VP, Product Strategy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: VP, Product Strategy Company: Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. Location: Fairfield, Iowa, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Strategy & Development Date Posted: 2025-09-24 Experience Level: 7-10 Years (Mid-Senior Level) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the long-term strategic vision for the entire product organization, ensuring all initiatives directly contribute to measurable business outcomes and enhance client value.
• Champion the integration of AI-powered solutions, ensuring practicality, compliance, and significant impact within the financial solutions landscape.
• Drive end-to-end product lifecycle management, from conceptualization and roadmap development to delivery, performance tracking, and iterative improvements.
• Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing product management team, fostering a culture of client advocacy, data-driven decision-making, and continuous innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at a VP level, indicating significant leadership responsibility for shaping product direction and managing a team. The emphasis on "scaling product organizations" and "driving long-term vision" suggests a need for strategic leadership beyond day-to-day execution. The financial solutions industry context is critical, requiring a deep understanding of products, regulations, and client needs within this sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and articulate a compelling, long-term product vision that aligns with Cambridge Investment Research's enterprise goals and drives measurable business impact.
• Develop and manage comprehensive product roadmaps, prioritizing initiatives based on strategic value, client needs, and market opportunities, while making critical trade-off decisions.
• Oversee the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and development through launch, adoption, and ongoing optimization, ensuring successful delivery of market-leading solutions.
• Champion the strategic integration of AI capabilities into the product suite, ensuring they are practical, compliant with financial regulations, and deliver tangible client benefits.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of product managers and product owners, cultivating a high-performance, client-focused, and data-driven product organization.
• Foster robust cross-functional collaboration with engineering, design, operations, compliance, and executive leadership to ensure seamless execution and alignment.
• Act as a primary liaison for executive stakeholders, providing clear, concise, and actionable updates on product progress, risks, and strategic recommendations.
• Leverage client feedback loops, usage analytics, market intelligence, and performance dashboards to inform product strategy, prioritize roadmaps, and measure the ROI of product initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic, leadership-focused role that requires not only vision but also hands-on involvement in execution oversight and team development. The emphasis on "balancing innovation with compliance, operational realities, and business intelligence" is particularly crucial for a VP in the financial services sector.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree or MBA is often preferred for senior leadership roles.

Experience:

• 7-10 years of progressive experience in product leadership roles, specifically within the financial solutions industry.
• Demonstrated success in scaling product organizations and building high-performing product teams.
• Proven track record of delivering market-leading products and solutions that address complex client challenges.

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy & Vision: Ability to define, articulate, and drive a long-term product vision aligned with business objectives.
• Product Leadership: Experience leading and mentoring product managers and product owners, fostering team growth and performance.
• Agile Methodologies: Deep expertise in agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban) and modern product development practices.
• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of business strategy, financial markets, regulatory environments, and revenue-driving opportunities.
• Communication Skills: Advanced ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences, including technical teams, business stakeholders, and executives.
• Client Advocacy: A strong focus on understanding and advocating for client needs, translating them into product requirements and opportunities.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Proficiency in leveraging data analytics, user feedback, and market trends to inform product strategy and prioritization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to partner effectively with engineering, design, operations, compliance, and other departments.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in financial products.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance within the financial services sector (e.g., FINRA, SEC).
• Expertise in product lifecycle management and go-to-market strategies.
• Experience managing technology vendor relationships.
• Strong understanding of financial products, investment platforms, and advisor workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified 7-10 years of experience as a product leader in the financial solutions industry is a key differentiator. This suggests the role requires not only general product management expertise but also deep domain knowledge and a history of successfully navigating the complexities of financial services.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Roadmaps: Examples of product roadmaps developed, prioritized, and executed, demonstrating a clear connection to business goals and client value.
• Product Launch Successes: Case studies detailing the end-to-end delivery of successful products or significant feature enhancements, including market impact and adoption metrics.
• AI Integration Case Studies: Examples illustrating the strategic planning and successful implementation of AI features within products, highlighting tangible benefits.
• Team Scaling & Development: Evidence of building, mentoring, and scaling product teams, showcasing improvements in team performance, processes, or organizational structure.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in defining and optimizing product development processes, particularly within agile environments.
• Showcase an ability to implement and refine feedback loops and data analysis mechanisms to continuously improve product performance and inform future iterations.
• Provide examples of how you have established clear communication and alignment protocols across diverse functional teams (engineering, design, operations, compliance) to ensure smooth product delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a VP-level role, the portfolio should emphasize strategic impact, leadership in scaling functions, and the ability to manage complex product lifecycles within a regulated industry. Focus should be on demonstrable outcomes and strategic contributions rather than just individual feature contributions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the VP title, 7-10 years of experience in a specialized industry (financial solutions), and a hybrid work arrangement in Fairfield, Iowa, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the US, the estimated annual base salary range is $180,000 - $250,000. This estimate considers the leadership scope, industry specialization, and location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium benefit package including medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• Risk Protection: Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Time Off: Generous vacation and sick time accrual.
• Retirement Planning: 401K retirement plan with a company matching program, significantly enhancing long-term financial security.
• Work-Life Balance: Eleven paid holidays to support work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Access to resources and opportunities for continued learning and career advancement.

Working Hours:

• Expected standard full-time working hours, likely around 40 hours per week. However, given the leadership nature of the role, flexibility may be required to meet business demands and strategic objectives. The hybrid model suggests a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry data for VP-level Product Strategy roles in the US, adjusted for the financial services sector and the specified experience level. It's crucial to note that actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications, interview performance, and final negotiations. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and are highly competitive.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Solutions / Financial Services (Independent Broker-Dealer Support) Company Size: Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. is a substantial player in its field, indicated by its description as one of the nation's top independent financial solutions firms. While the exact number of employees is not provided in the raw data, such firms typically range from several hundred to over a thousand employees, suggesting a well-established organization with significant operational capacity. Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company's positioning as a "top independent financial solutions firm" implies a history and established presence in the market.

Team Structure:

• The VP, Product Strategy will lead a dedicated Product organization, likely comprising Product Managers and Product Owners.
• This role reports into executive leadership (e.g., CPO, CTO, CEO), with a clear reporting line for strategic direction and accountability.
• Close partnership is expected with Engineering, Design, Operations, Compliance, Client Experience, and other business units, indicating a highly collaborative GTM and product development environment.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a data-driven approach to product development and client service.
• Collaboration and innovation are core tenets, fostering an environment where new ideas are encouraged and developed.
• Strategic alignment with enterprise goals is paramount, ensuring all product initiatives serve a clear business purpose and deliver client value.

Company Website: https://careers.joincambridge.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on being a "top independent financial solutions firm" suggests a focus on advisor support, compliance, and a robust technology platform. The "VP, Product Strategy" role is central to evolving this platform and ensuring it meets the demands of financial professionals in a dynamic market.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role (VP level) within the Product organization. It signifies a strategic position responsible for defining and executing the product vision, managing a team, and significantly influencing the company's technological direction and market competitiveness. The scope involves end-to-end product lifecycle ownership and driving substantial business outcomes.

Reporting Structure: The VP, Product Strategy will report to a senior executive (e.g., Chief Product Officer, Chief Technology Officer, or Chief Executive Officer). They will, in turn, manage a team of Product Managers and Product Owners, overseeing their development and performance. Collaboration is expected across all levels and departments, especially with Engineering, Design, Operations, and Compliance.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on revenue generation and overall business success by defining the product strategy and ensuring the delivery of solutions that meet client needs, drive adoption, and create competitive advantages. The successful implementation of AI and product innovation will be critical to Cambridge Investment Research's growth and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future direction of product development and technology at a leading financial solutions firm.
• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow the product organization, take on broader responsibilities within the company, or advance to higher executive levels.
• Industry Expertise: Deepen expertise in financial technology, AI applications in finance, and regulatory compliance within a dynamic market.
• Mentorship & Development: Guide and mentor junior product professionals, contributing to their career growth and the overall talent pool within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The VP title implies a role with significant autonomy and strategic input, offering substantial growth potential within the organization. The emphasis on scaling product organizations suggests opportunities to build and refine processes and teams.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Environment. This indicates a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility, allowing for team synergy while maintaining personal work-life balance.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in Fairfield, Iowa. While the job description specifies Fairfield, Iowa, the "HYBRID" tag implies that regular travel to the office will be expected, with the specific cadence likely defined by team needs and company policy.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model encourages a flexible approach to work, balancing in-office collaboration for key meetings, brainstorming sessions, and team building, with remote work for focused individual tasks and deep work.
• As a leadership role, access to necessary tools, technology, and information systems is assumed to support strategic planning, data analysis, and communication across distributed teams.
• Opportunities for interaction with a wide range of stakeholders, including product teams, engineering, executives, and potentially external partners, will be frequent.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (estimated 40 hours/week) with the flexibility afforded by the hybrid model. The nature of a VP role may require occasional adjustments to accommodate critical deadlines, product launches, or executive meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role in Fairfield, Iowa, suggests a company that values both in-person collaboration and employee flexibility. This environment is conducive to strategic planning and team leadership.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application to assess alignment with the core experience and qualifications, particularly the 7-10 years of product leadership in financial services.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: In-depth discussion about your strategic approach to product vision, roadmap development, team leadership, and experience with AI integration. Expect questions about past successes and challenges in scaling product organizations.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with leaders from Engineering, Design, Operations, and Compliance to evaluate your collaboration style, ability to align diverse teams, and understanding of operational and regulatory constraints.
• Executive Presentation/Case Study: A potential requirement to present a strategic product vision, a product roadmap, or a solution to a complex business challenge, demonstrating your strategic thinking, communication skills, and ability to connect product initiatives to business outcomes.
• Final Round: Discussions with senior leadership to assess cultural fit, leadership potential, and final strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Depth: Showcase your ability to develop and execute long-term product strategies. Highlight how you've identified market opportunities and translated them into actionable roadmaps that drive revenue and client value.
• Leadership & Scaling: Provide examples of how you have built, mentored, and scaled product teams. Quantify team growth, process improvements, and the impact of your leadership on team performance.
• Financial Industry Acumen: Include case studies that demonstrate your understanding of financial products, regulatory landscapes, and the unique needs of financial advisors and their clients.
• AI & Innovation: If applicable, present examples of how you've successfully integrated AI or other innovative technologies into products, detailing the strategic rationale, implementation, and measurable outcomes.
• Outcome-Oriented: Focus on results. Use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your product initiatives on key business objectives (e.g., revenue growth, client retention, market share, operational efficiency).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach developing a product strategy for Cambridge Investment Research, considering its market position and goals.
• Anticipate questions about how you would balance innovation with compliance and operational realities in a regulated industry.
• Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and how you foster a data-driven, client-centric culture within a product team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review for a VP role will heavily emphasize strategic thinking, leadership impact, and business outcomes. Candidates should prepare to discuss high-level strategy, team building, and significant achievements that demonstrate their ability to lead a product organization in the financial services sector.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Platforms: Tools for roadmap planning, backlog management, and feature prioritization (e.g., Jira, Aha!, Productboard).
• Collaboration Suites: Platforms for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Trello).
• Prototyping & Design Tools: Software for creating user flows, wireframes, and mockups (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to collaborate with design teams.
• CRM Systems: Understanding of CRM functionalities for customer insights and relationship management (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) as they relate to product adoption and client feedback.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Platforms for tracking user behavior, feature adoption, and product performance (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel).
• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Software for data analysis, dashboard creation, and reporting (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) to derive insights and communicate performance to stakeholders.
• Financial Data Platforms: Familiarity with platforms that provide market data, financial analytics, and compliance reporting relevant to the financial services industry.

CRM & Automation:

• Integration Tools: Knowledge of how different systems (CRM, product databases, analytics platforms) integrate to provide a unified view of the customer and product performance.
• Workflow Automation: Understanding principles of workflow automation to improve operational efficiency within the product development and delivery process.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, a VP of Product Strategy must be proficient with a range of product management, analytics, and collaboration tools. The emphasis on data-driven insights and AI integration suggests a need for familiarity with advanced analytics and potentially AI-specific development/deployment platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of financial professionals and their clients, ensuring products deliver tangible value.
• Innovation & Improvement: A drive to continuously explore new technologies (like AI), refine existing processes, and deliver market-leading solutions that provide a competitive edge.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: A culture that relies on data, analytics, and client feedback to inform strategic decisions, prioritize initiatives, and measure success.
• Collaboration & Partnership: A belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork, fostering strong relationships across departments to achieve shared goals.
• Integrity & Compliance: A foundational commitment to operating within regulatory frameworks and maintaining the highest ethical standards, crucial in the financial services industry.

Collaboration Style:

• The culture likely promotes a collaborative approach where product strategy is shaped through input from various departments, including engineering, design, operations, and compliance.
• Expect a style that encourages open communication, constructive feedback, and shared problem-solving to navigate the complexities of product development in a regulated environment.
• Emphasis on clear communication channels and proactive stakeholder management to ensure alignment and smooth execution of product initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values likely reflect a blend of innovation needed to stay competitive and the rigorous adherence to compliance required in financial services. The VP's role will be to embody and promote these values within the product organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Effectively integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI while strictly adhering to financial industry regulations and compliance standards.
• Scaling Product Operations: Growing and maturing the product management function to support increasing business demands and complexity without sacrificing quality or speed.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and buy-in from diverse departments (Engineering, Compliance, Sales, Operations) who may have competing priorities.
• Data Interpretation: Translating vast amounts of client feedback, market data, and usage analytics into clear, actionable product strategies and roadmaps.
• Executive Communication: Consistently articulating complex product strategies and their business impact to executive leadership in a clear and compelling manner.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone executive-level strategic planning, team leadership, and organizational scaling skills.
• Financial Technology Specialization: Deepen expertise in the evolving landscape of financial technology, including the application of AI, blockchain, and other emerging trends.
• Regulatory Navigation: Gain deeper insights into navigating complex regulatory environments within the financial services sector.
• Mentorship Programs: Potential to engage in or lead mentorship initiatives, fostering talent development within the company.
• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and gain certifications relevant to product leadership and financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the inherent complexities of the financial services sector, especially concerning innovation and regulation. The growth opportunities are aligned with advancing leadership skills and deepening domain expertise in a critical industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to defining a long-term product vision for a financial solutions firm like Cambridge. How do you ensure it aligns with enterprise goals and drives measurable client value?" (Focus on strategic framework, stakeholder input, and outcome measurement.)
• "How would you prioritize product initiatives when faced with competing demands from engineering, sales, compliance, and client feedback? Provide an example of a difficult trade-off you've made." (Highlight your decision-making process, trade-off analysis, and ability to communicate rationale.)
• "What is your strategy for integrating AI into financial products to deliver tangible benefits while ensuring compliance and practicality? Walk us through a hypothetical integration plan." (Demonstrate understanding of AI capabilities, risk assessment, and phased implementation.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Cambridge Investment Research's mission and its position in the financial solutions market?" (Research the company's values, market impact, and recent news.)
• "How would you foster a data-driven, client-centric culture within a product team, especially in a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss your leadership philosophy and methods for driving cultural change.)
• "How do you ensure effective communication and alignment between product, engineering, and other critical departments like compliance and operations?" (Provide examples of your cross-functional collaboration strategies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Strategic Narrative: Frame your portfolio around your strategic impact, leadership in scaling organizations, and ability to drive business outcomes in the financial sector.
• Quantify Impact: Use clear metrics and data to demonstrate the ROI of your product initiatives, such as revenue growth, market share increase, client adoption rates, or efficiency gains.
• Showcase Leadership: Highlight examples of team development, process improvements, and how you've mentored product managers to excel.
• Address Industry Nuances: Be prepared to discuss how your experience is relevant to the financial services industry, including your understanding of compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Concise & Focused: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects or achievements that best represent your strategic vision, leadership, and ability to deliver results.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of the financial services industry. Candidates should be ready to articulate their experience with AI integration and navigating regulatory environments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided on the Cambridge Investment Research careers page.
• Portfolio Customization: Prepare a concise portfolio that highlights 2-3 key product strategy achievements. Focus on examples that demonstrate your ability to drive long-term vision, scale product organizations, and deliver value in the financial services sector, particularly with AI integration.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7-10 years of product leadership experience, emphasizing achievements in strategic planning, roadmap execution, team development, and cross-functional leadership. Use keywords from the job description such as "Product Strategy," "AI Integration," "Financial Solutions," and "Scaling Product Organizations."
• Interview Preparation: Research Cambridge Investment Research's mission, values, and market position. Practice articulating your strategic approach to product development, leadership philosophy, and how you would address the challenges of this role. Be ready to discuss your portfolio with confidence.
• Company Research: Understand Cambridge Investment Research's role as a top independent financial solutions firm, its client base (financial professionals), and its commitment to innovation and compliance. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.