Head of Product Strategy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Product Strategy

Company: Watson

Location: Poulsbo, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Strategy & Management

Date Posted: 2026-06-02

Experience Level: 5-10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office, 1 day remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and ownership of Watson's product roadmap, focusing on a 3-5 year vision to define the future of workplace solutions.

• Drive product discovery efforts through in-depth market research, customer needs analysis, and competitive landscape assessment to identify strategic opportunities.

• Oversee concept development and early-stage design exploration, balancing customer needs, market opportunities, design vision, and business strategy.

• Manage and develop internal and external design resources, fostering a collaborative environment that integrates design, engineering, and operations.

• Translate complex insights from research and collaboration into actionable product direction that aligns with manufacturing capabilities and brand standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is pivotal for the company's future, requiring a blend of strategic foresight, product management discipline, and creative leadership. The emphasis on on-site presence at "The Orchard" highlights the importance of direct connection to craftsmanship and operational realities in product innovation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and advance Watson's product roadmap with a forward-looking 3-5 year vision, ensuring alignment with market trends and business objectives.

• Identify and define strategic product opportunities by analyzing market dynamics, emerging workplace trends, and evolving customer expectations.

• Lead product discovery initiatives, including market gap analysis, competitive intelligence, and customer pain point identification.

• Define target positioning, compelling feature sets, and unique value propositions for new and existing product lines.

• Translate research findings and strategic insights into actionable product requirements and direction for concept development and early-stage design.

• Guide the early-stage product definition and concept development process, ensuring alignment with manufacturing capabilities, operational realities, and brand standards.

• Partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Leadership teams throughout the product discovery and development lifecycle.

• Coordinate concept prototyping and early design validation efforts to gather feedback and refine product ideas.

• Manage internal and external design resources and partnerships, providing leadership for industrial design functions and establishing priorities for discovery efforts.

• Build scalable discovery processes that support the growth of the product strategy organization and foster continuous innovation.

• Collaborate closely with the Product Delivery Manager and Engineering teams to ensure a seamless transition of products from discovery to execution.

• Present roadmap recommendations, product concepts, and strategic direction to leadership teams, building alignment across departments.

• Ensure product strategy remains grounded in operational feasibility, manufacturing constraints, and overall business goals.

• Initially lead a lean discovery function, potentially with one direct report, and help define the future structure and capabilities of Watson's product strategy organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to product strategy, moving beyond theoretical planning to direct involvement in discovery, concept development, and resource management. The role requires a leader who can bridge the gap between high-level strategy and the practicalities of manufacturing and design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Business, Engineering, or a related field is typically expected for this level of strategic leadership. A Master's degree or relevant certifications could be advantageous.

Experience: 5-10+ years of progressive experience in product strategy, product management, industrial design, or product development.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in building and managing comprehensive product roadmaps with a strategic, long-term outlook (3-5 years).

• Strong understanding of market positioning, identifying customer needs, and formulating effective product strategies.

• Demonstrated experience leading product discovery, market research, and concept development initiatives.

• Ability to balance creative thinking and innovative ideation with practical operational, manufacturing, and business constraints.

• Experience in cross-functional collaboration, effectively influencing stakeholders across various departments (Engineering, Sales, Operations, Leadership).

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

• Deep curiosity about how people work, identifying patterns, gaps, and opportunities that others might miss.

• Aptitude for shaping ideas early in their lifecycle and building clarity from ambiguity. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience in the commercial furniture, workplace products, or durable goods manufacturing industries.

• Experience managing external design firms, contractors, or research resources to augment internal capabilities.

• Familiarity with supporting concept prototyping and early-stage product development workflows.

• Experience leveraging AI tools for research or analysis to expand research capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level suggests a need for a candidate who can operate autonomously and lead strategic initiatives. The preferred skills indicate a strong advantage for candidates with direct industry experience, suggesting a focus on product innovation within a manufacturing context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable examples of developed product roadmaps, showcasing strategic vision, market analysis, and prioritization methodologies.

• Case studies of product discovery initiatives, detailing research methodologies, insight generation, and translation into product concepts.

• Evidence of concept development and early-stage design exploration, including ideation, concept refinement, and early validation strategies.

• Examples of products brought to market or significantly influenced by your strategic input, highlighting your role in their journey from concept to execution.

• Any documentation or presentation materials illustrating your approach to balancing customer needs, market opportunities, design vision, and business strategy. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your approach to identifying and analyzing market gaps and customer pain points.

• Illustrate how you translate research and insights into actionable product direction and requirements.

• Provide examples of your process for defining target positioning, feature sets, and value propositions.

• Demonstrate your methods for managing and collaborating with internal and external design or development resources.

• Outline your approach to coordinating concept prototyping and early design validation efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly requested, a strong portfolio is crucial for this role. Candidates should prepare to showcase their strategic thinking, research capabilities, and ability to translate insights into tangible product outcomes. This includes demonstrating leadership in product discovery and concept development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000 - $135,000 annually. This range is dependent on the candidate's experience, leadership capabilities, and overall fit for the role and the company.

Benefits:

• Competitive wages.

• 401(k) plan with matching contribution.

• Profit sharing program.

• Extensive healthcare plans.

• Product-based incentives may be eligible.

Working Hours: The role is expected to operate on a standard full-time schedule, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement allowing for one day of remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Head of Product Strategy role, especially considering the specialized industry and the strategic impact expected. The inclusion of profit sharing and product-based incentives suggests a performance-driven compensation structure. The hybrid model offers a degree of flexibility while emphasizing the importance of in-office collaboration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Manufacturing (Commercial Furniture, Workplace Solutions). Watson Furniture Group has over 60 years of experience designing and building award-winning workplace solutions, emphasizing functionality, refinement, and environmental respect.

Company Size: The provided data does not specify company size, but the presence of a dedicated manufacturing facility in Poulsbo, WA, and mention of "The Orchard" workplace suggests a well-established organization with a significant operational footprint.

Founded: Watson has been designing and building for over 60 years, indicating a long-standing history and deep expertise in its field.

Team Structure:

• The Head of Product Strategy will initially lead a lean discovery function, starting with one direct report or resource.

• This role will foster strong collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Leadership teams.

• It involves managing both internal design resources and external design firms or contractors.

• The role will report into senior leadership, with the expectation of presenting roadmap recommendations and strategic direction to executive teams. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Innovation: Emphasis on understanding evolving work habits, market opportunities, and customer needs through research and analysis.

• Integrated Product Development: Close collaboration between design, engineering, operations, and sales to ensure product feasibility and market relevance.

• Strategic Visioning: A focus on long-term product planning (3-5 years) to guide the company's future direction and competitive positioning.

• Respect for Craftsmanship: A core value derived from their manufacturing heritage, emphasizing quality and thoughtful design in all products.

Company Website: aswatson.com (inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: Watson's culture appears to be rooted in craftsmanship, innovation, and a deep understanding of workplace dynamics. The "Orchard" environment suggests a commitment to a unique and collaborative workspace that fosters creativity. The company's long history points to stability and a strong foundation in manufacturing excellence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, functioning as a Head of a critical strategic function. It requires strategic thinking, deep product expertise, and the ability to influence company direction. It's positioned at a level where significant impact on the company's product portfolio and market presence is expected.

Reporting Structure: The role will report to senior leadership. Initially, it will manage a small team (one direct report) and will be responsible for defining the future structure and capabilities of the product strategy organization.

Operations Impact: The Head of Product Strategy will directly influence Watson's product portfolio, market competitiveness, and future revenue streams by identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities and customer needs. This role is integral to the company's long-term growth and innovation strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Organizational Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale the product strategy function, defining its structure, processes, and team capabilities over time.

• Strategic Influence: Directly shape the company's product vision and long-term strategic direction, with significant visibility to executive leadership.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in commercial furniture, workplace products, and durable goods manufacturing, potentially leading to broader executive roles within the industry.

• Innovation Leadership: Drive the development of new, award-winning products that enhance the workplace experience and strengthen Watson's market position.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for an experienced product leader to make a substantial impact and build out a key strategic function within a well-established manufacturing company. The growth potential lies in expanding influence, team leadership, and strategic ownership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The primary work environment is on-site at "The Orchard," Watson's Pacific Northwest workplace in Poulsbo, Washington. This suggests a modern, potentially inspiring, and collaborative office space designed to foster creativity and innovation.

Office Location(s): Poulsbo, Washington, USA. This location is described as breathtaking and situated in the Pacific Northwest.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: "The Orchard" is where ideas take shape, bringing together design, engineering, operations, and leadership, emphasizing collaboration and cross-functional interaction.

• Hands-on Environment: Being on-site is crucial for this role, allowing for close connection to the people, processes, and craftsmanship that bring product ideas to life. This implies access to manufacturing floors, design studios, and direct interaction with product creators.

• Resource Accessibility: The role will manage internal and external design resources, suggesting an environment that supports diverse talent and project needs.

Work Schedule: A hybrid arrangement is offered, with 4 days expected in the office at "The Orchard" and 1 day available for remote work. This balances the need for in-person collaboration and connection with operational realities with the flexibility of remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the "Orchard" and the requirement for significant on-site presence highlights the company's belief in the value of physical proximity for innovation, collaboration, and understanding the product lifecycle from ideation through manufacturing.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review, focusing on experience with product strategy, roadmapping, and discovery.

• First Interview: Likely with a hiring manager or senior leader to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit. Expect questions about your approach to product strategy and discovery.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to present a strategic product concept, analyze a market opportunity, or discuss their approach to product roadmap development, demonstrating their ability to balance strategy with operational realities. This is where portfolio examples will be key.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Engineering, Operations, and Sales to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of interdependencies.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior executives to discuss vision, long-term strategy, and overall fit for the company's direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Roadmaps: Showcase your process for creating and managing product roadmaps, including how you prioritize initiatives based on market, customer, and business needs. Use visuals if possible.

• Discovery Case Studies: Detail a specific product discovery project from inception to actionable insights. Explain your research methods (market analysis, customer interviews, competitive benchmarking) and how you translated findings into product direction.

• Concept Development Examples: Present examples of early-stage product concepts you've developed or influenced. Highlight how you balanced creativity, functionality, manufacturability, and business viability.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Use examples from your portfolio to illustrate how you've successfully collaborated with engineering, manufacturing, and sales teams to bring products to life.

• Impact Metrics: Quantify the impact of your contributions where possible, e.g., market share growth, successful product launches, revenue impact, or efficiency improvements driven by your product strategy.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Problem-Solving: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical product strategy challenge for Watson, considering their industry and manufacturing capabilities.

• Market Analysis: Practice analyzing market trends, identifying competitive advantages, and defining target customer segments for workplace solutions.

• Roadmap Prioritization: Understand frameworks for prioritizing product initiatives and be ready to articulate your rationale.

• Leadership & Collaboration: Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and drive alignment on strategic decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on strategic thinking, practical application of product development principles, and collaboration. A well-curated portfolio that clearly articulates your strategic process and impact will be vital for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Platforms: Tools like Jira, Asana, or specialized product roadmap software for tracking initiatives, managing backlogs, and visualizing roadmaps.

• Collaboration Suites: Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Google Workspace for communication and team coordination.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: While not directly managed, familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, or CAD software used by design teams would be beneficial for understanding the design process.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Intelligence Tools: Tools for competitive analysis, market trends, and industry research.

• Business Intelligence Platforms: Potentially Tableau, Power BI, or similar for analyzing sales data, market performance, and customer insights.

• CRM Systems: Experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) to understand sales pipelines, customer data, and market feedback.

CRM & Automation:

• Data Analysis Tools: Excel, Google Sheets for initial data manipulation and analysis.

• Customer Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing customer feedback to inform product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is strategic, a working knowledge of the tools used by product, design, and engineering teams will enhance collaboration. Proficiency in data analysis and presentation tools is also crucial for communicating strategy and insights effectively.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Insane Curiosity: A driving force for exploration, questioning assumptions, and seeking new opportunities.

• Excitement and Enthusiasm: A passion for work, innovation, and contributing to the company's mission.

• Embrace and Exhibit Values: Adherence to core company values, which likely include thoughtful design, respect for craftsmanship, environmental responsibility, and customer focus.

• Respect for Craftsmanship: A deep appreciation for the quality, detail, and skill involved in manufacturing tangible products.

• Environmental Respect: Commitment to sustainable practices in design and manufacturing.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Approach: Strong emphasis on collaboration between design, engineering, operations, and sales to ensure a holistic product development process.

• Insight Sharing: Encouragement of open communication and sharing of ideas, research findings, and strategic perspectives across departments.

• Cross-functional Alignment: A focus on building consensus and alignment around product direction and priorities among diverse teams.

• Hands-on Involvement: The culture values being close to the product and the process, suggesting a collaborative style that involves direct engagement and understanding of how things are made.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of innovation-driven curiosity and a deep respect for the manufacturing process. Collaboration is key, with an expectation that individuals will actively engage with different functions to drive product excellence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Long-Term Vision with Immediate Needs: Strategically defining a 3-5 year roadmap while ensuring current product development aligns with immediate market demands and business goals.

• Integrating Diverse Perspectives: Effectively synthesizing input from various departments (design, engineering, sales, operations) to create a cohesive and viable product strategy.

• Driving Innovation in a Mature Industry: Identifying truly novel opportunities and differentiating Watson's products within the competitive commercial furniture and workplace solutions market.

• Managing External Resources: Effectively leveraging and managing external design firms and contractors to supplement internal capabilities and drive specific innovation projects.

• Scaling a New Function: Building and structuring a product strategy organization from a lean starting point to support future growth and innovation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunity to hone strategic planning, executive communication, and team-building skills.

• Industry Specialization: Deepen expertise in the commercial furniture and workplace solutions sector, understanding evolving trends in workspace design and functionality.

• Innovation Frameworks: Learn and implement advanced product discovery and innovation methodologies in a real-world manufacturing context.

• Cross-functional Mastery: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept through manufacturing and market launch, by working closely with all key departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges related to strategic leadership, innovation, and organizational development. However, these challenges are directly tied to substantial growth opportunities for an ambitious product leader.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a 3-5 year product roadmap. How do you balance market trends, customer needs, and internal capabilities?" (Prepare to discuss your methodology, prioritization frameworks, and stakeholder alignment strategies.)

• "Walk us through a time you identified a significant market gap or unmet customer need. How did you validate this opportunity, and what product direction did you propose?" (Use a STAR method example, focusing on your research, analysis, and strategic proposal.)

• "How do you balance creative product ideation with the realities of manufacturing constraints and business viability? Provide an example." (Highlight your ability to be innovative yet pragmatic, referencing your experience with design and operations.)

• "Imagine you are tasked with defining the next generation of workplace solutions for Watson. What would be your initial steps in developing a strategy and roadmap for this initiative?" (Showcase your strategic thinking process, research approach, and ability to frame a complex problem.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Watson and this specific role? What excites you about our company and the commercial furniture industry?" (Research Watson's history, products, and values. Connect your passion for product strategy to their mission.)

• "Describe your experience managing internal and external design resources. How do you ensure alignment and optimal performance?" (Prepare to discuss your resource management philosophy and experience with managing external partners.)

• "How do you foster a culture of curiosity and innovation within a product team?" (Discuss your leadership style and how you encourage exploration and challenging assumptions.)

• "What does 'respect for craftsmanship' mean to you in the context of product strategy?" (Connect this core value to your approach to product development and quality.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio example, clearly articulate the challenge, your approach, the actions you took, and the results achieved. Use the SOAR (Situation, Objective, Action, Result) or STAR method.

• Focus on Strategy and Impact: Emphasize the strategic thinking behind your decisions and quantify the impact of your work whenever possible (e.g., market share, revenue, customer satisfaction, efficiency gains).

• Visual Aids: Utilize slides or documents that visually represent your roadmaps, research findings, concept sketches, and product outcomes. Keep them clean, concise, and professional.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Use examples to show how you effectively partnered with engineering, operations, sales, and other stakeholders to achieve product goals.

• Tailor to Watson: Be prepared to discuss how your experience and portfolio examples are relevant to Watson's specific industry, products, and strategic goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating a strategic vision, demonstrating a structured approach to product discovery and development, and showcasing an ability to collaborate effectively within a manufacturing environment. Your portfolio is your key tool to validate your experience and strategic capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Product Strategy position:

• Submit your application through the provided Paycom link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/FCC575F196743A9C7BDC65F59762C97E/jobs/544575

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your product strategy, roadmap ownership, and product discovery experience. Ensure these examples highlight your ability to balance creativity with operational and business realities relevant to manufacturing.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Product Strategy," "Product Roadmap Ownership," "Product Discovery," "Market Positioning," "Industrial Design," and "Cross-functional Collaboration." Quantify your achievements with metrics where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting a case study from your portfolio or a hypothetical strategic approach for Watson. Focus on clear communication, strategic rationale, and the tangible impact of your work.

• Research Watson: Thoroughly understand Watson's products, company history, values ("Insane Curiosity," "Respect for Craftsmanship"), and their unique "Orchard" environment. Be ready to articulate why you are a strong cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.