📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Lead Product Manager, Reader Growth
🔹 Company: Wikimedia Foundation
🔹 Location: Remote (Global)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Product Management
🔹 Date Posted: July 19, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Remote (Global)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the development of modern and engaging Wikipedia learning experiences
- Driving a cross-functional team to build and deploy features and experiments
- Applying controlled experiments to make product decisions
- Collaborating with diverse teams and communities to brainstorm and gather feedback
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, leadership, and collaboration to drive innovation in the reader experience across multiple platforms and languages.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the development of modern and engaging Wikipedia learning experiences on both desktop and mobile websites
✅ Drive a cross-functional team of engineers, a designer, community specialist, and data analyst to build and deploy features and experiments
✅ Work with the team to design lightweight experiments that can scale to fully deployed features
✅ Apply the use of standardized measurement practices and develop creative approaches to learn in a privacy-sensitive environment
✅ Track and communicate progress, and maintain planning artifacts such as roadmaps, specs, and release plans
✅ Collaborate with Communications, Marketing, and Legal functions to execute high-profile projects
✅ Proactively conduct conversations with volunteer communities to brainstorm and gather feedback on projects and ideas, and collaboratively adapt plans when needed
✅ Maintain an understanding of current developments and innovations in knowledge seeking, AI, and industry best practices
✅ Persevere through setbacks to ensure team goals are met, or communicate when a pivot may be necessary
✅ Develop an understanding of the diversity of the global user base and how it drives the work
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of autonomy and requires strong leadership, communication, and project management skills to balance multiple priorities and stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a professional setting
Experience: 8 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years as a product manager working with consumer-facing software development teams, preferably in an agile environment
Required Skills:
- Strong understanding of the current knowledge landscape, modern learning preferences, and content discovery trends
- Past success building and iterating high-scale consumer-facing products on both desktop and mobile websites
- Mastery of applying controlled experiments to make product decisions
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with all levels of management, staff, and communities
- Capable of managing a diverse range of responsibilities in a dynamic and results-oriented environment
Preferred Skills:
- Experience applying AI and machine learning in web products
- Experience building products for multiple languages and geographies
- Experience working with large online communities
- Experience working with a fully remote globally-distributed team
- Technical data and analytics skills
- Fluency in multiple spoken languages or dialects
- Experience editing Wikipedia or with the Wikipedia, Wikidata, or Wikimedia Commons communities or other collaborative enterprises
- Familiarity with MediaWiki
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in product management, consumer-facing software development, and experience working with diverse teams and communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The anticipated annual pay range for this position is US$124,463 to US$193,900 with multiple individualized factors, including cost of living in the location, being the determinants of the offered pay. For applicants located outside of the US, the pay range will be adjusted to the country of hire.
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision coverage by 100% for employees
- 401(k) plan with company matching up to 4% of annual pay
- Generous time off policy, including sick leave, vacation, and holidays
- Paid parental leave for new parents
- Professional development and career growth opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with a flexible schedule
ASSUMPTION: The Wikimedia Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes the well-being and work-life balance of its employees.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: The Wikimedia Foundation operates Wikipedia and other Wikimedia free knowledge projects, making it a non-profit organization focused on providing free access to knowledge for every human being.
Company Size: The Wikimedia Foundation has 501-1,000 employees, making it a mid-sized organization with a significant global impact.
Founded: The Wikimedia Foundation was founded in 2003, with its headquarters in San Francisco, California, USA.
Company Description:
- The Wikimedia Foundation is dedicated to the ideal that every single person on the planet should have free access to the sum of all human knowledge.
- It operates Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects, building software experiences for reading, contributing, and sharing Wikimedia content.
- The Foundation supports the volunteer communities and partners who make Wikimedia possible and advocates for policies that enable Wikimedia and free knowledge to thrive.
Company Specialties:
- Non-Profit
- Free knowledge
- Open Source Culture
- Internet
- Technology
- Mobile
- Open Source
- Education
- Free Knowledge and Wikipedia
Company Website: wikimediafoundation.org
ASSUMPTION: The Wikimedia Foundation's mission, values, and culture are deeply rooted in its commitment to providing free access to knowledge for all, making it an attractive workplace for individuals passionate about education, technology, and social impact.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, reporting directly to the Group Product Manager, Readers.
Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Manager, Reader Growth, will lead a cross-functional team consisting of engineers, a designer, community specialist, and data analyst.
Work Arrangement: This role is remote, with critical meetings and synchronous work required between 15:00 UTC and 18:00 UTC. The role also requires international travel up to four times per year.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a more senior role within the Product and Technology department or other areas of the Wikimedia Foundation
- Opportunities to work on high-impact projects that reach millions of users worldwide
- Chance to collaborate with and learn from a diverse range of stakeholders, including volunteer communities and Wikimedia Foundation staff
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and the global user base.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Remote (Global)
Office Location(s): The Wikimedia Foundation has its headquarters in San Francisco, California, USA, but this role can be performed remotely from anywhere in the world.
Geographic Context:
- The Wikimedia Foundation serves a global user base, with over 1 billion people visiting Wikipedia each month across over 300 different languages.
- This role requires a strong understanding of the diversity of the global user base and how it drives the work.
- The remote work arrangement allows for flexibility in working hours and location, accommodating various time zones and personal circumstances.
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with a flexible schedule, allowing for a healthy work-life balance
ASSUMPTION: The remote work environment at the Wikimedia Foundation fosters a global and diverse team, promoting collaboration and innovation across time zones and cultures.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video call with the hiring manager
- Technical assessment or case study
- Final round interviews with cross-functional stakeholders
- Background check and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Product management skills and experience
- Strategic thinking and leadership
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Understanding of the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and values
- Technical proficiency in relevant tools and software
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Be prepared to discuss your approach to product management, controlled experiments, and stakeholder collaboration
- Showcase your understanding of the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and the global impact of its work
- Prepare examples of your past successes in building and iterating consumer-facing products
- Be ready to discuss your availability for critical meetings and international travel
ATS Keywords: Product Management, Consumer-Facing Software, Agile Environment, Content Discovery, Controlled Experiments, Cross-Functional Leadership, Communication Skills, Dynamic Environment, AI and Machine Learning, Multilingual Products, Online Communities, Remote Team Collaboration, Data Analytics, Fluency in Languages, Wikipedia Editing, MediaWiki Familiarity
ASSUMPTION: The interview process at the Wikimedia Foundation is designed to assess the candidate's fit for the role, as well as their alignment with the organization's mission and values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- MediaWiki
- Wikimedia Foundation's tech stack (see techblog.wikimedia.org)
- Relevant project management and collaboration tools
ASSUMPTION: The Wikimedia Foundation uses a diverse set of tools and technologies to support its global user base and volunteer communities. Familiarity with these tools is not required but may be beneficial for the successful candidate.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet can freely share in the sum of all human knowledge.
- Everyone has something to contribute, and no one is excluded from the opportunity to do so.
- The Wikimedia projects are collaborative and inclusive environments that support a diverse, global community.
Work Style:
- The Wikimedia Foundation values open, curious, and inquiring individuals who are comfortable working in a large and complex ecosystem of stakeholders.
- The organization prioritizes resilience and patience in its approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
- The Wikimedia Foundation fosters a culture of constructive criticism and respect, encouraging open dialogue and collaboration.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you align with the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and values?
- Are you comfortable working in a remote, globally-distributed team with diverse time zones and cultural backgrounds?
- Do you thrive in a dynamic and results-oriented environment, with evolving requirements and priorities?
- Are you open to feedback and willing to adapt your approach based on input from volunteer communities and Wikimedia Foundation staff?
ASSUMPTION: The Wikimedia Foundation's culture is deeply rooted in its commitment to providing free access to knowledge for all, making it an attractive workplace for individuals passionate about education, technology, and social impact.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role requires a high degree of autonomy and strong leadership, communication, and project management skills to balance multiple priorities and stakeholders.
- The remote work arrangement may present challenges in terms of communication, collaboration, and time management.
- The role requires a strong understanding of the diversity of the global user base and how it drives the work, which may present unique challenges in terms of product development and user experience design.
- The role may involve international travel, which can be demanding and may present logistical challenges.
ASSUMPTION: The Wikimedia Foundation provides the resources and support necessary to help employees overcome these challenges and succeed in their roles.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on driving innovation in the reader experience across multiple platforms and languages, with a strong emphasis on controlled experiments and user-centered design.
- Compared to related roles in product management, this position requires a deeper understanding of the knowledge landscape, modern learning preferences, and content discovery trends.
- Career paths for individuals in this role may include progression to more senior roles within the Product and Technology department or other areas of the Wikimedia Foundation.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and the global user base.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a new mobile app for reading and discovering Wikipedia content
- Creating a multimedia feature that allows users to engage with visual, audio, and other multimedia formats
- Building a personalized recommendation engine that suggests content based on user behavior and preferences
ASSUMPTION: The Wikimedia Foundation is constantly exploring new ways to engage and retain its global user base, presenting numerous opportunities for innovation and impact in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of the Wikipedia reading experience and the vision for its future evolution?
- How does the Wikimedia Foundation approach collaboration with volunteer communities, and how can I contribute to this process?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how can I ensure a successful transition into the team?
- How does the Wikimedia Foundation support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the Wikimedia Foundation in the next 5 years, and how can this role contribute to addressing them?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and your commitment to the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and values.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your past successes in building and iterating consumer-facing products
- Be ready to discuss your approach to product management, controlled experiments, and stakeholder collaboration
- Showcase your understanding of the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and the global impact of its work
- Prepare for interviews with cross-functional stakeholders, including volunteer community members
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of your interview to reiterate your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
