Product Strategy Principal (x/f/m)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Strategy Principal (x/f/m)
Company: Doctolib
Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Category: Product Strategy / Corporate Development / M&A Operations
Date Posted: 2025-12-24
Experience Level: 5-10 years (implied)
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days onsite per week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive strategic M&A initiatives by identifying and evaluating potential acquisition targets within the AI and healthtech ecosystems.
• Conduct deep technical and product due diligence, assessing architecture, data pipelines, ML capabilities, and integration feasibility.
• Originate and build relationships with founders and CEOs, acting as a product-driven deal-maker to articulate Doctolib's vision and value proposition.
• Develop compelling investment cases, leveraging technical insights to influence executive decision-making, LOI negotiations, and deal terms.
• Partner closely with executive leadership, including the CEO, CTO, and Product leaders, to refine strategic acquisition theses and maintain a dynamic "wishlist" of target capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Doctolib's Chief of Staff team, emphasizing a strategic, product-led approach to M&A rather than traditional corporate development. The focus on technical and product deep-dives signifies a need for an operations-minded individual who can translate technical capabilities into strategic business value. The "operations" aspect here is less about internal process optimization and more about the operational execution of strategic growth through acquisitions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Proactively build and maintain an acquisition pipeline meticulously mapped to Doctolib's Technology and Product roadmap, focusing on AI and healthtech advancements.
• Perform hands-on technical assessments, including testing products, reviewing code, architecture, data/ML pipelines, and security protocols of potential acquisition targets.
• Evaluate the technical leadership, integration paths, and potential synergies with existing Doctolib engineering teams.
• Act as a primary relationship builder with founders and CEOs of target companies, articulating Doctolib's strategic vision and the mutual benefits of a partnership.
• Craft and present detailed investment cases to the Executive Committee, clearly outlining technical insights, potential synergies, integration challenges, and key risks.
• Lead comprehensive technical and product due diligence processes, quantifying integration efforts, risks, and potential ROI to inform deal structure and pricing.
• Collaborate closely with Tech and Product leadership to define, refine, and align on strategic acquisition theses and priorities.
• Maintain a live, evolving "wishlist" of capabilities that Doctolib could acquire to accelerate its strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and hands-on approach to M&A, blending strategic market analysis with deep technical scrutiny. This role requires an individual who can not only identify opportunities but also deeply understand and articulate the technical merits and integration complexities of potential acquisitions, directly impacting deal success and strategic alignment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong technical or product background is essential, suggesting a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Product Management, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5-10 years of relevant experience in technical leadership, product management, venture capital with an operator background, or as a founder/CTO/CPO. Experience with M&A processes, strategic partnerships, or business development is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English and French (essential); German is a significant plus.
• Technical Acumen: Deep understanding of technology stacks, data pipelines, machine learning features, and product architecture. Ability to conduct concrete technical discussions and evaluations.
• Deal & Strategy Exposure: Demonstrated experience in corporate development, venture capital, high-level product strategy, partnerships, or build-vs-buy decision-making.
• Business Development Acumen: Proven ability to originate deals, build relationships with founders/CEOs, and articulate compelling value propositions.
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to pitch effectively to founders, align executives, and present to boards.
• Ecosystem Knowledge: Strong awareness of the AI ecosystem, with a genuine interest in healthcare and healthtech.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to quantify synergies, integration efforts, and risks to inform deal structure and pricing.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience in the healthcare or healthtech industry.
• Familiarity with corporate finance basics or experience managing M&A processes.
• An established network within the AI, healthcare, or VC ecosystems in France, the UK, or Germany.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "talk concretely about stacks, data pipelines, ML features, product architecture" is critical. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their technical depth beyond surface-level understanding, showcasing an ability to engage in detailed discussions that inform strategic acquisition decisions. The blend of technical, strategic, and relationship-building skills is paramount.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Technical Due Diligence Case Studies: Examples demonstrating your ability to assess the technical architecture, data infrastructure, and scalability of software products or platforms. This should include identifying key risks and integration challenges.
• Product Integration Strategies: Documentation or case studies outlining how you've approached integrating acquired technologies or product features into existing systems, highlighting successful strategies for synergy realization.
• Market Landscape Analysis: Evidence of your ability to conduct in-depth market research within specific technology sectors (e.g., AI, healthtech) to identify potential acquisition targets and assess their strategic fit.
• Deal Origination & Pitch Examples: If possible, anonymized examples or descriptions of how you've initiated relationships with potential partners or targets, and how you've articulated a compelling vision for collaboration or acquisition.

Process Documentation:

• M&A Pipeline Management: Showcase experience in building and managing a pipeline of potential acquisition targets, including criteria for assessment and prioritization.
• Technical Evaluation Frameworks: Demonstrate understanding of structured frameworks for evaluating technical capabilities, including code quality, security protocols, and data governance.
• Investment Case Presentations: Prepare to present a concise, data-driven investment case, similar to what would be presented to an executive committee, focusing on technical merits and strategic alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on product-led M&A, a portfolio demonstrating a candidate's ability to bridge technical evaluation with strategic business impact is crucial. This means showcasing how technical insights directly informed deal decisions, risk assessments, and integration planning, rather than just listing technical skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the "Principal" title, location in Paris, and the specialized nature of the role involving M&A, AI, and technical due diligence, a competitive compensation package is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Paris, the estimated annual gross salary could range from €100,000 to €160,000, with a performance-based bonus structure. This estimate considers the senior level, the strategic importance of the role, and the high demand for individuals with both technical and strategic M&A expertise in fast-growing tech companies.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Free health insurance for employees and their children.
• Enhanced Parental Leave: Parent Care Program offering an additional month of leave beyond legal requirements.
• Mental Wellness Support: Free mental health and coaching services through partner Moka.care.
• Caregiver & Disability Support: Specialized package including flexible remote options, extra medical leave days, and psychological support.
• Global Flexibility: Work from abroad for up to 10 days annually via the flexibility days policy.
• Lifestyle Subsidies: Work Council subsidies for sports club memberships or creative classes.
• Time Off: Up to 14 days of RTT (Réduction du Temps de Travail - Reduction of Working Time).
• Daily Convenience: Lunch vouchers provided via Swile card.
• International Mobility: Relocation support for candidates moving internationally.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement requiring 3 days onsite at the Paris HQ. The role demands flexibility due to the nature of deal-making and market research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on market data for Principal-level roles in tech/strategy in Paris, considering the unique blend of technical due diligence and M&A origination. The bonus structure is typical for such senior positions, tied to achieving M&A objectives and successful deal execution. The benefits package is robust, reflecting Doctolib's commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Health / Healthtech. Doctolib operates at the intersection of technology and healthcare, providing a comprehensive platform that connects patients with healthcare professionals and streamlines administrative processes. This dynamic industry requires continuous innovation and adaptation. Company Size: Doctolib is a significant player in the European healthtech market, likely falling into the "Large" category (e.g., 1,000+ employees, based on typical growth trajectories of companies at this stage). This size implies a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impact. Founded: Doctolib was founded in 2013. Its rapid growth and success underscore a culture of ambition, innovation, and a strong focus on execution within the healthcare technology sector.

Team Structure:

• Chief of Staff Team: This role sits within the Chief of Staff team at Doctolib HQ, indicating a high-level strategic support function that works closely with executive leadership.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close partnership with the CEO, CTO, Corporate Development, and Product leaders, necessitating strong collaborative skills across engineering, product, strategy, and finance functions.
• Reporting: This role will likely report directly to a senior member of the Chief of Staff team or a Head of Strategy, with direct access to C-suite executives.

Methodology:

• Product-Led Growth & M&A: The core methodology revolves around identifying and acquiring companies based on their product and technology capabilities, aiming to accelerate Doctolib's roadmap and market position.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: While the emphasis is on technical and product evaluations, the ultimate goal is to make informed investment decisions supported by data and strategic analysis.
• Agile & Iterative: Given the tech industry context, expect an agile approach to strategy development and M&A target identification, with continuous refinement based on market shifts and technical advancements.

Company Website: https://www.doctolib.fr/

📝 Enhancement Note: Doctolib's mission to improve healthcare access for everyone is a strong cultural driver. The emphasis on a "product-led deal-making" approach suggests a culture that values deep product understanding and technical innovation as primary drivers of strategic growth, differentiating it from traditional M&A functions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Principal-level role, signifying a senior individual contributor position with significant strategic influence. It's a critical juncture for professionals looking to move into high-impact strategy and M&A, particularly within the tech and healthcare sectors. It bridges deep technical expertise with strategic business development.

Reporting Structure: The role reports within the Chief of Staff team, implying close proximity and direct interaction with Doctolib's executive leadership (CEO, CTO). This provides unparalleled visibility into strategic decision-making and direct influence on the company's growth trajectory.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is substantial, directly influencing Doctolib's strategic growth and competitive positioning through targeted acquisitions. By identifying and integrating key AI and product capabilities, the Principal Product Strategist will accelerate innovation, enhance Doctolib's platform offerings, and ultimately drive revenue growth and market leadership across Europe.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep M&A Specialization: Develop advanced expertise in technical due diligence, deal structuring, and product-led M&A within the high-growth healthtech sector.
• Executive Visibility & Influence: Gain direct experience working with and influencing top-tier executives, building a strong personal brand and network at the highest levels of the company.
• Strategic Leadership: Potential to transition into leadership roles within Corporate Development, Product Strategy, or even operational leadership roles within acquired entities, depending on career aspirations and performance.
• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in the AI and healthtech M&A landscape, with opportunities to shape Doctolib's future product and technology portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant "career accelerator" for individuals aiming for strategic leadership in tech. It's an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in M&A at a fast-paced, successful company, with direct exposure to executive decision-making and a clear path to influencing major strategic initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Doctolib's HQ in Paris, Levallois, is described as a hybrid environment. This suggests a modern office designed to facilitate collaboration, innovation, and focused work, catering to a hybrid workforce.

Office Location(s): The primary workplace is specified as Levallois (HQ), Paris. This location offers access to the vibrant business ecosystem of the Paris metropolitan area.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is likely structured to encourage interaction, brainstorming, and team cohesion on the 3 designated onsite days per week, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas.
• Technology-Enabled: As a tech company, expect a well-equipped workspace with access to necessary technology, tools, and high-speed connectivity to support both onsite and remote collaboration.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: The hybrid model and the nature of the role mean frequent interaction with diverse teams, including Product, Engineering, Data Science, and Executive Leadership, promoting a rich learning and networking environment.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule (approximately 40 hours/week) is expected, with a hybrid model requiring 3 days per week at the Paris HQ. This structure balances the need for in-person collaboration and focus time with flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model (3 days onsite) is a key aspect. Candidates should be comfortable with this arrangement, understanding that the onsite days are crucial for collaboration, team building, and high-level strategic discussions, while remote days allow for focused deep work and market analysis.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Recruiter Phone Interview (30-45 min): Initial screening to assess basic qualifications, motivation, language proficiency, and cultural fit. Be prepared to articulate your interest in Doctolib and this specific role.
2. Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into your experience, especially concerning technical evaluation, strategic thinking, and M&A exposure. Focus on how you've applied your skills in similar contexts.
3. Peer Interview: Conversation with potential colleagues (likely from Product, Tech, or Chief of Staff teams) to assess collaboration style, technical depth, and problem-solving approach. Prepare to discuss specific technical challenges or product strategies.
4. Business Case (Onsite): A critical stage involving an onsite assignment. This will likely be a product strategy or M&A target evaluation exercise. Prepare to analyze a hypothetical or real scenario, present your findings, and defend your recommendations.
5. Final Interview: Likely with a senior executive (e.g., CTO, Chief of Staff, or C-suite member) to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and overall fit for the company’s leadership.
6. Reference Check: At least one reference check will be conducted. Ensure your references are prepared to speak to your relevant skills and experience.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Technical Depth: Showcase projects where you performed detailed technical assessments, architecture reviews, or evaluated data/ML capabilities. Quantify the impact of your findings.
• Demonstrate Strategic M&A Thinking: Include examples of market analysis, target identification, or investment case development. Explain your strategic rationale clearly.
• Showcase Relationship Building: If possible, describe instances where you successfully built rapport and influenced founders or business leaders.
• Focus on Product Integration: Include case studies on how you've envisioned or executed the integration of new technologies or products, emphasizing synergy realization and risk mitigation.
• Concise & Impactful Presentations: Prepare to present your portfolio items clearly and concisely, focusing on the problem, your approach, the solution/findings, and the measurable impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Business Case Focus: Anticipate a case study that requires you to evaluate a potential acquisition target based on its product, technology, market position, and strategic fit with Doctolib. Practice structuring your analysis and recommendations.
• Technical Deep Dive: Be ready to discuss specific technologies relevant to healthtech and AI (e.g., EHR integration, telehealth platforms, AI for diagnostics, data privacy in healthcare).
• Stakeholder Alignment: Prepare to articulate how you would align different stakeholders (e.g., Product, Engineering, Finance) around your strategic recommendations and the findings of your due diligence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The onsite business case is a key differentiator. Candidates should prepare a structured approach to evaluating a company from multiple angles: technical viability, product strategy, market opportunity, and integration potential. This requires synthesizing information quickly and presenting a clear, defensible recommendation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): While not explicitly mentioned for direct use, understanding CRM data and its role in sales/product strategy is beneficial.
• Collaboration Tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams): Essential for day-to-day communication and cross-functional interaction within a hybrid work environment.
• Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Jira): Useful for tracking M&A pipeline progress, due diligence tasks, and strategic initiatives.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Intelligence Platforms: Tools for market research, competitive analysis, and identifying potential acquisition targets (e.g., PitchBook, Crunchbase, CB Insights).
• Data Analysis Tools (e.g., SQL, Python libraries like Pandas): For analyzing market data, financial information, and potentially technical metrics of target companies.
• Presentation Software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides): Critical for developing and presenting investment cases and due diligence findings to executive leadership.

CRM & Automation:

• Due Diligence Platforms: Specialized software or internal systems used to manage the due diligence process, document findings, and track progress.
• Integration Tools: Understanding concepts of API integrations, data synchronization, and platform interoperability is crucial for assessing technical synergies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't list specific tools the candidate will use daily for operations management (as in a traditional Ops role), it heavily implies the need to evaluate the technology stacks and data pipelines of potential acquisition targets. Familiarity with tools used for market intelligence, technical assessment, and data analysis is therefore highly relevant.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on achieving tangible results that accelerate Doctolib's mission and strategic objectives, particularly through successful M&A.
• Curiosity & Learning: A culture that encourages deep exploration of new technologies (especially AI), markets, and potential partners, with a continuous learning mindset.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and close partnership across executive leadership, product, and technology teams to ensure alignment and informed decision-making.
• Product Excellence: A commitment to understanding and valuing product and technology as the core drivers of business growth and customer value.
• Ethical Healthcare Practices: Operating with integrity and a deep commitment to improving healthcare access and patient outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Executive Partnership: The role demands a highly collaborative approach with senior leadership, acting as a strategic advisor and trusted partner.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Close working relationships with Product Managers, Engineering Directors, Data Scientists, and Corporate Development teams are essential.
• Founder Engagement: Building strong, trust-based relationships with founders of target companies is key to successful deal origination and negotiation.
• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions are grounded in technical feasibility, market analysis, and potential business impact, fostering a rational and objective decision-making environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "product-led deal-making" and "talking concretely about stacks" suggests a team culture that values deep technical understanding and practical application over purely financial deal-making. This role is for someone who enjoys diving into the 'how' and 'why' of technology to drive strategic outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of Innovation: The AI and healthtech landscapes evolve rapidly, requiring constant vigilance and adaptation to identify emerging opportunities and threats.
• Technical Due Diligence Complexity: Accurately assessing the technical maturity, scalability, and integration risks of diverse companies can be challenging, especially with limited information.
• Origination & Influence: Convincing founders to join forces with Doctolib requires exceptional relationship-building and persuasive communication skills, especially when competing with other acquirers or internal growth plans.
• Integration Execution: While this role focuses on acquisition, the success of the M&A strategy hinges on effective post-acquisition integration, requiring foresight and planning during the due diligence phase.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced M&A Skills: Gain hands-on experience in deal sourcing, technical due diligence, negotiation, and valuation within a high-growth tech environment.
• Strategic Impact: Directly contribute to Doctolib's growth and market leadership by shaping its technology portfolio through strategic acquisitions.
• Executive Mentorship: Work closely with Doctolib's C-suite, gaining insights into executive decision-making and strategic planning at the highest level.
• Industry Network: Build a strong network within the European AI, healthtech, and VC ecosystems through deal origination and relationship building.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in balancing the need for deep technical scrutiny with the strategic imperative of rapid growth and deal execution. Candidates must be adept at navigating ambiguity and making informed decisions under pressure, leveraging their technical expertise to drive strategic advantage.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you evaluated a company's technology stack for potential acquisition. What were your key findings, and how did they influence the deal?"
• "How would you identify and prioritize potential AI companies that could accelerate Doctolib's product roadmap in [specific healthcare area]?"
• "Walk us through your process for conducting technical due diligence on a software product, focusing on architecture, data pipelines, and scalability."
• "Imagine you're pitching Doctolib to a founder whose company has groundbreaking AI technology. What is your approach to building rapport and convincing them of the strategic fit?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Doctolib's mission and its role in the healthcare ecosystem?"
• "How do you see AI transforming healthcare, and what specific areas within Doctolib's business do you believe offer the most strategic acquisition potential?"
• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and how you ensure effective collaboration and communication across teams."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each portfolio item, clearly outline the objective, your specific contribution, the methodology used (e.g., technical assessment, market research), the key findings/results, and the ultimate impact on business decisions or strategy.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your work. For example, "Identified integration risks that led to a $X cost saving" or "Evaluated Y companies, resulting in Z potential acquisition targets."
• Focus on Technical-Business Link: Emphasize how your technical understanding translated into strategic business insights or informed deal terms. For instance, how understanding a specific ML model's limitations impacted valuation.
• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your technical assessments, strategic rationale, and how you handle disagreements or challenging findings during due diligence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their "operator spine" and how their technical background informs strategic decision-making. The interview process, especially the business case, will heavily test the ability to synthesize complex technical and market information into actionable strategic recommendations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Strategy Principal position:

• Submit your application through the Doctolib careers portal via the provided Greenhouse link.
• Tailor your Resume/CV: Highlight experience in product strategy, M&A, technical evaluation, AI/ML, healthtech, and relationship building. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate examples of your work that demonstrate technical depth, strategic M&A thinking, market analysis, and deal origination. Focus on quantifiable impact and the link between technical insights and business outcomes.
• Research Doctolib: Understand their mission, product offerings, market position, recent news, and strategic priorities. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their growth objectives.
• Practice Your Pitch: Prepare to articulate your career journey, motivations for applying, and specific examples that showcase your suitability for the role, especially for the business case and interview stages.

⚠️ 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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