and Media with AI-native delivery capability, designing and delivering agentic solutions that turn CX vision into commercial reality. We are the partner of choice for brands like Arc'teryx, NFL, Lululemon, and Kraft Heinz. For more information, visit applydigital.com . LOCATION: APPLY is hybrid/remote-friendly. The preferred candidate should be based in the Greater Los Angeles area , with working hours that align to PST . This is a hybrid role and requires regular on-site presence at our client's office, at least 3 days a week . THE ROLE: As a Product Consultant embedded with our client in sports entertainment, you will be responsible for driving the delivery of world-class video and advertising experiences across web, mobile, and connected devices. This is a technically demanding space — spanning live streaming infrastructure, video delivery pipelines, and programmatic advertising — and you will need to be comfortable going deep with engineering teams, evaluating technical tradeoffs, and holding your own in conversations with vendors and architects. Working alongside the Product Manager on the Video team and Director of Product on the Ads team, you will take ownership of roadmap execution and day-to-day delivery across these two high-impact product areas — Video and Ads — collaborating with engineering, design, and business stakeholders to ensure we ship with quality and velocity. You will be an active contributor to product strategy: leading roadmap conversations, identifying new opportunities, developing use cases, and helping define initiatives from the ground up. You'll own meaningful scope across the product lifecycle — from discovery and problem definition through to launch — with direct exposure to and influence with Product and business leadership at one of the world's most recognized sports entertainment brands. RESPONSIBILITIES Delivery & Execution Own the operational health of the video and ads backlogs: grooming, ticket hygiene, user stories, sprint tracking, and release readiness across two squads. Lead coordination across a vendor ecosystem that includes the video player, encoding/pipeline, video analytics and observability, casting and cross-device continuity, and ad insertion partners — including holding vendors accountable to commitments and evaluating technical tradeoffs. Translate product direction into well-scoped product spec docs and ensure they stay accurate as work evolves. Own release tracking and delivery reporting, proactively surfacing risks and blockers before they become misses. Serve as the connective tissue between platform teams, engineering, QA, design, and external partners on a daily basis. Strategy Drive roadmap and strategy conversations across Video and Ads — leading opportunity identification, initiative sizing, and prioritization decisions. Partner with the Ads Product Director to develop and maintain the ads roadmap; help shape what goes on it, not just execute what's there. Identify new product opportunities across streaming and monetization — bring structured thinking to early-stage ideas and develop them into business cases. Stay close to industry trends in streaming media, programmatic advertising, and emerging platforms; bring relevant signals back to the team and influence direction. Stakeholder & Product Development Build and own direct relationships with client stakeholders across product, engineering, ad ops, and business teams. Lead the development of user-facing features — gather requirements, synthesize feedback, define success metrics. Drive new initiative discovery — interviews, use-case development, competitive research — as the team explores new product surface areas. Own product areas end-to-end: from problem definition through launch. WHAT YOU BRING 3 to 5 years of product management experience on a digital product team. Strong understanding of video streaming technologies, content delivery networks (CDNs), encoding, playback optimization, and digital video advertising. Sharp product instincts: you lead roadmap conversations, spot what's missing, and push back when something isn't right. Proven experience coordinating with external technical vendors or partners; comfortable holding people to commitments. Clear, precise written communication — your tickets, PRDs, and updates don't require follow-up questions. Track record of taking products from concept to launch. Curiosity about the business, not just the backlog — you want to understand why things are being built, not just what. Nice to Have: Hands-on experience with ad insertion platforms or DAI/SSAI workflows. Experience with video analytics (QoE) or observability platforms (Mux, Conviva, or similar). Ability to analyze product data and translate insights into actionable improvements. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including with senior client leadership. Demonstrated ability to take products from concept to launch as the directly responsible PM. Familiarity with third-party streaming platforms, analytics tools, and player integrations. Knowledge of accessibility standards, internationalization, and content rights management. Working knowledge of AI productivity tooling — prompt engineering, AI-assisted research or ticket writing, LLM tools for synthesis and planning — and a genuine interest in applying them to PM workflows. Prior consulting or embedded client engagement experience; comfort operating in a matrixed environment. WHY THIS ROLE? You'll work embedded inside one of the most recognized sports leagues in the world, on a product used by tens of millions of fans. You'll get deep exposure to a sophisticated, high-stakes technology stack spanning live streaming, video delivery, and digital advertising — the kind of experience that accelerates a PM career. This role offers a clear path for growth. As you build trust and demonstrate product leadership, you will have the opportunity to take on greater ownership, broader scope, and increased responsibility within the engagement. LIFE AT APPLY People are at the core of everything we do at APPLY. We provide you with modern tools, systems and approaches, value your time, safety, and health, and strive to build a work community where you can thrive and grow. Here are a few benefits we offer to support you: Agentic Delivery: Our people work in a modern way to deliver client outcomes. Broaden your skills on a range of engagements with international brands that have a global impact. An inclusive and safe environment: We’re truly committed to building a culture where you are celebrated and everyone feels welcome and safe. AI & Strategic Upskilling: Accelerate your professional growth with generous training budgets and mentorship, with a specific focus on Agentic AI expertise and the critical human skills required for the future of work. Generous vacation policy: Work-life balance is key to our team’s success, so we offer flexible personal time off (PTO); allowing ample time away from work to promote overall well-being. Customizable benefits: Tailor your extended health and dental plan to your needs, priorities, and preferences. Flexible work arrangements: We work in a variety of ways, from remote, to in-office, to a blend of both. APPLY is a safe, respectful, and inclusive community where differences are celebrated. We are committed to equal opportunity and fostering a workplace where everyone belongs. Learn more in our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) section. For recruitment accommodations, please email [email protected] .