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What the market looks like
Senior-level product leadership roles continue to anchor hiring across technology, financial services, and professional services, with over 2,800+ postings tracked in the last six months. Austin, San Francisco, and New York lead hiring concentrations, though demand spans coast to coast. Compensation for directors in this cohort typically ranges from $240,000 to $390,000 annually. The strongest candidates combine deep product strategy experience with hands-on fluency in modern development practices, a track record of shipping complex features across AI or data-heavy systems, and the ability to partner effectively with engineering, design, and go-to-market teams to translate customer needs into roadmap priorities.
Job responsibilities
Own product strategy and roadmap execution for a key business line or product area; translate market insights and customer feedback into prioritized feature development
Lead cross-functional product teams including product managers, designers, and engineers; set clear goals, unblock bottlenecks, and drive accountability for delivery
Partner with engineering leadership to scope work, assess technical feasibility, and make informed trade-offs between speed, quality, and scope
Drive customer discovery and user research; synthesize findings into product decisions and communicate rationale to stakeholders and teams
Build and mentor a high-performing product organization; hire, develop, and retain talent while fostering a culture of ownership and continuous learning
Collaborate with go-to-market leaders on launch strategy, positioning, and customer success outcomes; own product metrics and iterate based on data
Stay current with market trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies relevant to your product domain
Candidate requirements
7+ years of product management or product strategy experience, with at least 3 years in a director or senior manager role leading teams and owning P&L or strategic outcomes
Demonstrated success shipping multiple products or major features from conception through launch; comfort working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
Strong technical fluency—ability to understand system architecture, assess engineering estimates, and speak credibly with technical teams without necessarily being a former engineer
Proven track record of cross-functional leadership and influence without authority; skill at building consensus and making decisions with incomplete information
Experience in AI, data-intensive systems, or complex B2B products a plus; prior work in high-growth or high-scale environments valued