Role Overview for VP, Product Strategy with an AI Platform – San Francisco, CA
JRG Partners is exclusively representing a trailblazing leader in the artificial intelligence sector. Our client, a hyper-growth, venture-backed company based in San Francisco, has developed a revolutionary AI platform that empowers enterprises to build, deploy, and manage sophisticated AI models at scale. They are at a pivotal moment in their journey, and we are seeking a visionary and strategic Vice President of Product Strategy to architect the future of their industry-defining platform.
This is a paramount executive role for a leader who thrives at the intersection of technology, business, and user experience. You will be the central force in defining not just what we build, but why we build it. Reporting directly to the Chief Product Officer (CPO), you will own the long-term product vision, the strategic roadmap, and the market intelligence function that guides our entire product organization. Your influence will extend across every department, from engineering and research to marketing, sales, and customer success. You will be responsible for ensuring our product strategy creates a durable competitive advantage, drives significant revenue growth, and solidifies our position as the undisputed market leader.
The ideal candidate is a seasoned product executive with a profound understanding of the AI/ML landscape, enterprise SaaS, and platform-based business models. You are not just a manager; you are a storyteller, an analyst, a strategist, and a leader who can inspire a team of brilliant product managers and engineers to achieve the impossible.
You possess the rare ability to zoom out to the 30,000-foot view of market dynamics and technology trends, and then zoom in to the granular details of a feature’s impact on a user’s workflow. If you are driven by the challenge of solving complex problems and have a passion for building products that will fundamentally change how businesses operate, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Product Strategy with an AI Platform – San Francisco, CA
As the Vice President of Product Strategy, you will be entrusted with a broad and impactful set of responsibilities designed to steer the company’s product direction and ensure its long-term market success. Your duties will include:
Strategic Vision and Roadmap Development
Spearhead the creation, articulation, and continuous refinement of a compelling 3-5 year product vision and strategy. Develop and maintain a comprehensive, multi-year product roadmap that aligns with the company’s ambitious business objectives, customer needs, and market opportunities.
Market and Competitive Intelligence
Build and lead a world-class market intelligence function. Conduct deep, ongoing analysis of the market landscape, customer segments, emerging technologies, and competitive threats. Synthesize insights to identify untapped opportunities and potential disruptions, leveraging a deep understanding of the competitive landscape, as outlined in reports like the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud AI Developer Services.
Cross-Functional Leadership and Alignment
Serve as the primary liaison between the product organization and the executive team, board of directors, and other key stakeholders. Foster a collaborative environment, driving alignment on product strategy across Engineering, R&D, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success to ensure a cohesive and unified approach to product development and launch.
Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy Collaboration
Partner closely with the marketing and sales leadership to define and execute winning GTM strategies. Provide critical input on product positioning, messaging, pricing, and packaging to ensure our value proposition resonates powerfully with target audiences and drives adoption.
Innovation and Portfolio Management
Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the product organization. Champion new product concepts and strategic initiatives, including potential partnerships and M&A opportunities. Manage the product portfolio to ensure a healthy balance between core product enhancements, new feature development, and long-term strategic bets.
Thought Leadership
Act as a key evangelist for the company’s product vision and strategy. Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and in client meetings, articulating our unique value proposition and solidifying our reputation as an innovator and thought leader in the AI space.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Champion a data-informed culture. Define, monitor, and analyze key product metrics (KPIs) to measure the success of strategic initiatives. Utilize quantitative and qualitative data to guide roadmap prioritization and strategic decision-making processes.
Team Mentorship and Development
Mentor and develop a team of product strategists and analysts. Provide guidance and coaching to help them grow their skills in market analysis, strategic thinking, and effective communication, building the next generation of product leaders within the company.
Requirements for the VP, Product Strategy with an AI Platform – San Francisco, CA
We are seeking an exceptional candidate who meets a rigorous set of professional and personal qualifications. The ideal candidate will possess a blend of deep technical knowledge, strategic business acumen, and inspirational leadership qualities.
Executive Experience
A minimum of 15+ years of progressive experience in product management, product strategy, or a related field within the enterprise technology sector. At least 7+ years of experience in a senior leadership role (Director, Sr. Director, or VP level), managing and mentoring high-performing product teams.
Domain Expertise
Deep and demonstrable expertise in the AI/ML space is non-negotiable. Strong familiarity with enterprise SaaS, PaaS, cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP), and data platforms. You should be able to hold your own in technical discussions about machine learning models, data pipelines, and MLOps.
Proven Strategic Impact
A demonstrated track record of developing and executing successful product strategies that have resulted in significant market share growth, revenue acceleration, and enhanced customer satisfaction. You must be able to provide concrete examples of how your strategic vision translated into tangible business outcomes.
Leadership and Influence
Exceptional leadership skills with the proven ability to inspire, motivate, and align cross-functional teams around a shared vision. You must be a master of influence, capable of building consensus and driving decisions across all levels of the organization, from individual engineers to the board of directors.
Business and Financial Acumen
Strong understanding of business fundamentals, including P&L management, pricing strategies, and financial modeling. Experience evaluating build vs. buy vs. partner decisions and participating in M&A due diligence is highly desirable.
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field is strongly preferred. An MBA or other advanced degree is a significant plus, providing a strong foundation in business strategy and operations.
Exceptional Communication Skills
World-class written, verbal, and presentation skills. You must be able to distill complex technical and strategic concepts into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences, including customers, partners, investors, and employees.
Analytical and Data-Driven
A highly analytical mindset with a passion for using data to uncover insights and drive decisions. You are comfortable with both qualitative customer feedback and quantitative product metrics.
Benefits & Perks Offered
We believe that attracting and retaining top-tier executive talent requires a holistic and highly competitive compensation and benefits package. We are committed to providing an environment where you can do your best work and feel valued for your contributions.
Executive Compensation
A highly competitive compensation package, including a substantial base salary, a significant performance-based annual bonus, and a transformative equity grant that provides a meaningful stake in the company’s success.
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premier health, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents with minimal employee contribution. We also offer a generous wellness stipend for gym memberships, fitness classes, mental health resources, and more.
Retirement & Financial Planning
A robust 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you save for your future. Access to financial planning services to help you manage your compensation and equity.
Generous Time Off
An unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, supplemented by company-wide holidays and shutdown periods. We trust you to manage your time and take the rest you need to stay energized and creative.
Professional Development
A significant annual budget for professional development, including executive coaching, industry conferences, leadership courses, and relevant certifications to support your continuous growth.
Office & Commuter Perks
A beautiful, state-of-the-art office located in the heart of San Francisco. We provide daily catered lunches, a fully stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages, and comprehensive commuter benefits to make your journey to the office seamless.
Family Support
Generous parental leave policies for all new parents, as well as support for family planning and childcare resources.
How to Apply
If you are a transformative product leader with the vision, strategy, and execution prowess to define the future of an industry-leading AI platform, we are eager to speak with you. This is a rare opportunity to join a world-class executive team and shape the trajectory of a company poised for exponential growth.
To be considered for this confidential search, please submit your resume and a compelling cover letter outlining your most significant strategic accomplishments and your perspective on the future of the enterprise AI market.
JRG Partners is proud to lead this executive search on behalf of our client. To learn more about our expertise in placing top technology leaders and to see other opportunities, please visit and explore our Technology Executive search practice.
