Director, Product Strategy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Product Strategy

Company: CivicScience

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Strategy & Operations / GTM Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-08-05

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the overarching product strategy and long-term product roadmap for CivicScience, ensuring alignment with market dynamics and business objectives.

• Establish and refine the product portfolio, defining clear distinctions between products, services, and customized solutions to optimize resource allocation and market focus.

• Develop robust frameworks for evaluating and prioritizing new product opportunities, ensuring investments are strategically aligned with customer demand, market trends, and company priorities.

• Conduct comprehensive market and competitive intelligence to inform strategic recommendations, identify emerging technologies (including AI), and position CivicScience products for sustained growth and competitive advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed as a "Director, Product Strategy" but the responsibilities heavily lean into GTM strategy, product operations, and strategic planning, requiring a strong understanding of market positioning and competitive landscapes. The emphasis on "establishing clear and disciplined product strategy" and "organizational clarity around product portfolio and future direction" indicates a need for someone who can operationalize strategy and ensure cross-functional alignment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and champion CivicScience's comprehensive product strategy and long-term product roadmap, ensuring clear articulation of vision and execution plan.

• Define and evolve the product portfolio, creating clear criteria for product classification (products, services, custom solutions) to enhance portfolio clarity and management.

• Implement and manage frameworks for evaluating, prioritizing, and selecting new product opportunities, ensuring strategic alignment with market demand, emerging trends, and business objectives.

• Conduct in-depth market benchmarking and competitive analysis to identify industry trends, emerging technologies (e.g., AI), and evolving customer expectations, translating these insights into strategic recommendations.

• Foster cross-functional collaboration with engineering, marketing, sales, and customer success teams to identify new market opportunities, address product gaps, and meet recurring customer needs effectively.

• Translate complex business and customer requirements into well-defined product specifications, user workflows, and clear product positioning/messaging that reinforces market presence.

• Lead the product planning process from conceptualization through execution, ensuring disciplined prioritization and roadmap development.

• Support customer and partner engagements by clearly communicating product vision, long-term direction, and strategic value propositions.

• Champion a disciplined product culture focused on data-driven decision-making, long-term value creation, and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic visioning and operational execution. The role requires not only defining what to build but also how to manage the product lifecycle and portfolio effectively, involving significant cross-functional collaboration and strategic communication. The emphasis on "bringing structure and discipline to product planning, prioritization, and roadmap development" suggests a need for process-oriented thinking.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA strongly preferred. Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in product strategy, product management, management consulting, or related strategic leadership roles within technology, data analytics, or advertising sectors.

• Proven track record of successfully developing and executing product strategies, and bringing new products or product portfolios to market.

• Demonstrated experience in creating strategic product roadmaps and investment frameworks that drive business growth. Required Skills:

• Product Strategy Development: Ability to define long-term product vision, strategy, and roadmaps aligned with market opportunities and business goals.

• Portfolio Management: Expertise in defining, evaluating, and managing a product portfolio, including criteria for product vs. service classification.

• Market & Competitive Intelligence: Strong skills in market benchmarking, competitive analysis, identifying industry trends, and assessing emerging technologies (including AI).

• Strategic Planning & Prioritization: Proficiency in developing frameworks for opportunity evaluation, prioritization, and resource allocation.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to influence and collaborate effectively with engineering, marketing, sales, and other business units without direct managerial authority.

• Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making: Exceptional analytical skills to interpret data, derive insights, and make data-informed strategic recommendations.

• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex product strategies to executive leadership and diverse teams.

• Product Positioning & Messaging: Ability to develop compelling product positioning and messaging that strengthens market presence and resonates with target audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• AI & Emerging Technologies: Knowledge of the commercial application of Artificial Intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies relevant to data analytics and advertising platforms.

• Business Development Acumen: Understanding of market opportunities, customer needs, and how to leverage product strategy to drive business development.

• User Workflow & Experience Design: Ability to translate complex needs into clear product requirements and intuitive user workflows.

• Industry Network: An established network within the data, advertising, or consumer analytics industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" experience level combined with the strategic nature of the role suggests a need for a seasoned professional capable of independent strategic thought and execution. The emphasis on influencing without direct authority points to strong interpersonal and leadership skills beyond formal management.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Case Studies: Develop detailed case studies showcasing successful product strategy development, portfolio management initiatives, or market entry strategies. Focus on demonstrating the strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and decision-making processes employed.

• Roadmap & Prioritization Frameworks: Provide examples of frameworks used for product roadmap development, opportunity evaluation, and prioritization. Highlight how these frameworks ensured alignment with business objectives and market needs.

• Market Analysis & Competitive Benchmarking: Showcase examples of market analysis, competitive landscaping, or trend identification reports that informed strategic product decisions. Emphasize the actionable insights derived and their impact.

• Product Definition & Requirements: Present examples of translating complex business needs into clear product requirements, user stories, or workflow diagrams that guided development teams.

Process Documentation:

• Strategic Planning Process: Document the structured approach used for developing long-term product strategies and roadmaps, including stakeholder engagement and alignment mechanisms.

• Opportunity Evaluation & Prioritization Process: Outline the systematic process for evaluating new product ideas, assessing market potential, and prioritizing initiatives based on defined criteria.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Protocols: Detail methodologies for effective collaboration with engineering, marketing, sales, and other departments during product strategy development and execution.

• Market Intelligence Integration: Describe how market research, competitive insights, and customer feedback are integrated into the ongoing product strategy and planning cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role focused on strategy, a portfolio should demonstrate not just execution but the strategic thinking behind it. Candidates should be prepared to articulate the "why" behind their decisions, the frameworks they used, and the measurable impact of their strategic initiatives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the Director level, 10+ years of experience, and the strategic nature of the role in a technology-focused company based in Pittsburgh, PA, a competitive salary range for this position is estimated to be between $160,000 - $220,000 per year. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar senior product strategy roles in major US tech hubs, adjusted for the specific responsibilities and experience required. The final offer will depend on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and alignment with specific company needs.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Company-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for employees and their legal dependents.

• Income Protection: Company-paid life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Financial Wellness: Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for medical and dependent care expenses, and a 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Work-Life Balance: Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) to allow for flexibility and rejuvenation.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for travel and educational advancement, supporting continuous learning and skill development.

• Employee Support: Access to employee assistance programs for personal and professional support.

Working Hours:

The role is designated as full-time, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. However, given the Director level and remote nature, there is an expectation of flexibility to accommodate strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and critical business needs, particularly for candidates in the Eastern Time Zone.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Director of Product Strategy with significant experience in the tech/data analytics sector in the US. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with what is often offered by growth-stage tech companies. The mention of Eastern Time Zone preference suggests a desire for overlap with core business hours.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Analytics & Advertising Platform. CivicScience operates at the intersection of data, media, and advertising, providing real-time consumer insights to brands and media companies. This context means the company is data-centric, focused on understanding consumer behavior, and driven by innovation in analytics and advertising technologies.

Company Size: The company has received recognition on Inc. 5000 lists, suggesting it is a growth-stage company likely ranging from 100-500 employees. This size typically offers a dynamic environment with opportunities for significant impact, while still maintaining a degree of agility.

Founded: CivicScience was founded in 2001, indicating a mature company with over two decades of experience in the market. This history suggests stability, established processes, and deep industry knowledge, combined with a forward-looking approach as evidenced by their continuous innovation and recognition.

Team Structure:

• Product Team: While not explicitly detailed, the Director of Product Strategy will likely lead a product management function, working closely with product managers, designers, and engineers.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes collaboration across business units (Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Customer Success). This implies a matrixed or highly collaborative structure where influence and partnership are key.

• Leadership Cadre: The Director will be part of the senior leadership team, reporting to higher executives and influencing strategic direction across the organization.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: CivicScience's core business is built on collecting and analyzing over 1 million survey responses daily, emphasizing a deeply data-driven approach to understanding consumer behavior and informing business strategies.

• Agile Product Development: Given the fast-paced nature of the tech and advertising industries, it's likely that Agile methodologies are employed for product development, focusing on iterative improvements and rapid response to market changes.

• Customer-Centric Strategy: The emphasis on "customer demand," "customer needs," and "customer experiences" highlights a commitment to building products that solve real user problems and deliver tangible value.

Company Website: https://www.civicscience.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "Real Voices. Superior Advertising. Thriving Media." and its data collection engine positions it as a key player in understanding consumer sentiment and intent, which is critical for advertisers. The awards and recognition signal a strong, innovative, and reputable organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director or VP level within Product Strategy and Operations. It requires a strategic mindset, significant experience in product development and market analysis, and the ability to influence organizational direction. The scope includes defining long-term strategy, managing a product portfolio, and driving cross-functional alignment.

Reporting Structure: The Director, Product Strategy will likely report to a VP of Product, Chief Product Officer (CPO), or potentially a Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). They will be responsible for influencing and guiding product managers and potentially contributing to the strategic direction of other GTM functions.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on CivicScience's revenue and business decisions. By defining the product strategy, roadmap, and portfolio, the Director influences what products are developed, which markets are targeted, and how the company positions itself competitively. This directly impacts market share, customer acquisition, customer retention, and ultimately, revenue growth and profitability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Executive Leadership: Potential to advance to VP of Product, Chief Product Officer, or Chief Strategy Officer roles within CivicScience or at other growth-stage technology companies.

• Strategic Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven product development, go-to-market strategy for data platforms, or advanced consumer analytics.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Chance to build and mentor a high-performing product strategy team, shaping the future of product management at CivicScience.

• Broad Business Influence: The role provides a platform to influence broader business strategy, potentially leading to opportunities in general management or executive leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a high-impact role that offers significant career progression. The emphasis on influencing without direct authority and driving organizational clarity suggests a trajectory towards broader leadership responsibilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly advertised as "Remote (work from home)". While the company is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, this position is not tied to a physical office and can be performed from anywhere in the US, with a preference for candidates in the Eastern Time Zone. This suggests a distributed workforce model.

Office Location(s): The company headquarters is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. However, the remote nature of this role means candidates are not required to be in Pittsburgh. The preference for the Eastern Time Zone indicates a desire for better overlap with core business hours and existing teams.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Flexibility: Offers the autonomy and flexibility of working from home, allowing for a personalized workspace and reduced commute.

• Collaborative Digital Environment: While remote, the role necessitates strong digital collaboration tools and practices to connect with teams across different locations and time zones. Expect to use video conferencing, project management software, and communication platforms extensively.

• Data-Centric Tools: The role will involve working with sophisticated data analytics and product management tools, likely accessible remotely, supporting data-informed decision-making.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time role, generally expected to align with standard business hours (approximately 40 hours per week). However, the remote and Director-level nature implies flexibility. Candidates, especially those in the Eastern Time Zone, are expected to be available for critical meetings, strategic discussions, and cross-functional collaborations during core business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature with an Eastern Time Zone preference is key for candidates to consider. It signals a company that embraces remote work but also values synchronous collaboration and alignment with its primary operational hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A preliminary call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and interest in the role and company.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a VP or CPO) focusing on strategic thinking, product philosophy, leadership style, and experience with product strategy and portfolio management.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from engineering, marketing, sales, and potentially other departments to evaluate collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and ability to influence without direct authority.

• Case Study Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present a strategic case study, either pre-prepared or developed during the interview process, demonstrating their approach to product strategy, market analysis, or roadmap development.

• Executive Interview: A final conversation with a senior executive (e.g., CEO, CPO) to assess overall fit, strategic vision, and alignment with company leadership.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Depth: Focus on showcasing strategic thinking, not just tactical execution. Clearly articulate the "why" behind your decisions, the frameworks you employed, and the measurable business impact.

• Portfolio Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by strategic initiative, product lifecycle phase, or impact area. Use clear headings and concise descriptions.

• Quantifiable Results: Wherever possible, quantify the impact of your work using relevant metrics (e.g., revenue growth, market share increase, cost savings, customer acquisition improvements).

• Case Study Clarity: For case studies, clearly define the problem, your approach, the key decisions made, the challenges encountered, and the ultimate outcome. Highlight your role and contributions.

• Company Alignment: Tailor your presentation to CivicScience's industry (data analytics, advertising) and its stated values. Show that you understand their business and how your strategic approach can benefit them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Frameworks: Be prepared to discuss and apply common product strategy frameworks (e.g., Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, Ansoff Matrix, Value Proposition Design).

• Market Analysis: Practice analyzing market trends, competitive landscapes, and identifying opportunities and threats relevant to a data analytics and advertising platform.

• Roadmap & Prioritization: Develop hypothetical product roadmaps and prioritization plans, explaining the rationale behind your choices and how you would manage trade-offs.

• AI & Emerging Tech: Be ready to discuss how AI and other emerging technologies can be leveraged to enhance product offerings and create competitive advantages in CivicScience's market.

• Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you've influenced cross-functional teams, managed competing priorities, and communicated complex strategies effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize strategic thinking and the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans. A strong portfolio that demonstrates measurable impact and a clear understanding of the company's business context will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Platforms: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Aha!, Productboard, or similar for roadmap planning, backlog management, and cross-functional documentation.

• Data Analytics & BI Tools: Proficiency in tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Looker, or advanced Excel for data analysis, reporting, and creating data-driven insights.

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar, understanding how product strategy interfaces with sales and customer relationship management.

• Collaboration Suites: Extensive use of tools like Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet) or Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) for daily operations and communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Intelligence Platforms: Experience with tools for competitive analysis and market research (e.g., Gartner, Forrester, Statista, specialized industry data providers).

• Customer Feedback Tools: Familiarity with platforms for gathering and analyzing customer feedback (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, user feedback portals).

• Performance Tracking Tools: Understanding of how to track product performance against KPIs, potentially involving analytics platforms like Google Analytics or custom dashboards.

CRM & Automation:

• AI/ML Tools: Familiarity with the application of AI and Machine Learning in product development, analytics, and customer insights (e.g., understanding of common algorithms, data science platforms, or AI-powered analytics tools).

• Integration Platforms: Understanding of how different systems (CRM, product management, analytics) integrate to provide a unified view of product performance and market engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role's strategic nature implies a need for proficiency in tools that support data analysis, strategic planning, cross-functional communication, and market intelligence. The emphasis on AI suggests a need for familiarity with its applications in product strategy.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value, reflected in CivicScience's business model, emphasizing the use of data and analytics to inform all strategic and operational decisions.

• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: The company's awards and focus on emerging technologies indicate a culture that encourages new ideas, experimentation, and staying ahead of market trends.

• Customer Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and meeting customer needs, translating these into valuable product offerings and experiences.

• Collaboration & Transparency: The emphasis on cross-functional partnership and influencing without authority suggests a culture where open communication and teamwork are highly valued.

• Discipline & Accountability: The role's requirement for "structure and discipline" points to a culture that values clear processes, accountability for outcomes, and a commitment to long-term value creation.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where product strategy is developed and executed in close partnership with engineering, marketing, sales, and other departments.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions and decision-making will be grounded in data and market insights, fostering a culture of objective debate and shared understanding.

• Influence & Persuasion: The ability to influence stakeholders through data-driven arguments, clear communication, and strategic vision is paramount.

• Agile & Iterative: A willingness to adapt strategies and plans based on new information, market feedback, and evolving business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of analytical rigor, innovative spirit, and collaborative execution, typical of successful tech companies in the data and advertising space.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Vision into Execution: Effectively translating a high-level product strategy into actionable roadmaps and initiatives that engineering and other teams can successfully execute.

• Managing Competing Priorities: Balancing diverse stakeholder demands, market opportunities, and resource constraints to create a coherent and impactful product roadmap.

• Navigating a Dynamic Market: Staying ahead of rapid technological advancements (especially in AI), evolving customer expectations, and intense competitive pressures in the data analytics and advertising sectors.

• Driving Organizational Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for the product strategy across all levels and departments of the organization, especially in a remote setting.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone executive leadership skills, refine strategic thinking, and gain broader business acumen.

• Emerging Technology Expertise: Deepen knowledge and practical application of AI and other emerging technologies within product strategy and development.

• Industry Influence: Engage with industry trends, conferences, and networks to build thought leadership and expand professional influence.

• Mentorship & Team Growth: Opportunity to build and mentor a high-performing product strategy team, contributing to the development of future leaders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges that are also opportunities for growth. Successfully navigating these will be key to the candidate's development and the company's success.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a comprehensive product strategy for a new market or product line. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a STAR method answer focusing on strategic frameworks, market analysis, and measurable results.)

• "How do you approach building and managing a product portfolio? What criteria do you use to decide between developing a new product, enhancing an existing one, or divesting?" (Be ready to discuss portfolio management methodologies and prioritization frameworks.)

• "Given the rapid advancements in AI, how would you assess its potential impact on CivicScience's product offerings and market position? What steps would you take to integrate AI strategically?" (Demonstrate understanding of AI's commercial applications and a structured approach to evaluating new technologies.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about CivicScience's business model and market? How do you see your role contributing to our mission of 'Real Voices. Superior Advertising. Thriving Media.'" (Research the company thoroughly, understand their data-driven approach, and articulate your strategic fit.)

• "How do you foster a data-driven culture and ensure decisions are based on insights rather than assumptions?" (Provide examples of how you've used data to drive consensus and influence decisions.)

• "Describe your experience influencing cross-functional teams without direct managerial authority. What strategies do you employ to gain buy-in and drive alignment?" (Prepare specific examples of successful stakeholder management and collaboration.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your presentation as a compelling story, clearly outlining the problem, your strategic solution, the execution, and the measurable impact.

• Visual Clarity: Use clean, professional slides with clear data visualizations and minimal text. Focus on key takeaways.

• Data Emphasis: Highlight the data and analytics that informed your decisions and demonstrate how you measured success.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it's within the allotted timeframe, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your methodologies, decision-making process, and challenges faced. Be prepared to elaborate on any aspect of your portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily assess strategic thinking, data literacy, and leadership capabilities. Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic frameworks and demonstrate quantifiable impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the CivicScience careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 10+ years of experience in product strategy, product management, or management consulting, emphasizing achievements in developing and launching products, managing portfolios, and driving market growth. Use keywords from the job description like "product strategy," "roadmap development," "market intelligence," and "stakeholder management."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a selection of 2-3 key strategic initiatives or case studies that best demonstrate your ability to develop product strategy, manage portfolios, and influence cross-functional teams. Focus on quantifiable results and the strategic thinking behind your actions.

• Research CivicScience: Thoroughly investigate CivicScience's business model, its role in the data analytics and advertising industry, its competitors, and recent news or achievements. Understand their mission and values to articulate your fit.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare to answer strategic questions, behavioral questions (using the STAR method), and questions about your approach to market analysis, AI integration, and cross-functional collaboration. Practice presenting your portfolio concisely and effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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