Role Overview for VP, Product Management, Data with a Financial Data Firm – Chicago, IL
JRG Partners is proud to exclusively represent a premier financial data and analytics firm in their search for a visionary and strategic Vice President of Product Management, Data. Located in the vibrant financial hub of Chicago, IL, this is a career-defining opportunity to lead the charge in shaping the future of financial information. Our client is a market leader, renowned for providing mission-critical data, insights, and technology that empower investment professionals, traders, and financial institutions worldwide.
As the VP of Product Management, Data, you will be the driving force behind the firm’s most critical asset: its data product portfolio. You will own the overarching strategy, roadmap, and commercial success of a suite of products that includes real-time market data feeds, comprehensive reference data, sophisticated analytics, and emerging alternative data sets. This executive role requires a unique blend of deep financial market expertise, technical data acumen, and inspirational leadership. You will be responsible for translating complex market needs and technological advancements into a compelling product vision and a tangible roadmap that delivers exceptional value to clients and drives significant revenue growth for the business.
You will lead and mentor a high-caliber team of product managers, fostering a culture of innovation, customer-centricity, and data-driven decision-making. Collaborating closely with senior leadership, engineering, data science, sales, and marketing, you will ensure the seamless execution of your strategy from ideation through to launch and beyond.
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a proven track record of building and scaling successful data products in the financial services industry. If you are passionate about the intersection of data, technology, and finance, and are ready to make a transformative impact on a global scale, we invite you to apply for this pivotal leadership position.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Product Management, Data with a Financial Data Firm – Chicago, IL
Product Strategy and Vision
Develop, articulate, and champion a long-term, cohesive product vision and strategy for the entire data product portfolio. Conduct in-depth market research, competitive analysis, and client feedback sessions to identify new opportunities and ensure our product offerings maintain a competitive edge.
Roadmap Development and Execution
Own the end-to-end product roadmap, defining key initiatives, setting priorities, and allocating resources effectively. Translate the strategic vision into detailed product requirements, user stories, and specifications for the engineering and data science teams.
Team Leadership and Mentorship
Build, lead, and inspire a world-class team of product managers. Provide coaching, guidance, and professional development opportunities to foster their growth. Cultivate a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance team culture.
Lifecycle Management
Oversee the complete product lifecycle for all data products, from initial concept and business case development to launch, iteration, and eventual sun-setting. Implement best practices for product management processes and methodologies.
Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy
Partner with Sales, Marketing, and a dedicated GTM team to develop and execute powerful launch plans. Define product positioning, value propositions, pricing, and packaging strategies to maximize market adoption and revenue generation.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as the central hub for all things related to data products, working seamlessly with Engineering to ensure timely and high-quality product delivery, with Data Science to innovate on new analytics, and with Sales to enable them with the tools and knowledge to succeed.
Stakeholder and Client Engagement
Act as the primary advocate for our clients. Engage directly with key customers, industry partners, and internal executive stakeholders to gather insights, validate product direction, and communicate the value of our data offerings.
Data Governance and Quality
Champion the highest standards of data quality, accuracy, and reliability. Work with data governance and operations teams to ensure all data products are compliant with evolving regulations in the financial data markets and meet stringent client expectations.
Performance and Analytics
Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the data product portfolio, including revenue, client adoption, and user engagement. Utilize data analytics to inform product decisions and report on business performance to the executive team.
Requirements for the VP, Product Management, Data with a Financial Data Firm – Chicago, IL
Extensive Product Leadership Experience
A minimum of 12-15 years of experience in product management, with at least 7+ years in a leadership capacity managing and scaling product teams.
Deep Financial Services Domain Knowledge
Proven experience within the financial services, FinTech, or capital markets industry is essential. Must possess a deep understanding of various asset classes (equities, fixed income, derivatives, etc.), financial instruments, and the data needs of different market participants (buy-side, sell-side).
Data Product Expertise
Demonstrable track record of successfully managing and launching complex data products, such as real-time data feeds, reference data platforms, historical data services, or alternative data sets.
Technical Acumen
Strong technical background with a solid understanding of modern data architecture, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), APIs, data warehousing, and data science principles. While not a hands-on coding role, the ability to engage in deep technical discussions with engineering is critical.
Strategic and Commercial Mindset
Proven ability to think strategically, analyze market trends, and develop business cases that justify product investments. Strong commercial instincts with experience in pricing, packaging, and contract negotiation.
Exceptional Communication Skills
World-class written, verbal, and presentation skills. The ability to articulate a complex product vision and strategy to a wide range of audiences, from C-level executives to engineers to clients.
Proven Leadership and Influence
A natural leader with the ability to inspire and motivate teams. Adept at influencing cross-functional teams and stakeholders without direct authority to drive alignment and achieve common goals.
Educational Background
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Finance, Economics, or a related field. An MBA or other advanced degree is highly preferred.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to investing in their employees and offers a highly competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional and personal well-being. As a key member of the executive team, you can expect:
Executive Compensation
A highly competitive base salary, significant annual performance-based bonus, and a long-term incentive plan (equity/stock options).
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents with low employee contributions.
Retirement Planning
A robust 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.
Generous Time Off
A flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) policy, in addition to company-paid holidays, to encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Flexible Work Environment
A hybrid work model that combines the benefits of in-office collaboration in their modern Chicago headquarters with the flexibility of remote work.
Professional Development
A substantial annual budget for conferences, training, certifications, and other professional development opportunities to keep you at the forefront of the industry.
Wellness Programs
Access to wellness resources, including gym membership subsidies, mental health support, and employee assistance programs.
Parental Leave
Comprehensive and supportive parental leave policies for all new parents.
How to Apply
JRG Partners has been exclusively retained for this executive search. To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and qualifications. We are seeking a leader who is not just qualified, but who is also a cultural fit for a fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative environment.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply directly. For more information about our expertise in this domain, please visit our Financial Services & Technology Practice Area page. We look forward to reviewing your application.
