Sara McDonald

Background

About Sara McDonald

Strategic Senior Product Manager with deep expertise in affordable housing compliance, property management software, and large-scale product delivery. Proven ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into intuitive, high-value software solutions. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, shaping product vision, and driving measurable improvements in product quality, client satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Recognized for strong stakeholder communication, regulatory expertise, and a consistent record of delivering enhancements that reduce client issues and improve product adoption.Core CompetenciesProduct Leadership: Product strategy, road mapping, portfolio management, stakeholder alignment, client engagement, cross-functional leadership; Execution & Delivery: Agile/Scrum, PI planning, backlog management, release readiness, sprint leadership, requirements development; Domain Expertise: HUD, LIHTC, Rural Development, Public Housing, Affordable housing compliance; Enterprise accountingTechnical Skills: Azure DevOps, Salesforce, SharePoint, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Suite, SnagIt, OneSite (Classic & New), Author-itSenior Product Manager, RealPage, Inc.(2017–Present)Drive product vision and roadmap development for compliance and accounting modules, ensuring alignment with regulatory changes and client needs.Lead a team of 12 developers and QA analysts, improving delivery predictability and product quality.Develop and review Epics, Features, and User Stories in Azure DevOps; ensure clarity, feasibility, and alignment with business goals.Facilitate daily scrums, sprint reviews, retrospectives, and PI planning to maintain consistent delivery cadence.Host client focus groups to gather requirements for new functionality and validate product direction.Deliver internal training for sales, technical writers, and support teams to ensure organizational readiness.Provide product demonstrations to clients and internal stakeholders to support sales and adoption.Serve as SME for compliance and accounting modules, guiding design decisions and supporting cross-functional teams.Regular presenter at user conferences, delivering hands-on sessions for both foundational and advanced product topics.