Principles - Processes - Categorization - GitLab the Product - PM Responsibilities - Being a PM - Performance Indicators - Leadership
The GitLab Product team includes team members at various levels of Product Management job titles across our organizational levels with scope at various points in our product hierarchy. As a result there can be instances where peers across layers don't have the same title. We will always abide by GitLab's layer structure.
| Level | Job Families | Hierarchy Scopes |
|---|---|---|
| IC | Product Manager | Group, Stage |
| Manager | Group Manager Product, Director of Product | Section |
| Senior Leader | VP | All Sections |
| Executive | Chief Product Officer | Entire Function |
All Managers and above in the Product function are considered product leaders. They can be referenced using the @gl-product-leadership handle. This document describes important leadership concepts specific to the product management team. See also our page on general GitLab leadership guidance.
Product team members who report directly to the Chief Product Officer are members of the Product Leadership Team.
This group can be referenced in GitLab.com issues using the @gl-product-plt handle.
The Monthly Kick-Off is hosted by a member of Product Leadership on a monthly rotation. See below for the schedule:
| Date | Host | Planning Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-18 | Hillary Benson | 16.5 Release Kick Off Issue |
| 2023-10-16 | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2023-11-16 | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2023-12-18 | Hillary Benson | To be added |
| 2024-01-18 | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2024-02-19 | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-03-18 | Hillary Benson | To be added |
| 2024-04-18 | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2024-05-20 | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-06-18 | Hillary Benson | To be added |
| 2024-07-18 | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2024-08-19 | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-09-18 | Hillary Benson | To be added |
| 2024-10-17 | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2024-11-18 | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-12-18 | Hillary Benson | To be added |
The Product Key Review is hosted by a member of the Product Leadership. Details on how to prepare for the quarterly Product Key Review will be in the automated planning issue that will be assigned to the host by the Product EBA. See below for the rotation schedule:
| Date | Host | Planning Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-15 | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Hillary Benson | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Hillary Benson | To be added |
The Product Group Conversation is hosted by a member of the Product Leadership team. The Group Conversations will either reference a previous Product Key Review or Product Group Conversation presentation, depending on which is most recent. Details on how to drive the tasks will be in the automatated issue that will be assigned to the GC host 4 weeks prior to the actual GC date by the Product EBA.
For more details, visit the Group Conversations handbook page
| Date | Host | Planning Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-27 | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2023-11-29 | Hillary Benson | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Hillary Benson | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Justin Farris | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Mike Flouton | To be added |
| 2024-XX-XX | Hillary Benson | To be added |
Below you'll find the ReadMe's for our Product Division leaders who manage teams.
As a product team leader, it's important to set the tone for the organization. We put our PMs individually in the forefront as Directly Responsible Individuals (DRI), with the trust and power that they can make the right decisions with our support as product leaders. This section is intended to outline some best practices for working between PMs and their leaders. It contains guidance on responsibilities and expectations the leader should have in working with PMs, but is not intended to be hard and fast rules that take the place of having a strong working relationship and prioritizing things effectively together.
Note - This is intended as a supplement to the product director or group manager of product job descriptions with specific focus on the interaction between PMs and their managers. General job responsibilities can be found at that link.
An effective product leader should:
