Senior Product Strategy Manager - Telco

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Strategy Manager - Telco Consumer Product

Company: Circles

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Strategy & Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-24

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic direction and evolution of Circles' CXOS SaaS platform by synthesizing market intelligence and client needs into actionable product requirements.

• Act as a trusted advisor to global enterprise clients, influencing their product roadmaps and guiding them on maximizing value from existing platform capabilities.

• Translate complex market research and qualitative customer feedback into a clear, prioritized business case and platform capability roadmap.

• Partner closely with internal Platform Product Managers to define, scope, and prioritize core capabilities for global scalability and adoption.

• Develop and oversee the strategic go-to-market plans for new platform capabilities, ensuring successful enablement and adoption across international client teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits at the intersection of Product Strategy, Sales Operations, and Client Success, requiring a deep understanding of the Telco consumer product landscape and the ability to bridge client needs with platform development. The emphasis on influencing client roadmaps and driving global adoption suggests a strong consultative and strategic operational component.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Client Strategy & Advisory:

  • Partner with executive stakeholders at enterprise clients across international markets to understand their business drivers and influence their product roadmaps using existing platform capabilities.
  • Guide clients on solving complex operational challenges by maximizing native platform features, minimizing the need for non-scalable custom work.
  • Act as a domain expert, advising client leadership on industry trends and guiding ideation on innovation within their telecom market.

• Market Insights & Strategic Alignment:

  • Collaborate with market research teams to monitor macro trends, regulatory changes, and competitive landscapes across operating regions.
  • Analyze disparate regional data to identify common, recurring telecom industry needs that justify scalable platform investment.
  • Translate market intelligence into a clear, prioritized business case and capability roadmap for internal platform expansion.

• Internal Alignment & Rollout Strategy:

  • Collaborate with internal Platform Product Managers (who own engineering execution) to define, scope, and prioritize core capabilities needed for global scale.

  • Ensure strategic requirement definitions account for multi-region scalability, including global compliance, regional configurations, and localization.

  • Oversee the strategic go-to-market plan for new platform capabilities, ensuring successful enablement and adoption across global client teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: outward-facing client advisory and inward-facing strategy development for the platform. This requires a candidate who can effectively manage diverse stakeholder groups and translate high-level strategic objectives into concrete product requirements and adoption plans, mirroring key GTM operations functions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Postgraduate degree or MBA preferred.

Experience: 5+ years in building Telco consumer products.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to influence C-suite and VP-level stakeholders at global client organizations (Executive Presence).

• Strong understanding of platform architecture, API strategies, and roadmap planning to drive both global scalability and synthesize global requirements for platform capabilities.

• Skilled at converting complex market research and qualitative customer feedback into prioritized strategic recommendations (Market Insight Synthesis).

• Deep knowledge of the Telco consumer product landscape and industry trends.

• Experience in developing business cases and strategic roadmaps.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong communication and presentation abilities. Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrated experience working across international markets, navigating regional nuances, and identifying multi-market commonalities (Global Perspective).

• Experience running global customer advisory boards or client strategic forums.

• Familiarity with SaaS platform functionalities and their application in the telco industry.

• Understanding of go-to-market strategies for new product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on executive presence, platform architecture, and synthesizing market insights points towards a senior-level role requiring strategic thinking and operational execution capabilities, akin to a senior GTM strategist or operations leader focused on product adoption.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of strategic product roadmaps developed for complex industries like Telco, demonstrating an understanding of long-term vision and phased execution.

• Include case studies detailing how market research and client feedback were translated into concrete product requirements or feature enhancements, highlighting the impact on client value or platform adoption.

• Demonstrate experience in defining scalable platform capabilities that accommodate multi-region compliance, localization, and diverse client needs.

• Present examples of go-to-market strategies for new product launches or feature rollouts, illustrating planning for enablement, adoption, and success metrics.

• Provide evidence of influencing executive-level stakeholders, showcasing communication and negotiation skills in a strategic context. Process Documentation:

• Document the process by which market trends and client needs were analyzed to inform platform strategy and capability prioritization.

• Illustrate the workflow for collaborating with engineering/product teams to translate strategic requirements into actionable development plans.

• Outline methods used to develop and execute global rollout plans for new platform features, including enablement and adoption strategies.

• Detail how the impact and adoption of new platform capabilities were measured and reported to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio for this role should emphasize strategic thinking, market analysis, client influence, and the operational execution of product strategy. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their process for identifying opportunities, developing solutions, and driving adoption, demonstrating their ability to connect strategy to tangible results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated annual salary for a Senior Product Strategy Manager in Singapore, with 5-10 years of experience in the Telco industry and a strong track record in product strategy and client advisory, is expected to be between SGD 120,000 to SGD 180,000. This range accounts for the seniority of the role, the specialized industry knowledge required, and the cost of living in Singapore.

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary and potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision).

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and certifications relevant to product strategy and the Telco industry.

• Employee stock options or equity participation.

• Flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work options.

• Access to advanced technology and tools to support strategic initiatives.

• Opportunities to work with leading global telco operators and shape the future of digital telco services.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week. However, given the client-facing nature of the role and global responsibilities, occasional flexibility may be required to accommodate meetings with international teams and clients across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for similar senior product strategy roles in Singapore, considering the specialized Telco industry focus and the hybrid work arrangement. Benefits are typical for a tech company of Circles' caliber and global reach.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS for Telco), Telecommunications, Digital Services. Circles operates at the forefront of digital transformation within the telco industry, providing a SaaS platform that enables operators to become techcos. This involves a blend of cutting-edge technology, agile product development, and strategic market positioning.

Company Size: Circles is a global technology company that operates multiple businesses, including a SaaS platform, a digital telco brand (Circles.Life), a CPaaS provider (Circles Aspire), and a travel tech solution (Jetpac). The company is backed by prominent investors, indicating a growth-oriented and dynamic environment. The exact employee count is not specified but is likely substantial given its global operations and diverse business units.

Founded: 2014. Circles was founded with a vision to disrupt the traditional telco industry by leveraging technology and innovative business models. This history suggests a culture that values innovation, agility, and a challenger mindset.

Team Structure:

• The role is within a product strategy function that acts as a crucial liaison between enterprise clients, market intelligence, and the internal platform product development teams.

• This team likely comprises experienced professionals with deep domain expertise in telecommunications, product management, and strategic consulting.

• Collaboration will be essential with Platform Product Managers (who lead engineering execution), market research teams, sales, and client success.

• The reporting structure would likely be within a Product or Strategy division, reporting to a Director or VP level. Methodology:

• Data Analysis and Insights: Emphasizes synthesizing disparate regional data and market research to identify scalable platform opportunities and inform strategic decisions.

• Workflow Planning and Optimization: Focuses on defining and prioritizing core platform capabilities for global scale, ensuring requirements account for multi-region needs.

• Automation and Efficiency: Aims to guide clients in maximizing native platform features to minimize custom work, thereby improving operational efficiency for both Circles and its clients.

Company Website: https://circles.life/

📝 Enhancement Note: Circles' multi-faceted business model and investor backing suggest a fast-paced, innovative, and globally-minded company. The culture likely fosters agility, a customer-centric approach, and a strong emphasis on digital transformation within the telco sector.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a significant level of autonomy, strategic responsibility, and expected impact. The role requires not only deep product and industry knowledge but also the ability to influence senior stakeholders at both client organizations and within Circles. It's a strategic contributor role that bridges client needs, market dynamics, and product development.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Strategy Manager will likely report to a Director or VP of Product Strategy or GTM Strategy. They will collaborate closely with Platform Product Managers, who typically report into a Head of Product or VP of Engineering. This structure allows for strategic direction setting and then operational execution through product management.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on revenue growth for both Circles and its enterprise clients. By advising clients on maximizing platform value and defining future platform capabilities, the Senior Product Strategy Manager ensures the CXOS platform remains competitive, meets evolving market demands, and drives deeper client engagement and retention. Their work directly influences the strategic direction of the platform and its adoption across global markets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in Telco consumer product strategy, global market analysis, and SaaS platform evolution.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Director or VP role within Product Strategy, GTM, or even Client Success leadership, managing teams and larger strategic initiatives.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain extensive experience working across product development, sales, marketing, and client success teams, providing a holistic view of the business.

• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in digital transformation within the Telco industry, with opportunities to speak at industry events or contribute to thought leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within product strategy and GTM operations, with opportunities to lead strategic initiatives and influence the company's direction in a rapidly evolving industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility. The office in Singapore will likely serve as a hub for team meetings, client engagements, and collaborative strategy sessions.

Office Location(s): Singapore, Singapore. This location is a major business hub in Asia, offering excellent connectivity and access to talent.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace designed to foster collaboration between strategy, product, sales, and client-facing teams. The hybrid model encourages purposeful in-office time for team building and high-impact discussions.

• Operations Tools and Technology: Access to modern productivity and collaboration tools, including CRM systems, project management software, and communication platforms essential for managing global client relationships and internal product development cycles.

• Operations Team Interaction: Regular interaction with a diverse group of professionals, including product managers, engineers, market analysts, and client executives. This provides ample opportunities for knowledge sharing and cross-functional learning.

Work Schedule: While the standard is 40 hours per week, the nature of client advisory and global team collaboration may necessitate flexibility to accommodate meetings across different time zones. This hybrid arrangement aims to balance work demands with personal well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a global hub like Singapore suggests a modern work environment that values flexibility while ensuring strong team cohesion and operational effectiveness.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on relevant Telco product strategy experience and executive presence.

• First Round Interview: Typically with a hiring manager or senior team member, focusing on behavioral questions, past experiences, and assessing your understanding of product strategy, market analysis, and client advisory.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to prepare a presentation or case study. This could involve analyzing a market scenario, proposing a product strategy for a hypothetical client, or detailing a past successful product strategy implementation. This assesses your strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to articulate complex ideas.

• Panel Interview: A meeting with multiple stakeholders, potentially including Platform Product Managers, Sales Leaders, or other senior executives, to evaluate your fit within the team and across different functions.

• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader (e.g., VP of Product or GTM), focusing on high-level strategic alignment, cultural fit, and final decision-making.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Relevant Examples: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best demonstrate your experience in Telco consumer products, strategic roadmap development, market analysis, and executive stakeholder management.

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, clearly outline the challenge, your strategic approach, the execution steps, the tools/methodologies used, and most importantly, the quantifiable results and business impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Focus on Strategy & Operations: Highlight how you translated market insights into actionable strategies and how you collaborated with product/engineering teams for implementation. Emphasize your role in driving adoption and client value.

• Quantify Achievements: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate success (e.g., revenue growth influenced, client satisfaction improvements, adoption rates, cost savings).

• Tailor to Circles: Research Circles' business model, current market position, and the specific challenges they aim to solve. Frame your portfolio examples to resonate with their strategic objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Market Analysis: Be prepared to discuss current trends in the Telco industry, the rise of digital brands, and the role of SaaS platforms.

• Client Advisory Scenarios: Practice how you would advise a telco client facing challenges like declining ARPU, increasing competition, or the need for digital transformation.

• Platform Strategy: Think about how you would prioritize new platform features based on market demand, client needs, and scalability considerations.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you have successfully collaborated with product management, engineering, sales, and client success teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes strategic thinking, client management, and the ability to translate market insights into tangible product strategy. A well-prepared portfolio is critical for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM: Salesforce (or similar enterprise CRM) for managing client relationships, tracking engagements, and understanding client needs.

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, or similar for tracking product requirements, roadmap items, and cross-functional project progress.

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for real-time communication and team coordination.

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Google Slides for developing and delivering strategic presentations to clients and internal stakeholders.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Intelligence Tools: Access to industry research platforms (e.g., Gartner, IDC, Forrester) and competitive analysis tools.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI (or similar) for analyzing market data, client usage patterns, and performance metrics.

• Internal Analytics Dashboards: Familiarity with internal dashboards that track platform adoption, client engagement, and revenue impact.

CRM & Automation:

• SaaS Platform Knowledge: Deep understanding of the underlying principles and functionalities of the CXOS SaaS platform and similar Telco-specific platforms.

• API Strategy Understanding: Familiarity with how APIs are used to integrate systems and enable platform extensibility.

• Workflow Automation Concepts: Understanding how to leverage platform features to automate client operational processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with enterprise-grade CRM and project management tools is crucial for managing client relationships and product development workflows. A strong understanding of market intelligence tools and data visualization is essential for synthesizing insights and communicating strategy.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Disruption: Embracing a mindset of challenging the status quo in the Telco industry and continuously seeking innovative solutions.

• Customer Centricity: Placing the needs and success of enterprise clients at the forefront of all strategic decisions and platform development.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing market data, client feedback, and performance analytics to inform strategy and prioritize initiatives.

• Global Collaboration: Fostering a culture of teamwork and effective communication across diverse international teams and client bases.

• Agility & Adaptability: Responding swiftly to market changes and evolving client requirements in a dynamic industry.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Strong emphasis on working collaboratively with Product Management, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and Client Success teams to ensure alignment and successful execution of product strategy.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and direct communication, valuing diverse perspectives to foster innovation and problem-solving.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture that actively seeks and provides constructive feedback, promoting continuous improvement in both individual performance and team processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of market insights, best practices, and lessons learned across teams to collectively elevate the organization's strategic capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Circles likely reflects its mission to disrupt the telco industry, valuing innovation, client success, and global collaboration. This role requires someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and can effectively navigate complex stakeholder relationships.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Needs with Scalability: Synthesizing diverse regional client requirements into a unified, scalable platform strategy that benefits all users.

• Influencing C-Suite Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex product strategy and driving buy-in from senior executives at large enterprise clients.

• Navigating Telco Industry Dynamics: Staying ahead of rapid technological advancements, regulatory changes, and intense market competition within the telecommunications sector.

• Driving Adoption of New Capabilities: Ensuring that newly developed platform features are effectively rolled out and adopted by global client teams, overcoming potential resistance to change.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Telco Expertise: Gaining unparalleled insight into the operational and strategic challenges faced by telco operators worldwide.

• Advanced Product Strategy: Developing sophisticated skills in market analysis, competitive intelligence, and long-term product roadmap planning.

• Global Business Acumen: Enhancing understanding of international business practices, cultural nuances, and global market dynamics.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior team members and potentially lead strategic initiatives or client advisory boards, paving the way for future leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges related to strategic decision-making in a complex, global industry, but also offers substantial opportunities for professional growth and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced a C-suite executive's product strategy. What was the situation, your approach, and the outcome?" (Assesses executive presence and influence.)

• "How would you identify and prioritize new platform capabilities for a global telco SaaS platform, considering diverse market needs and scalability?" (Evaluates strategic thinking and prioritization skills.)

• "Walk me through your process for synthesizing market research and client feedback into a concrete, actionable product roadmap. Provide an example." (Tests analytical skills and ability to translate insights into action.)

• "Imagine a major telco client is struggling with digital transformation. How would you, as a strategic advisor, guide them to leverage our CXOS platform?" (Assesses client advisory and problem-solving skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Circles and our mission to reimagine the telco industry?" (Evaluates alignment with company vision.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with product management and engineering teams who are responsible for execution?" (Assesses cross-functional collaboration style.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to adapt your strategy due to unforeseen market changes or client feedback." (Tests adaptability and strategic agility.)

• "How do you ensure a new platform feature is successfully adopted by diverse global client teams?" (Focuses on go-to-market and enablement strategies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the business problem or opportunity your case study addresses.

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Detail the market analysis, competitive landscape, and client insights that informed your strategy.

• Highlight Your Role: Emphasize your specific contributions, decision-making, and leadership in the project.

• Quantify Impact: Present clear, measurable results that demonstrate the value and ROI of your strategic initiatives.

• Connect to Circles: Frame your experience in a way that directly relates to Circles' business, platform, and client base. Be ready to discuss how your past successes can translate to this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss both strategic frameworks and operational execution. Candidates should be able to articulate their thought process clearly and provide specific, quantifiable examples from their experience.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://circles.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/Circles/job/Singapore/Senior-Product-Strategy-Manager---Telco_R-100451

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in Telco consumer products, strategic roadmap development, executive stakeholder influence, and market analysis. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select and refine 2-3 key case studies that best showcase your strategic thinking, client advisory skills, and ability to drive product adoption. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the challenge, your strategy, execution, and measurable results.

• Research Circles: Thoroughly understand Circles' business model, their CXOS platform, their key clients, and their competitive landscape. Be ready to articulate your understanding of their market position and strategic objectives.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure a clear, concise, and impactful delivery, focusing on strategic rationale and quantifiable outcomes.

⚠️ 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.