Product Strategy Director, Customer Data Platform

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Product Management – Customer Data Platform

Company: Cigna Healthcare (Evernorth)

Location: Santa Monica, CA, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Management / Revenue Operations / Data Strategy

Date Posted: February 06, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years (with 5+ years in management)

Remote Status: Remote Eligible (with specific internet requirements)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the vision, strategy, and roadmap for Evernorth’s Customer Data Platform (CDP) to enhance personalization and omnichannel engagement.

• Oversee the development and execution of enterprise-wide data platform capabilities, focusing on reliability, adoption, and ROI.

• Make critical build/buy/retire decisions to optimize cost-to-serve and simplify the technology landscape.

• Enable internal teams to deliver compliant, data-driven interactions efficiently through platform enhancements.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams including Product, Technology, Analytics, Clinical, and Marketing to achieve strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits at the intersection of Product Management, Data Strategy, and Revenue Operations. The focus on a Customer Data Platform (CDP) and its impact on personalization and omnichannel engagement directly ties into GTM effectiveness and revenue enablement. Candidates should highlight experience in data governance, platform architecture, and driving adoption of data-centric products.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive Product Vision & Roadmap: Develop and manage the CDP product roadmap, prioritize initiatives based on strategic impact and business value, and effectively communicate the product strategy to executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

• Translate Strategy into Action: Define detailed business requirements and convert them into measurable product requirements, epics, and user stories with clear acceptance criteria for development teams.

• Enable Capability Development: Oversee the design and delivery of robust, reusable, enterprise-wide platform features and enablers, potentially including LLMs, Content Management Systems, Enterprise Design Systems, and third-party vendor integrations, in close partnership with engineering and architecture.

• Champion Governance & Compliance: Establish and enforce strong governance frameworks for critical data layers (e.g., AIE, Claims, PHI, Registration) and ensure secure, compliant data activation and access controls are maintained.

• Collaborate Across the Enterprise: Proactively engage with executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams (Marketing, Analytics, Operations, Clinical) to ensure CDP capabilities effectively meet business needs and drive widespread adoption.

• Measure & Optimize: Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for capability utilization and business impact, continuously monitor platform performance, and identify actionable opportunities for enhancement and optimization.

• Evangelize & Enable: Support platform adoption through comprehensive training programs, clear documentation, and close collaboration with customer-facing teams to articulate product positioning, value proposition, and benefits.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic product leadership and hands-on execution typical of a senior product role, with a strong operational component around data governance, compliance, and enablement. The emphasis on "running platform with active customers" and "increase reliability, adoption, and ROI" points to significant operational oversight and continuous improvement mandates.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 7+ years in digital product management, with a strong emphasis on platform products.

• Minimum of 5+ years in a leadership role managing other product managers, demonstrating ability to mentor and develop talent.

• Proven track record in conceiving, delivering, and optimizing digital products, with extensive experience in platforms and data products.

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy & Roadmap Development: Ability to define and articulate a compelling product vision and translate it into a prioritized, actionable roadmap.

• Data Platform Expertise: Technical fluency across data and event architectures (e.g., cloud warehouse/lake, streaming/CDC, identity/consent) and observability (metrics, tracing, logs).

• CDP & MarTech Familiarity: Deep understanding of Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) and related marketing technologies (e.g., Redpoint, Adobe RTCDP/Journey Optimizer, Salesforce Marketing Cloud) and associated data infrastructure (e.g., Snowflake/Databricks, streaming frameworks).

• Requirements Definition: Skill in translating complex business needs into clear, measurable product requirements, epics, and user stories with precise acceptance criteria.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to engage and influence executive stakeholders, Product, Engineering, Analytics, Marketing, and Operations teams.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong analytical skills with experience in A/B testing, analytics implementation, and defining/monitoring KPIs to measure business impact and drive optimization.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop product management talent and foster a high-performing team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• API/SDK Management: Experience owning APIs/SDKs, including versioning, deprecation strategies, and compatibility management for enterprise adoption.

• Vendor Evaluation & Consolidation: Proven record in evaluating vendor and legacy technology stacks, driving consolidate/modernize/retire decisions with clear ROI analysis and migration execution plans.

• Developer Experience & Adoption: Experience improving developer experience and driving platform adoption through documentation, samples, and enablement, with measurable platform KPIs.

• Agile Methodologies: Proficiency in Agile development frameworks and practices for efficient product delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level (7+ years with 5+ in management) and specific technical qualifications (data architectures, CDP/MarTech) indicate a senior leadership role. The emphasis on platform products and enterprise adoption at scale suggests a need for candidates who can manage complex, multi-stakeholder environments and drive strategic technical decisions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Product Strategy & Roadmap Examples: Showcase instances where you developed and executed a product strategy and roadmap, demonstrating alignment with business objectives and market trends.

• Data Product Case Studies: Present detailed case studies of data products or platforms you’ve managed, highlighting their architecture, development lifecycle, and the business value they delivered.

• Requirements Definition Artifacts: Include examples of well-defined product requirements, epics, and user stories with clear acceptance criteria, demonstrating your ability to translate needs into actionable development tasks.

• Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Provide examples of projects where you successfully led cross-functional teams, illustrating your collaboration and stakeholder management skills in driving complex initiatives.

• Metrics & ROI Demonstration: Showcase how you defined, tracked, and reported on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for platform adoption and business impact, demonstrating your ability to measure success and drive ROI.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Present examples of how you've designed or optimized workflows related to data collection, processing, activation, and governance within a CDP or similar platform.

• Agile Development Practices: Illustrate your experience with Agile methodologies, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) where applicable to product delivery.

• Governance & Compliance Frameworks: Detail your experience in establishing or enforcing governance and compliance frameworks for sensitive data (e.g., PII, PHI), including access controls and regulatory adherence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a Director-level role focused on a critical platform like a CDP, expect a strong emphasis on demonstrating strategic thinking, technical depth, and execution capabilities. The portfolio should highlight experience with complex data systems, cross-functional leadership, and measurable business outcomes, particularly in areas of product adoption, efficiency, and ROI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $161,900 - $269,800 USD annually

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance plans.

• Well-being Support: Dedicated well-being and behavioral health programs.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan.

• Financial Security: Company-paid life insurance.

• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement for continued learning.

• Work-Life Balance: Minimum of 18 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) annually, plus paid holidays.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule, anticipated to be 40 hours per week.

• Remote work eligibility requires a reliable internet connection of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload via cable broadband or fiber optic.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Director-level Product Management role in the tech/healthcare sector in a high cost of living area like Santa Monica. The benefits package is robust, reflecting Cigna's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth, which is attractive for operations and product professionals seeking long-term stability.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology / Health Services (Evernorth is part of The Cigna Group)

Company Size: Large Enterprise (The Cigna Group is a Fortune 500 company with tens of thousands of employees globally).

Founded: The Cigna Group has a long history, with its origins tracing back to the 18th century. Evernorth Health Services was formed more recently to consolidate various health services capabilities.

Team Structure:

• Reporting Line: The role reports into the Product Strategy Senior Director within the Evernorth Digital team.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The Product Director will be a key liaison, working closely with Product & Technology leadership, Research, Analytics, Clinical teams, and Development/Delivery teams.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Significant interaction is expected with business leads, functional owners, and senior leadership across various business units to align CDP capabilities with broader organizational strategies.

• Product Management Cadence: The digital team likely operates with Agile methodologies, fostering a collaborative and iterative approach to product development and enhancement.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Operations: Emphasis on using data analytics to inform strategy, measure performance, and drive continuous improvement of the CDP platform.

• Agile Product Development: Likely employing Agile frameworks for iterative development, rapid prototyping, and flexible response to evolving business needs.

• Customer-Centric Design: Focus on building capabilities that directly address customer needs and enhance engagement across various channels.

• Strategic Planning & Execution: A balance of long-term strategic vision setting and disciplined execution to deliver tangible results.

Company Website: https://www.thecignagroup.com/ (The Cigna Group) and https://www.evernorth.com/ (Evernorth Health Services)

📝 Enhancement Note: Cigna and Evernorth operate within the complex and highly regulated healthcare industry. This necessitates a culture that prioritizes compliance, data security, and ethical data handling. The "digital team" likely fosters innovation and agility within this framework, aiming to leverage technology and data to improve health outcomes and customer experiences.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Director-level Product Management role, signifying a significant level of responsibility and strategic influence within the organization. It is a senior leadership position focused on a critical platform that underpins customer engagement and personalization efforts.

Reporting Structure: Reports to a Senior Director of Product Strategy, indicating a clear hierarchy within the Product organization. This role will also have direct reports (managing other product managers), highlighting a leadership and people management component.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is direct and substantial, focusing on a Customer Data Platform (CDP) that is fundamental to enabling personalization, omnichannel engagement, and data-driven interactions. Success in this role will directly influence customer acquisition, retention, lifetime value, and overall customer experience, thereby driving revenue growth and operational efficiency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to move into senior leadership roles within Product Strategy, Digital, or broader GTM operations, overseeing larger portfolios or more complex platforms.

• Specialization in Data/AI: Deepen expertise in customer data, AI/ML applications in marketing and engagement, and advanced analytics, becoming a subject matter expert in these critical areas.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to transition into related leadership roles within Marketing, Analytics, or Business Strategy, leveraging deep understanding of customer data and engagement platforms.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Further develop leadership skills by growing and mentoring a team of product managers, contributing to the talent pipeline within The Cigna Group.

📝 Enhancement Note: A Director-level role in a large corporation like Cigna offers significant career development potential. The focus on a CDP is highly relevant to modern GTM strategies, making skills gained here transferable and valuable across many industries. The opportunity to manage people and drive strategic initiatives provides a strong foundation for future leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "TELECOMMUTE" with eligibility for remote work, but with specific requirements for internet connectivity. This suggests a hybrid or primarily remote work environment is supported, with the possibility of occasional in-office collaboration or team meetings, particularly given the Santa Monica location.

Office Location(s): Santa Monica, CA, United States. The specific addresses mentioned (501 Santa Monica Blvd STEs 403 420 506) likely refer to office spaces that may be utilized for team meetings or as a base for local employees, even if the role is remote-eligible.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect to utilize a range of digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom) for communication and project management.

• Data-Centric Environment: The role is deeply embedded in data, so access to robust analytical tools and platforms will be essential.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with diverse teams, fostering a dynamic and collaborative work atmosphere.

• Structured Work Schedule: While remote, adherence to defined working hours (40 hours/week) and availability for key meetings will be expected.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• Flexibility is implied by the remote eligibility, but requires responsible time management to ensure availability for critical meetings and collaboration.

• Internet connectivity requirements (10Mbps download/5Mbps upload via cable broadband or fiber optic) are crucial for effective remote participation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" designation and specific internet requirements indicate a modern, flexible work environment. Candidates should be comfortable working autonomously and leveraging technology for seamless collaboration, while also understanding the importance of reliable connectivity for a data-intensive role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the Senior Director of Product Strategy focusing on strategic thinking, product vision, leadership experience, and CDP expertise.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Engineering, Analytics, Marketing, and potentially Clinical teams to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to influence diverse groups.

• Product Case Study/Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present a detailed case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their approach to product strategy, execution, problem-solving, and measurable outcomes.

• Leadership/Behavioral Interviews: Assessment of leadership style, team management capabilities, and cultural fit within Evernorth/Cigna.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight CDP/Data Platform Experience: Prioritize projects directly related to Customer Data Platforms, data strategy, MarTech, or similar enterprise data platforms.

• Showcase Strategic Impact: Clearly articulate the business problem, your strategic approach, the key decisions made (e.g., build/buy/retire), and the tangible business outcomes (ROI, adoption, efficiency gains).

• Quantify Achievements: Use specific data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. For example, "Increased CDP adoption by X%," "Reduced cost-to-serve by Y%," or "Enabled Z new personalization campaigns."

• Detail Collaboration: Provide examples of how you successfully partnered with engineering, analytics, marketing, and compliance teams, highlighting your ability to navigate complex organizational structures.

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps chronologically or by project type, with clear summaries for each piece. Be prepared to walk through your most relevant projects in detail.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Problem Solving: Be ready to discuss how you would approach challenges related to data governance, platform scalability, increasing adoption, or integrating new technologies within a CDP framework.

• Roadmap Prioritization: Prepare to articulate your methodology for prioritizing initiatives on a product roadmap, considering technical debt, new feature development, stakeholder requests, and strategic goals.

• Stakeholder Management Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would manage conflicting priorities or gain buy-in from different stakeholder groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role, expect a rigorous interview process that tests strategic acumen, technical depth, leadership potential, and the ability to drive complex initiatives. A well-prepared portfolio showcasing relevant achievements and a clear understanding of CDP's role in business strategy will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Customer Data Platforms (CDP): Direct experience with enterprise CDPs such as Redpoint, Adobe RTCDP/Journey Optimizer, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Audience Builder, or similar platforms.

• Data Warehousing/Lakehouse: Proficiency with cloud-based data solutions like Snowflake, Databricks, or similar technologies.

• Data Integration & Streaming: Familiarity with data integration tools and streaming frameworks (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis, CDC tools).

• API Management: Experience working with APIs and SDKs, including versioning and deprecation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence Tools: Experience with BI platforms for data analysis and visualization (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).

• Web Analytics: Understanding of web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) for tracking user behavior and campaign performance.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting and analyzing A/B tests to optimize customer journeys and platform features.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) as they integrate with CDP data.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Understanding of how CDP data feeds into and enhances marketing automation tools.

• Cloud Platforms: Experience with major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) as they host data infrastructure.

• Observability Tools: Technical fluency in observability concepts and tools for monitoring data pipelines (e.g., metrics, tracing, logs).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of specific technologies like Redpoint, Adobe RTCDP, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Snowflake, and Databricks, alongside broader architectural concepts (cloud warehouses, streaming, APIs), indicates a strong preference for candidates with hands-on experience in a modern data stack environment. Proficiency in these areas is critical for success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value likely emphasized across all operations and product teams, underpinning the use of data to guide strategy, measure performance, and ensure accountability.

• Customer Centricity: A focus on understanding and meeting customer needs through personalized and seamless interactions, driven by effective data utilization.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively across diverse teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Analytics, Clinical, Legal/Compliance) to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Agility: Encouraging new ideas and fostering an environment where teams can adapt quickly to market changes and technological advancements, especially within the digital space.

• Compliance & Integrity: Given the healthcare industry, a paramount value is adherence to strict regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA) and maintaining the highest standards of data security and ethical conduct.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role is designed to be a central hub, connecting various business units and technical teams to ensure the CDP serves as a unified source of truth and engagement driver.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue and feedback exchange between product management, engineering, marketing, and analytics to foster continuous improvement and shared understanding.

• Process Improvement Culture: A mindset geared towards identifying inefficiencies, proposing solutions, and implementing changes to enhance operational workflows and platform effectiveness.

• Knowledge Sharing: Fostering an environment where best practices, lessons learned, and insights are shared across teams to elevate collective expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at a large, established healthcare company like Cigna/Evernorth will balance innovation with a strong emphasis on compliance, security, and ethical practices. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of these industry-specific nuances and a collaborative approach that respects diverse perspectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Data Governance & Compliance: Navigating the complexities of healthcare data regulations (HIPAA) while enabling broad data utilization for personalization and analytics presents a significant challenge. Ensuring secure, compliant data activation and access controls is paramount.

• Platform Modernization & Integration: Simplifying a potentially complex landscape of overlapping and legacy assets, making strategic build/buy/retire decisions, and managing the integration of new technologies (like LLMs) into an existing CDP.

• Driving Enterprise Adoption: Encouraging widespread adoption of CDP capabilities across various business units, overcoming potential resistance to change, and demonstrating clear value to diverse stakeholder groups.

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Execution: Effectively managing the ongoing operational needs of a "running platform" while simultaneously driving strategic roadmap initiatives and future-proofing the platform.

• Measuring ROI and Business Impact: Clearly defining and attributing business value (e.g., increased customer lifetime value, improved engagement rates, reduced cost-to-serve) to CDP initiatives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Data & AI Expertise: Gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies like LLMs and advanced AI applications within a healthcare context.

• Strategic Platform Leadership: Developing skills in managing large-scale enterprise platforms, influencing executive strategy, and making high-stakes technology decisions.

• Healthcare Industry Acumen: Enhancing understanding of the healthcare ecosystem, regulatory landscape, and the unique challenges and opportunities within the industry.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Growing as a leader by managing and developing a team of product managers, honing coaching and talent development skills.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend relevant industry events and pursue certifications in product management, data strategy, or cloud technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers exposure to complex data challenges within a regulated industry, providing significant opportunities for professional growth. The ability to successfully navigate these challenges will be a key differentiator for candidates.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a product vision and roadmap for a complex data platform like a CDP. How do you balance short-term needs with long-term strategy?"

• "How would you approach simplifying a technology landscape with overlapping and legacy assets, and what criteria would you use for build/buy/retire decisions?"

• "How do you ensure data governance and compliance (e.g., HIPAA) are integrated into product development and data activation strategies for a CDP?"

• "Walk me through how you would define KPIs to measure the adoption and ROI of CDP capabilities."

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about The Cigna Group and Evernorth, specifically within the healthcare technology space?"

• "How do you approach leading and mentoring a team of product managers?"

• "Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and how you handle ambiguity."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your strategic approach, the key decisions made, the execution process, the technologies involved, and most importantly, the measurable business outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Use numbers and data to illustrate the success of your projects. Focus on metrics related to adoption, efficiency, cost savings, revenue impact, or customer satisfaction.

• Highlight CDP/Data Relevance: Emphasize projects that demonstrate your understanding of data architecture, customer data management, personalization, and omnichannel engagement.

• Showcase Leadership & Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss your role in leading cross-functional teams and managing stakeholder relationships.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your technical choices, strategic rationale, and problem-solving methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience with data platforms, strategic decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable business impact. Demonstrating a strong understanding of the healthcare industry's regulatory environment will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Strategy Director position:

• Submit Your Application: Utilize the provided link to submit your resume and any other requested materials through the Cigna careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights specific experience with Customer Data Platforms, data strategy, product leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable business outcomes. Use keywords from the job description, such as "CDP," "data governance," "platform strategy," "roadmap development," and "enterprise adoption."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to showcase 2-3 of your most relevant projects, focusing on those that demonstrate your ability to develop and manage data platforms, drive adoption, achieve ROI, and lead cross-functional teams. Be ready to present these in detail.

• Research Cigna/Evernorth: Familiarize yourself with The Cigna Group's mission, values, and Evernorth's role in the healthcare ecosystem. Understand their strategic priorities in digital transformation and customer engagement.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare for common product management and leadership interview questions, particularly those related to strategy, execution, data, and stakeholder management, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.

⚠️ 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.