Application Guide
How to Apply for Product Manager (Agile), Platform and Tools
at ISKME
🏢 About ISKME
ISKME is a remote-first, independent education nonprofit that champions open educational resources (OER) to advance equitable access to learning. Their platform, OER Commons, is a widely used hub for educators and institutions, making this an opportunity to drive meaningful impact in education while working flexibly.
About This Role
As the Product Manager for Platform and Tools, you will own the roadmap for OER Commons, leading feature development from specification to launch. You'll work closely with a scrum team and senior architect to prioritize and deliver improvements that serve educators, partners, and learners globally.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a stand-up with the scrum team, followed by refining the backlog and writing specifications for a new feature. You'll then meet with the services team to align on partner needs, and end the day reviewing analytics to inform roadmap priorities.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who ISKME Is Looking For
- Experienced in agile product management, with a track record of managing backlogs, sprint planning, and writing detailed feature specifications.
- Comfortable working with remote, cross-functional teams including developers, architects, and service teams (e.g., library, professional learning).
- Passionate about education and open source, with a user-centric mindset to balance internal, client, and market needs.
- Skilled at prioritizing competing requests and communicating trade-offs clearly to stakeholders.
📝 Tips for Applying to ISKME
Highlight any experience with educational platforms, OER, or nonprofit technology in your resume and cover letter.
Demonstrate your agile expertise by mentioning specific tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) and ceremonies you've led.
Show how you've managed stakeholder input from multiple sources (internal, client, market) in previous roles.
Since it's remote-first, emphasize your self-discipline, communication skills, and home office setup.
Tailor your application to reflect understanding of ISKME's mission and the OER Commons platform—mention specific features you admire.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Express genuine interest in open education and ISKME's mission to reduce barriers to learning.", 'Describe your experience with agile product management, especially roadmap ownership and sprint prioritization.', "Provide a concrete example of how you've collaborated with developers and architects to deliver a complex feature.", 'Mention your ability to synthesize feedback from diverse stakeholders into a coherent product strategy.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore OER Commons (oercommons.org) to understand its current features and user experience.
- → Read ISKME's blog or news section to learn about recent initiatives and partnerships.
- → Familiarize yourself with the concept of open educational resources and the broader OER movement.
- → Review ISKME's values and remote work policies on their website.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning OER Commons or ISKME's mission.
- Focusing solely on technical product management without showing passion for education.
- Failing to address remote work readiness (e.g., not mentioning your home office or communication tools).
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!