Product Specialist

Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.

As a Product Specialist you are responsible for ensuring the education partners you engage with are educated on full utilization of our product and adopt critical Handshake features as identified by account needs and Handshake priorities.  

You will create repeatable strategies for driving engagement across our education partners' teams, driving product adoption by leading onsite and virtual trainings, and 1:1 customer intake meetings to assess their needs and promote feature usage. In this role, you will be responsible for combining detailed product expertise with sales acumen to drive the success of our products in the market with Top 500 Eductation partners and other accounts as is relevant to business needs. You will serve as a key point of contact for both customers and internal teams, bridging the gap between technical specifications and customer needs. 

You will report to the Senior Director of Success and Education, working closely with customer success, product, sales, and marketing to deliver a world-class customer experience and drive our business through product adoption and increased partner competency in the platform functionality. 

This role requires travel to partner onsite trainings, conferences, Handshake events and workshops, as well as virtual trainings. You should expect 95% of your time involve travel, with additional variance based on seasonality and business need.

In-Person/Virtual Services & Custom Solutions

• Provide clear and comprehensive technical guidance to customers, ensuring they fully understand how Handshake's product can be utilized to achieve their specific goals and objectives.

• Deliver personalized training sessions, both one-on-one and in group settings, that are tailored to the unique needs and preferences of individual customers, such as administrators and employer relations teams.

• Proactively identify and address customer-specific requirements, customizing product solutions to ensure optimal fit and effectiveness.

• Collaborate closely with product development and engineering teams to ensure the feasibility and successful implementation of customer-requested workflows and features.

• Provide valuable insights and feedback based on customer interactions to inform the development of future product enhancements.

• Partner with customer success and product marketing teams to develop and deliver training offerings that effectively address the diverse needs and learning styles of our customer base.

• Consider factors such as account health, customer goals, and industry-specific requirements to create tailored training programs that drive customer satisfaction and success.

Product, Industry & Customer Knowledge

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of our entire product portfolio, including its features, functionalities, and competitive advantages.

• Stay abreast of industry trends in EdTech and Career Services to identify opportunities for product improvement and provide valuable insights to customers.

• Proactively drive the expansion and deepening of product adoption and usage among career center partners.

• Gather, document, and share best practices on how university partners can effectively leverage the platform to enhance student engagement and achieve desired outcomes.

• Provide consulting services to university partners, assisting them in analyzing and optimizing their workflows to align with Handshake's product capabilities.

Training 

• Design and deliver engaging, interactive, and customized training programs that drive increased product usage.

• Leverage a variety of training methodologies and tools to cater to different learning styles and preferences.

• Tailor training content and delivery to address the specific needs and challenges of various customer segments, industries, and stakeholders.

• Develop training programs that are accessible to a wide range of learning styles and groups, including those with varying levels of technical proficiency and industry knowledge.

• Ensure that training materials and content are clear, concise, and easy to understand.

Product Positioning & Influence

• Develop and deliver compelling product demonstrations, presentations, and proposals that are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of each customer.

• Effectively communicate the unique value proposition of our product and how it can address customer challenges.

• Cultivate strong, lasting relationships with key customers by actively listening to their evolving needs and proactively addressing any technical or product-related concerns.

• Build trust and credibility by providing exceptional customer service and support.

• Deep understanding of the higher education and career services landscape, with a preference for in-depth knowledge of Handshake and competing products.

• A willingness and ability to travel extensively, approximately 95% of the time.

• Proven experience working with SaaS platforms, or a demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies.

• A proven track record of successfully training others on the effective utilization of complex SaaS tools and products.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver compelling and persuasive presentations that drive customer action and change.

• Experience building strong relationships with customers and navigating complex or challenging conversations with tact and diplomacy.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, effectively managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with a strong executive presence.

• A highly curious and inquisitive mindset, always seeking new opportunities for discovery and growth.

• A critical and empathetic approach to understanding customer needs, coupled with a strategic problem-solving mindset.

• An analytical and methodical approach to identifying challenges, measuring impact, and driving continuous improvement.

As a Product Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in driving the success of our products by combining technical expertise with product-driving skills. If you thrive in a dynamic, customer-focused environment and possess a passion for technology and product optimization, we would love to hear from you.

• 4+ years of Career Services/HigherEducation leadership experience

• 2+ years of in-depth experience with a complex SaaS platform

• In-depth Handshake product knowledge

• EdTech Customer Success, Sales Engineering or Implementation Specialist experience a plus

• $104,013 - $126,000

For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Handshake is the #1 place to launch a career with no connections, experience, or luck required. The platform connects up-and-coming talent with 750,000+ employers - from Fortune 500 companies like Google, Nike, and Target to thousands of public school districts, healthcare systems, and nonprofits. In 2022 we announced our $200M Series F funding round. This Series F fundraise and valuation of $3.5B will fuel Handshake’s next phase of growth and propel our mission to help more people start, restart, and jumpstart their careers.

When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look at Handshake. With our hybrid-work model, employees benefit from collaboration and shared team experiences three days per week in our vibrant offices, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work two days per week. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, and Berlin.

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.

• 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
• 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
• 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
• 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
• 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
• 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
• 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
• 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
• 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.
• 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.

(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
• 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
• 🍼 Family support: We partner with Milk Stork to provide comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians. Parental leave coaching and support provided by Parentaly.

(UK-specific benefits, in addition to the first section) 

• 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
• 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
• 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
• 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.

(Germany-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏝 25 days of annual leave + 5 days of a winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
• 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
• 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
• 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.

Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.

Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at people-hr@joinhandshake.com.