Director, Product Strategy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Product Strategy

Company: Riskified

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Strategy / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the definition and refinement of Riskified’s long-term product vision, leveraging market trends, customer needs, and technological advancements in AI and identity management.

• Identify and assess strategic expansion vectors and adjacencies across the ecommerce, payments, fraud prevention, and fintech ecosystems.

• Conduct comprehensive market assessments to pinpoint high-impact growth opportunities, including TAM/SAM analysis and competitive landscape evaluations.

• Evaluate strategic investment opportunities, including build/partner/buy decisions, and develop robust business cases for major product initiatives.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with executive leadership, Product, Data Science, GTM, and Finance to align on multi-year product strategy and roadmapping.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at the intersection of Product, Corporate Strategy, and Go-to-Market (GTM) functions, requiring a strategic leader who can translate complex market dynamics and technological trends into actionable product vision and investment strategies. The emphasis on AI-driven solutions and the fintech ecosystem indicates a need for a candidate with a deep understanding of data-intensive products and evolving payment landscapes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, articulate, and continuously refine Riskified’s multi-year product vision, grounded in evolving market trends, customer needs, regulatory shifts, and technological advancements (e.g., AI, identity, payments infrastructure).

• Identify and analyze potential adjacencies and expansion vectors across key areas such as eCommerce infrastructure, online payments, fraud prevention, identity management, and banking partnerships.

• Translate macro fintech trends (e.g., agentic commerce, open banking, real-time payments, digital wallets, network tokenization, alternative payment methods) into concrete strategic opportunities and product initiatives.

• Conduct deep market assessments to identify high-impact growth opportunities, including detailed TAM/SAM analysis and comprehensive competitive landscape evaluations.

• Evaluate build/partner/buy options for strategic initiatives and lead product-related strategic investments and partnerships.

• Develop compelling business cases for major product bets, effectively balancing growth potential, market opportunity, and risk.

• Represent the Product Strategy function in executive-level discussions with strategic partners and key customers.

• Partner closely with domain Product leaders to ensure annual objectives and roadmaps are aligned with overarching multi-year strategic pillars.

• Facilitate executive alignment and buy-in around major product moves, cross-domain initiatives, and strategic investments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a strategic, forward-looking role focused on long-term growth and market positioning. The emphasis on translating macro trends into concrete opportunities and developing business cases highlights the need for a candidate who can blend analytical rigor with strategic foresight and executive communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• MBA or equivalent strategic training is considered an advantage.

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field is preferred. Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Product Strategy, Corporate Strategy, or Product Management, with a strong focus on high-growth B2B SaaS or Fintech companies.

• Proven track record of defining, developing, and driving multi-year product visions and comprehensive strategies.

• Demonstrated success in evaluating and prioritizing major investment opportunities within a technology-driven environment.

• Experience working with and shaping data-driven and algorithmic products.

• Experience partnering effectively with Go-to-Market (GTM) organizations to successfully launch new products in both existing and new market categories. Required Skills:

• Product Vision & Strategy: Ability to define and articulate a compelling long-term product vision and translate it into actionable strategies.

• Market & Competitive Analysis: Expertise in conducting thorough market assessments, TAM/SAM analysis, and competitive landscape evaluations to identify growth opportunities.

• Fintech Ecosystem Knowledge: Deep understanding of the fintech ecosystem, including eCommerce infrastructure, online payments, Payment Service Providers (PSPs), banking and issuer ecosystems, fraud prevention, and identity management.

• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to evaluate complex investment opportunities and develop sound business cases.

• Executive Presence & Influence: Exceptional ability to influence senior stakeholders, communicate effectively with executive leadership, and represent the company with external partners and customers.

• Storytelling & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

Preferred Skills:

• AI & Algorithmic Products: Experience with products leveraging Artificial Intelligence and complex algorithms.

• GTM Strategy Collaboration: Proven experience working closely with sales, marketing, and customer success teams to bring products to market.

• Partnership Development: Experience in evaluating and forging strategic partnerships (build/partner/buy).

• Regulatory Awareness: Understanding of relevant regulatory shifts impacting the fintech and eCommerce landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of strategic vision, deep industry knowledge in fintech and eCommerce, and strong executive-level communication and influence skills. The preference for an MBA or equivalent strategic training signals the importance of formal strategic frameworks and business modeling.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of strategic frameworks developed to guide product vision and investment decisions.

• Present case studies of market assessments, including TAM/SAM analysis and competitive evaluations, demonstrating analytical rigor and actionable insights.

• Include documentation or summaries of business cases developed for significant product initiatives, highlighting ROI projections and risk assessments.

• Demonstrate experience in evaluating build/partner/buy scenarios and presenting strategic recommendations. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of strategic roadmapping processes, illustrating how long-term visions are translated into actionable plans and connected to annual objectives.

• Illustrate experience in facilitating executive alignment and consensus-building around strategic product decisions.

• Showcase understanding of how to integrate market trends and customer needs into strategic planning cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is highly strategic and may not require as much tactical process documentation as an operational role, a strong portfolio should still demonstrate the candidate's ability to structure strategic thinking, analyze complex markets, and articulate strategic recommendations. The focus should be on the outputs of strategic processes (e.g., market assessments, business cases, roadmaps) rather than detailed operational workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,000 - $205,000 USD per year. This range is applicable for candidates working within New York City. Actual salary will be determined based on a combination of candidate qualifications, competencies, and geographic location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Fully-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance from the first day of employment.

• Equity and Retirement: Stock-based awards for all employees, 401(k) plan with employer matching.

• Commuter Benefits: Assistance for commuting expenses.

• On-site Amenities (Hybrid Environment): Catered lunch, fully-stocked kitchen, team events, happy hours, and birthday celebrations.

• Wellness Programs: Opportunities for yoga, pilates, participation in a soccer league, and other wellness classes.

• Community Engagement: Wide-ranging opportunities to volunteer and contribute to local communities.

• Professional Development:

  • Global onboarding program.
  • Sales bootcamp (relevant for understanding GTM collaboration).
  • Access to skills-based courses.
  • Full access to Udemy for continuous learning.
  • Regular lunch & learns.

• Company Swag: Riskified branded gifts and merchandise.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to New York City. For candidates in other locations, the compensation may vary. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing not just health and financial well-being but also professional growth and community engagement, which are key attractors for experienced professionals. The hybrid work arrangement implies a need for strong organizational and communication skills to maintain effectiveness across different work modes.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: FinTech / eCommerce Risk Management. Riskified operates at the critical intersection of eCommerce and financial technology, providing AI-powered solutions to mitigate fraud and risk for online businesses. This dynamic industry is characterized by rapid technological evolution, increasing transaction volumes, and a constant need for sophisticated risk mitigation strategies.

Company Size: 750+ employees globally. As a fast-growing tech company, Riskified offers the dynamism and opportunity of a scaling organization, combined with established processes and a significant market presence.

Founded: Riskified was founded with a mission to empower businesses to grow by removing risk. Its establishment in the tech landscape has seen it grow into a significant player, evidenced by its NYSE debut and valuation, indicating a history of successful innovation and market penetration.

Team Structure:

• The Product Strategy team is likely a lean, high-impact group that works closely with executive leadership.

• It will collaborate extensively with dedicated Product Management teams responsible for specific product lines, as well as Data Science, GTM (Sales, Marketing, Partnerships), Finance, and potentially Legal/Compliance.

• The reporting structure will likely place this Director role under a VP or SVP of Product or Strategy, with direct interaction with C-suite executives. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The company's core offering is AI-powered, emphasizing a strong reliance on data analysis, machine learning, and algorithmic product development.

• Strategic Planning: A structured approach to identifying market opportunities, evaluating investments, and defining long-term product roadmaps is essential.

• Agile & Iterative Development: While strategic, the role will interface with product teams likely employing agile methodologies, requiring an understanding of how strategy informs iterative development cycles.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Success hinges on seamless collaboration across diverse departments, requiring strong communication and influencing skills.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Riskified's focus on AI and risk management in eCommerce positions this role within a high-growth, technologically advanced sector. The company's size suggests a culture that balances innovation with structured growth, offering opportunities for significant impact within a well-established yet agile environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Director, Product Strategy. This is a senior leadership role focused on shaping the strategic direction of Riskified's product portfolio. It requires a seasoned professional with deep expertise in market analysis, strategic planning, and a nuanced understanding of the fintech and eCommerce landscapes. The role is pivotal in identifying future growth areas and ensuring the company's long-term competitive advantage.

Reporting Structure: This role will report to senior leadership, likely a VP of Product, Chief Product Officer, or potentially a head of Corporate Strategy. The position involves direct interaction and influence over executive decision-making and cross-functional strategy alignment.

Operations Impact: The Director of Product Strategy has a profound impact on Riskified's revenue and business trajectory by identifying and prioritizing new market opportunities, guiding significant investment decisions, and shaping the future product roadmap. Strategic product decisions directly influence market share, competitive positioning, and long-term financial performance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to move into VP or Chief Strategy Officer roles, overseeing broader strategic initiatives or expanding the product vision across new business units.

• Product Portfolio Ownership: Opportunity to take on direct P&L responsibility for new product lines or business ventures originating from strategic initiatives.

• Industry Influence: Become a recognized thought leader in the fintech and eCommerce risk space through external representation, speaking engagements, and contributing to industry discourse.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead major strategic projects that span multiple departments, honing leadership and program management skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant growth trajectory, moving beyond tactical product management into high-level strategic decision-making with direct C-suite exposure. The impact is measured in long-term business success and market leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Riskified emphasizes a hybrid work model, combining remote flexibility with in-office collaboration. This model is designed to foster both individual productivity and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): The primary listed location is New York City. Riskified has a global presence, but this specific role is based in NYC, with a hybrid expectation for local team members.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment likely serves as a hub for strategic planning sessions, executive meetings, and team-building activities, encouraging in-person collaboration.

• Technology-Enabled: As a tech company, expect access to modern tools and infrastructure necessary for both remote and in-office work, supporting data analysis and strategic communication.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The hybrid nature encourages intentional collaboration, with opportunities to connect with diverse teams (Product, Data Science, GTM) during in-office days.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week. While the role is demanding and requires strategic thinking, the hybrid model and emphasis on professional development suggest a focus on results and flexibility where possible, while ensuring critical in-office collaboration occurs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid environment requires candidates to be self-motivated and adept at managing their work effectively across different settings. It also necessitates strong communication skills to bridge the gap between remote and in-office team members, ensuring seamless collaboration on strategic initiatives.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience, strategic thinking, and understanding of the fintech/eCommerce landscape. Be prepared to discuss your approach to product strategy.

• Panel Interviews: You will likely meet with various stakeholders, including Product leaders, GTM representatives, Data Science leads, and potentially executive team members. These interviews will focus on your ability to collaborate, influence, and contribute to strategic decision-making.

• Case Study/Presentation: Expect a strategic case study or presentation assignment. This will likely involve analyzing a market opportunity, developing a strategic recommendation, or presenting a vision for a product area. This is a critical opportunity to showcase your analytical and storytelling skills.

• Executive Interview: A final discussion with a senior executive (e.g., CPO, CSO) to assess strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit with the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Strategic Impact: Curate examples that demonstrate your ability to identify significant market opportunities, define long-term product visions, and drive strategic investments.

• Showcase Analytical Rigor: Include market assessment summaries, TAM/SAM analyses, competitive landscapes, and business case outlines that highlight your analytical process and data-driven approach.

• Demonstrate Influence: If possible, include examples of how you’ve influenced executive decisions or aligned cross-functional teams around a strategic direction.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, quantify the impact of your strategic contributions (e.g., potential revenue growth, market share gains, successful partnerships).

• Tailor to Riskified: Research Riskified's current product portfolio, market position, and recent news to tailor your examples and demonstrate a clear understanding of their business and industry challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Frameworks: Be ready to discuss and apply various strategic frameworks (e.g., Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, Ansoff Matrix) in the context of fintech and eCommerce.

• Market Trend Analysis: Prepare to discuss current and emerging trends in AI, payments, identity, and eCommerce, and how they present opportunities or threats.

• Business Case Development: Practice structuring and presenting a compelling business case for a hypothetical product investment, including market sizing, competitive analysis, financial projections, and risk mitigation.

• Executive Communication: Rehearse articulating complex strategic ideas concisely and persuasively, as if presenting to the C-suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate strategic thinking, industry expertise, and leadership potential. A strong portfolio and preparation for a case study or presentation are crucial for demonstrating the required skills and aligning with Riskified's focus on data-driven strategy and market leadership.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Strategy & Roadmapping: Tools for market analysis, competitive intelligence, scenario planning, and strategic roadmap visualization (e.g., Aha!, Productboard, or custom frameworks).

• Data Analysis & Business Intelligence: Proficiency with tools for analyzing market data, customer insights, and financial performance (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker, SQL).

• Collaboration & Communication: Standard office productivity suites (e.g., G Suite, Microsoft Office), and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams).

• Presentation Software: Advanced proficiency in creating impactful presentations (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides) for executive audiences.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Research Databases: Access to and interpretation of data from sources like Gartner, Forrester, Statista, and industry-specific research firms.

• Financial Modeling Tools: Ability to build and interpret financial models, projections, and ROI analyses, likely using Excel or specialized financial software.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct user of CRM for sales operations, an understanding of CRM capabilities (e.g., Salesforce) is beneficial for understanding customer data and GTM alignment.

• Familiarity with automation concepts relevant to strategic execution and reporting is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role is more focused on analytical, strategic planning, and communication tools rather than operational systems. The emphasis is on leveraging data to inform strategy and effectively communicating those strategies to diverse stakeholders.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Bold Thinking: Riskified fosters an environment where challenging assumptions and pursuing innovative solutions is encouraged, especially in the fast-evolving fintech space.

• Data-Driven Approach: A core value, reflecting the company's reliance on AI and analytics to drive decisions and product development. Operations professionals are expected to be analytical and comfortable with data.

• End-to-End Ownership: Team members are empowered to take full responsibility for their areas, from initial concept to execution and impact measurement.

• Collaboration & Results-Driven: A strong emphasis on working together effectively to achieve ambitious goals, combined with a focus on delivering tangible outcomes.

• Impact & Purpose: Employees are motivated by the opportunity to build products that matter and make a lasting impact on the eCommerce and fintech industries.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A highly collaborative style is essential, with seamless interaction between Product Strategy, Product Management, Data Science, GTM, and Finance teams.

• Open Communication: Encourages direct and transparent communication, feedback exchange, and constructive debate to refine strategies and solutions.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams to foster collective growth and efficiency.

• Strategic Alignment Focus: Collaboration is geared towards achieving strategic alignment and ensuring all teams are working cohesively towards common long-term objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Riskified values strategic thinking, data fluency, and collaborative execution. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to thrive in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment where innovation and ownership are paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Rapid Market Evolution: The fintech and eCommerce landscapes are constantly changing due to new technologies, regulations, and competitive pressures. Staying ahead requires continuous learning and adaptation.

• Balancing Long-Term Vision with Short-Term Execution: Aligning ambitious, multi-year product strategies with the immediate needs and roadmaps of product teams can be complex.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Securing buy-in and coordinating actions across diverse departments (Product, Engineering, GTM, Finance) for major strategic initiatives requires strong influencing and negotiation skills.

• Identifying and Validating Emerging Opportunities: Accurately forecasting future market needs and technological shifts, and then validating these as viable strategic bets, is inherently challenging.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Fintech & AI: Opportunities to deepen expertise in cutting-edge areas like AI, identity verification, real-time payments, and emerging payment methods.

• Strategic Leadership Skills: Develop advanced skills in strategic planning, investment analysis, executive communication, and stakeholder management through hands-on experience.

• Industry Exposure: Gain exposure to a wide range of industry players, partners, and customers, broadening your professional network and market understanding.

• Mentorship & Executive Interaction: Direct access to senior leadership and experienced professionals provides invaluable mentorship and learning opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant intellectual challenges and opportunities for professional growth. Success will depend on adaptability, strategic foresight, and the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics while driving impactful change.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you identified a significant new market opportunity and how you validated it. What was the outcome?" (Assesses market analysis, validation, and strategic foresight)

• "How would you approach defining a multi-year product vision for a company like Riskified, considering the rapid evolution of fintech and AI?" (Evaluates strategic framework application and forward-thinking)

• "Walk me through your process for developing a business case for a major product investment. What key elements do you include?" (Tests analytical rigor, financial acumen, and business case structuring)

• "How do you ensure alignment between a long-term product vision and the short-term roadmaps of various product teams?" (Assesses cross-functional collaboration and strategic execution planning) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Riskified's mission and its position in the fintech/eCommerce risk market?" (Gauges genuine interest and understanding of the company)

• "How do you see your role contributing to Riskified's culture of innovation and data-driven decision-making?" (Assesses cultural fit and alignment with company values)

• "Describe your experience working with GTM teams to bring new products to market. What are the key challenges and success factors?" (Evaluates GTM collaboration experience) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio around key strategic contributions (e.g., Market Opportunity Identification, Product Vision Definition, Investment Strategy).

• Data-Centric Storytelling: For each example, clearly articulate the problem, your analytical approach (including data used), your strategic recommendation, the execution path, and the quantifiable impact.

• Executive-Level Clarity: Practice presenting your findings and recommendations concisely, focusing on the strategic implications and business value. Be prepared for probing questions from senior leaders.

• Tailor to Riskified: Weave in your understanding of Riskified's specific challenges and opportunities within the fintech and eCommerce space throughout your presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, deep industry knowledge, and strong communication skills, particularly when presenting complex ideas and justifying strategic recommendations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Director, Product Strategy position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Riskified's careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your resume and any supporting documents to highlight your experience in product strategy, market analysis, fintech, and B2B SaaS. Emphasize achievements related to defining long-term visions and driving strategic investments.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10+ years of experience, focusing on quantifiable results and strategic impact. Use keywords relevant to product strategy, fintech, AI, and GTM collaboration.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Riskified, its products, its market position, and recent news. Prepare specific examples for behavioral and strategic questions, and practice your presentation for the potential case study.

• Company Research: Understand Riskified's business model, competitive landscape, and strategic goals. Consider how your expertise can directly contribute to their future growth and product evolution.

⚠️ 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.