Senior Manager, Product Strategy & Operations

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Manager, Product Strategy & Operations

Company: GameChanger

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Operations / Strategy & Operations

Date Posted: June 04, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is designed for a seasoned operations professional to scale the operating model of a Product organization, focusing on enhancing planning processes, prioritization frameworks, and reporting mechanisms.

• The Senior Manager will act as a strategic operational partner, fostering alignment, visibility, and accountability across Product, Engineering, Design, Data, and Commercial teams.

• Key responsibilities include defining and refining the Product operating model, leading planning cycles, and building portfolio-level visibility for executive decision-making.

• The position requires a strong operator adept at translating strategy into execution and improving organizational efficiency within a fast-paced, high-growth technology environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The title "Senior Manager, Product Strategy & Operations" strongly suggests a role that bridges the gap between high-level strategic initiatives for the product roadmap and the tactical execution and operational rigor required to deliver on those strategies. This implies a focus on process optimization, cross-functional alignment, and performance management within the product development lifecycle, aligning closely with the core tenets of Revenue Operations and Sales Operations roles, particularly in driving efficiency and measurable outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, implement, and continuously improve the Product operating model, encompassing planning cycles, roadmap reviews, prioritization frameworks, leadership cadences, and execution rhythms.

• Lead annual, quarterly, and ongoing product planning processes to ensure strategic alignment between overarching company objectives, product priorities, and team execution capabilities.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive portfolio-level visibility into Product initiatives through the creation and management of operational dashboards, key performance indicator (KPI) reporting, roadmap tracking, and dependency management frameworks.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Design, Data, Finance, and Commercial stakeholders to enhance cross-functional alignment, ensure execution consistency, and maintain organizational focus on strategic priorities.

• Establish and manage robust operational reporting processes that provide leadership with clear insights into progress, identified risks, critical trade-offs, and emerging strategic opportunities.

• Translate customer feedback, product performance metrics, and organizational signals into actionable recommendations that inform and improve prioritization decisions and overall strategic direction.

• Drive impactful leadership communications by developing content for all-hands meetings, portfolio reviews, strategic planning materials, executive updates, and compelling organizational storytelling.

• Identify operational inefficiencies within the Product organization and implement scalable processes, tools, and workflows designed to enhance visibility, accountability, and overall execution effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed heavily emphasize process definition, strategic alignment, cross-functional collaboration, and performance management. This is characteristic of a senior operations role that requires a deep understanding of how to operationalize strategy and ensure efficient execution across multiple departments. The focus on "scaling the operating model" and "driving alignment, visibility, and accountability" points to a strategic partner rather than a purely tactical executor.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Manager role. A Master's degree or MBA could be advantageous.

Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in Product Operations, Strategy & Operations, Program Management, Product Management, or Business Operations within a technology-focused organization.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in building and scaling operating models, including robust planning processes, effective roadmap governance, and mature portfolio management functions within Product organizations.

• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives, effectively influencing stakeholders across Product, Engineering, Design, Data, Finance, and commercial business units.

• Experience in developing comprehensive KPI frameworks, establishing operational reporting mechanisms, creating insightful dashboards, and implementing portfolio visibility processes that directly support executive decision-making.

• Strong foundational understanding of product development lifecycles, strategic roadmap planning, effective prioritization frameworks, and established organizational operating rhythms.

• Experience working directly with and supporting senior leadership in fast-paced, high-growth technology environments, demonstrating a capacity for strategic partnership and executive-level communication.

• Familiarity with key operational tools and methodologies across product planning, project management, data analytics, and AI-assisted workflow solutions. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Agile and Scrum methodologies for software development.

• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools to derive actionable insights.

• Experience in change management and driving organizational adoption of new processes.

• A strategic mindset with the ability to connect operational activities to broader business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience and the focus on "scaling operating models" and "influencing stakeholders" clearly positions this as a senior-level strategic operations role. The skills listed are typical for professionals responsible for operationalizing product strategy and ensuring efficient execution across a technology organization.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate successful implementation and optimization of product planning cycles and roadmapping processes, showcasing how structure was brought to complex product initiatives.

• Provide examples of portfolio management frameworks or systems developed, highlighting how cross-functional alignment, dependency management, and resource allocation were improved.

• Showcase experience in establishing operational reporting and KPI dashboards that provided critical visibility to executive leadership, enabling data-driven decision-making.

• Include case studies or examples of how strategic initiatives were translated from high-level objectives into actionable execution plans for product teams. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of designing and documenting workflows for product strategy development, prioritization, and execution, with a focus on efficiency and scalability.

• Examples of implementing and refining operational cadences and leadership review processes (e.g., quarterly business reviews, roadmap syncs) that fostered accountability and strategic alignment.

• Documentation or case studies illustrating how customer feedback, product metrics, and organizational signals were analyzed and leveraged to inform strategic product decisions and improve prioritization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a formal portfolio isn't explicitly requested, the nature of the role—focusing on strategy, operations, and process—implies that candidates will need to speak to concrete examples of their work. This section outlines the types of achievements and experiences that would be valuable to highlight in a resume, cover letter, or during interviews to demonstrate capability in process design, operational scaling, and strategic execution within a product context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $170,000 - $190,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Unlimited Vacation Policy: Offers flexibility and promotes work-life balance.

• Paid Volunteer Opportunities: Encourages community engagement and corporate social responsibility.

• Technology Stipend: $4,000 every 2 years for purchasing new technology, ensuring access to modern tools.

• WFH Stipend: $500 annually to support comfortable and productive remote work setups.

• Holisticly Stipend: Monthly allowance for physical, mental, wellness, and learning activities, supporting overall well-being and professional development.

• Fringe Stipend: Monthly lifestyle allowance for flexible personal spending.

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Full medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, including FSA, HRA, HSA options, and coverage for family/dependents.

• Retirement Savings: Traditional and Roth 401K plans through Vanguard with immediate company match, supporting long-term financial planning.

• Insurance: Basic life, supplemental life, and dependent life insurance.

• Disability Leave: Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Generous Parental Leave: Up to 20 weeks for birthing parents and up to 12 weeks for non-birthing parents.

• Family Building Benefits: Support for family planning through Progyny.

• Employee Discount: Discount on DICK'S Sporting Goods and affiliated brands.

Working Hours: The role specifies 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time position. However, the unlimited vacation and stipends suggest a culture that values work-life balance, though the demands of a Senior Manager role in a high-growth tech company may require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided and is competitive for a Senior Manager role in New York City. The extensive benefits package, including unique stipends and generous parental leave, indicates a strong focus on employee well-being and comprehensive support, which is attractive to experienced professionals. The mention of "eligible roles" for incentive and equity suggests potential for additional compensation beyond base salary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on Youth Sports. GameChanger aims to enhance the youth sports experience through its platform, impacting coaches, parents, and volunteers. This industry context suggests a mission-driven company that values community and personal development.

Company Size: GameChanger is a "dynamic tech company based in New York City" that is "remote-first." While not explicitly stated, the need for a Senior Manager to scale operating models implies a company that is past the startup phase and is entering a growth or scaling phase, likely with a few hundred employees.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the description implies a company that has established a significant presence and is now focused on operational scaling.

Team Structure:

• The role reports directly to the Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), indicating a high level of visibility and direct engagement with senior leadership.

• The Senior Manager will operate as an individual contributor but will need to partner extensively with Product, Engineering, Design, Data, Finance, and Commercial teams, suggesting a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment.

• The "Product organization" is the primary focus for operational improvement, implying a dedicated Product and Engineering department that this role will support and influence. Methodology:

• The role emphasizes a data-driven approach, requiring the translation of "customer feedback, product metrics, and organizational signals into actionable recommendations."

• Workflow planning and optimization are central, with responsibilities focused on defining and improving "planning processes, operating rhythms, prioritization frameworks, and reporting mechanisms."

• Automation and efficiency are key drivers, as the role aims to "identify operational inefficiencies and implement scalable processes, tools, and workflows that improve visibility, accountability, and execution."

Company Website: https://gc.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in youth sports suggests a culture that values impact beyond profit. The "remote-first" model, combined with an NYC HQ, indicates a modern approach to work, emphasizing flexibility while maintaining a central operational hub. The reporting structure to the CPTO highlights the strategic importance of this operations role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Manager position, indicating a mid-to-senior level role focused on strategic operations and process improvement. It's an individual contributor role, meaning the focus is on driving impact through influence and execution rather than direct team management, though it operates at a strategic level that often precedes management.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO). This provides direct access to executive decision-making and a clear line of sight into high-level strategic priorities.

Operations Impact: The core function of this role is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Product organization, which directly impacts the speed and quality of product development and delivery. By improving planning, prioritization, and execution, this role will enable the company to focus on the "highest-impact opportunities," ultimately contributing to revenue growth and market competitiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: The direct reporting line to the CPTO offers significant potential to influence product strategy and operational direction, paving the way for future leadership roles in operations or product management.

• Skill Development: The role provides opportunities to deepen expertise in scaling operating models, portfolio management, and cross-functional alignment within a growing tech company.

• Organizational Impact: Successfully scaling the product operating model can lead to broader operational responsibilities across the company or specialized roles within product operations or strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a strategic partner to the CPTO, offering considerable influence. The growth path is likely towards leading larger operational initiatives, potentially managing a team in the future, or moving into broader product strategy leadership, leveraging the operational expertise gained.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company is described as "remote-first" but has a "New York City HQ." This suggests a hybrid work model where in-office presence is expected, likely for key meetings, collaboration, and team cohesion, but with flexibility for remote work. The office is described as "well-furnished, modern."

Office Location(s): New York City, NY. The specific office address is not provided, but it's located in Manhattan.

Workspace Context:

• The "remote-first" approach combined with an NYC HQ implies a modern, flexible work environment that likely utilizes collaborative tools and spaces to bridge the gap between remote and in-office employees.

• The role requires familiarity with "AI-assisted workflow tools," suggesting that technology is a key enabler of the work environment and operational processes.

• Close collaboration with Product, Engineering, Design, and Data teams will be essential, indicating a dynamic and interactive workspace culture.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the "unlimited vacation policy" suggests a culture that trusts employees to manage their