Product Operations Director

We are seeking a strategic and operationally focused Product Operations Director to establish and scale the operational foundation for our product organization. This senior leadership role will be responsible for defining product development processes, building analytics infrastructure, and driving best practices that enable our product teams to work efficiently and make data-driven decisions. The ideal candidate will combine process expertise with technical acumen, bringing a track record of implementing scalable product operations frameworks in high-growth SaaS environments.

Reporting directly to the Chief Product Officer, the Product Operations Director will serve as a key enabler of product team effectiveness, working cross-functionally with engineering, data, design, marketing, and sales to create systems, tools, and processes that accelerate product velocity and improve outcomes.

Process Design & Optimization

• Define and standardize product development processes across the organization, from discovery through launch
• Establish governance frameworks to ensure process compliance and continuous improvement
• Design and implement product planning cycles, including roadmapping, prioritization, and resource allocation processes
• Create scalable workflows that support rapid growth while maintaining quality and consistency
• Drive adoption of product management best practices across teams and product lines

Metrics & Analytics

• Establish comprehensive metrics frameworks aligned with business objectives and product strategy
• Build and maintain KPI dashboards that provide visibility into product performance, customer behavior, and business impact
• Design data infrastructure for product analytics, ensuring teams have access to reliable, actionable insights
• Partner with Data teams to implement instrumentation, tracking, and measurement capabilities
• Define key product health metrics and ensure consistent tracking and reporting across the organization

Tools & Systems Management

• Own the product management technology stack, including roadmapping, analytics, experimentation, and collaboration tools
• Evaluate, select, and implement PM tools that enhance team productivity and decision-making
• Develop tool implementation plans, including training, adoption tracking, and optimization
• Ensure integration and data flow between product tools and other systems (CRM, data warehouse, business intelligence)
• Manage vendor relationships and optimize tool spend

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Facilitate collaboration between Product, Engineering, Design, and Go-to-Market teams
• Design and lead cross-functional ceremonies including planning sessions, quarterly business reviews, and retrospectives
• Create communication frameworks that ensure alignment and transparency across the organization
• Build bridges between product teams and other functions to streamline handoffs and reduce friction
• Serve as a trusted advisor to product leaders on operational challenges and opportunities

Enablement & Training

• Develop and deliver PM training programs for onboarding and continuous skill development
• Create product operations playbooks documenting standards, templates, and best practices
• Build resources and documentation that enable self-service and reduce operational overhead
• Coach product managers on data-driven decision making, prioritization frameworks, and stakeholder management
• Foster a culture of operational excellence and continuous learning

Strategic Planning Support

• Provide analytical support for strategic initiatives and business case development
• Prepare quarterly business review materials and executive-level reports
• Conduct analysis to inform investment decisions and resource allocation
• Track portfolio-level metrics and provide insights on product line performance
• Support financial planning processes with data on product economics and forecasting

Key Deliverables

• Product operations playbooks and process documentation
• Comprehensive metrics dashboards and automated reporting systems
• Tool evaluation frameworks and implementation plans
• Data infrastructure for product analytics and experimentation
• Process improvement initiatives with measurable ROI
• PM training programs and enablement materials
• Quarterly business review presentations and executive reports
• Product planning templates and prioritization frameworks
• Product operations roadmap and improvement backlog
• Cross-functional collaboration frameworks

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in product management, product operations, or related roles in SaaS/technology companies
• 7+ years of experience in delivering custom software using Scrum methods
• 3+ years of experience in a product operations or similar leadership role
• Proven track record of implementing scalable processes and systems in high-growth environments
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in product metrics, KPIs, and data analysis
• Experience with product management tools (e.g., Jira, ProductBoard, Amplitude, Mixpanel, Tableau, Looker)
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and drive change across organizations
• Excellent project management skills with ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Strong technical aptitude with understanding of data infrastructure and analytics platforms
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Data Science, or related field

Preferred

• MBA or advanced degree in relevant field
• Experience in product operations at a scaling SaaS company (Series B through IPO)
• Technical background or experience as a product manager
• Familiarity with SQL, data modeling, and business intelligence tools
• Experience with agile methodologies and product development frameworks
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or similar process improvement methodologies
• Prior experience implementing or administering enterprise software systems
• Background in management consulting or business operations

Skills & Competencies

Systems Thinking: Ability to design scalable processes and systems that work across diverse teams and product lines

Analytical Rigor: Strong quantitative skills with ability to translate data into actionable insights and recommendations

Technical Acumen: Comfort with technical concepts, tools, and data infrastructure

Process Optimization: Track record of identifying inefficiencies and implementing improvements that drive measurable results

Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate complex processes simply and effectively to diverse audiences

Stakeholder Management: Skilled at building relationships and aligning stakeholders at all levels of the organization

Change Management: Experience driving adoption of new processes, tools, and ways of working

Project Management: Strong organizational skills with ability to manage complex initiatives with multiple dependencies

Business Acumen: Understanding of SaaS business models, product economics, and how operations drive business outcomes

Coaching & Enablement: Ability to develop others and build organizational capabilities through training and mentorship