Role Overview for VP Product Design & Development – San Francisco, CA
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a trailblazing technology firm based in the vibrant heart of San Francisco, CA. Our client is a category-defining leader in the B2B SaaS space, dedicated to building intuitive and powerful solutions that transform how businesses operate. They are currently seeking a visionary and results-driven Vice President of Product Design & Development to join their executive team. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and design to development and launch, for a company on a rapid growth trajectory.
As the VP of Product Design & Development, you will be the driving force behind the product’s vision, strategy, and execution. You will lead, mentor, and inspire a talented, multi-disciplinary team of product designers, UX researchers, and product managers. Reporting directly to the Chief Product Officer, you will be responsible for creating a world-class user experience that not only meets but anticipates the needs of a diverse and growing customer base. Your leadership will be instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. You will be the ultimate advocate for the user, ensuring that every feature, interaction, and design decision is grounded in deep empathy and rigorous data analysis. This role requires a unique blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, technical acumen, and inspirational leadership. If you are a seasoned product leader passionate about building beautiful, functional, and impactful products that solve real-world problems, we invite you to apply.
Key Responsibilities of VP Product Design & Development – San Francisco, CA
The VP of Product Design & Development will have a broad and impactful scope of responsibilities, encompassing strategic leadership, team management, and hands-on execution. Success in this role will be measured by product adoption, user satisfaction, and the overall contribution of the product to the company’s strategic business objectives.
Strategic Vision & Leadership
Define and articulate a compelling long-term product vision and strategy that aligns with the company’s mission and market opportunities. Translate this vision into a clear, actionable product roadmap that prioritizes initiatives based on business impact, customer value, and technical feasibility. Champion the product vision across all departments, ensuring buy-in and alignment from the executive team to individual contributors.
Team Building & Mentorship
Lead, manage, and scale a high-performing team of product designers, UX/UI specialists, researchers, and product managers. Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages creativity, risk-taking, and professional growth. Implement robust career development paths, performance management systems, and mentorship programs to cultivate and retain top talent.
Design & UX Excellence
Be the ultimate authority on user experience and product design. Establish and enforce high standards for design quality, consistency, and usability across all product surfaces. Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive design system. Drive a culture of deep user empathy, championing established user-centered design principles and ensuring that qualitative and quantitative user research informs every stage of the product development process.
Product Development & Execution
Oversee the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from discovery and requirements gathering to launch and post-launch iteration. Collaborate closely with the VP of Engineering to optimize agile development processes, ensure timely delivery of high-quality software, and effectively manage the product backlog. Define and analyze key product metrics (KPIs) to measure success, identify areas for improvement, and inform future product decisions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as a key partner to the executive leadership team, providing insights and recommendations on product strategy and market trends. Work seamlessly with Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success to ensure a cohesive go-to-market strategy, effective product launches, and a continuous feedback loop from the market back to the product team.
Market & Customer Intelligence
Act as the company’s leading expert on the competitive landscape, emerging industry trends, and customer needs. Institute processes for continuous market analysis and user feedback collection. Leverage data, analytics, and direct customer interaction to uncover new opportunities and validate product hypotheses.
Budget & Resource Management
Develop and manage the annual budget for the product design and development department. Allocate resources effectively to support strategic priorities and ensure the team is equipped with the tools and support needed to succeed.
Requirements for the VP Product Design & Development – San Francisco, CA
We are seeking an accomplished and inspiring leader with a proven track record of building and scaling successful products and teams in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.
Experience
A minimum of 15+ years of experience in product management, product design, or a related field, with at least 7+ years in a senior leadership role (e.g., Director, Senior Director, VP) managing and mentoring teams.
Proven Leadership
Demonstrated success in leading and scaling product and design organizations within a high-growth B2B SaaS or enterprise software company. Experience managing managers is essential.
Strategic Mindset
A strong ability to think strategically, connecting customer needs, market trends, and business goals to create a compelling and defensible product vision. Experience developing and managing complex product roadmaps is required.
Design Acumen
A deep understanding of UX/UI principles, user research methodologies, and design thinking. While this is a leadership role, a strong appreciation for the craft of design is critical. A portfolio showcasing your leadership on successful products is highly desirable.
Technical Fluency
Comfortable engaging in technical discussions with engineering teams. A solid understanding of modern software development practices, cloud technologies, and agile methodologies.
Data-Driven Decision Maker
Expertise in using both qualitative and quantitative data to make informed product decisions. Proficiency with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) and A/B testing frameworks.
Exceptional Communication Skills
World-class written, verbal, and presentation skills. The ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences, from engineers to the board of directors.
Education
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field is preferred.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client believes in investing in their people and offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support the well-being and growth of their employees.
Competitive Compensation
A highly competitive salary, performance-based bonus, and a meaningful equity package.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents with significant employer contributions.
Retirement Planning
A 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you save for the future.
Generous Time Off
Flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays to encourage work-life balance.
Parental Leave
Comprehensive paid parental leave for all new parents.
Professional Development
An annual stipend for conferences, courses, and other learning opportunities to support your career growth.
Wellness Programs
A monthly wellness stipend that can be used for gym memberships, fitness classes, mental health apps, and more.
Commuter Benefits
Pre-tax commuter benefits to make your journey to our San Francisco office easier.
Office Perks
A modern, collaborative office space complete with fully stocked kitchens, catered lunches, and regular team events.
How to Apply
JRG Partners is a premier executive search firm specializing in placing top-tier talent within the technology, digital, and media sectors. We are excited to manage the recruitment for this pivotal role on behalf of our esteemed client.
If you are a visionary product leader ready to make a significant impact and shape the future of an industry-leading platform, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and a compelling cover letter outlining your qualifications and your leadership philosophy. For more information about our expertise in this domain, please visit the Product Design and Development Recruiters page. We look forward to reviewing your application.
