Vice President, Product Strategy and Management

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Vice President, Product Strategy and Management

Company: Cambium Learning Group

Location: Remote (United States)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Management & Strategy

Date Posted: June 03, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversees the strategic direction and performance of a significant product portfolio within the K-12 EdTech sector, focusing on student instruction, professional learning, and educator insights.

• Drives integrated product roadmaps, lifecycle management, and ensures products deliver measurable impact for students and educators, aligning with overarching business objectives.

• Leads and mentors high-performing product management and technical product management teams, fostering a culture of innovation and customer-centricity.

• Leverages deep K-12 expertise to translate classroom realities into innovative product strategies that enhance literacy outcomes and educator effectiveness.

• Serves as a critical bridge between high-level strategy and day-to-day execution, ensuring focused product investments and alignment with the company's mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at a senior leadership level (VP) within a specialized EdTech company, indicating a high degree of strategic responsibility and impact on product vision and execution. The emphasis on "Literacy for All" suggests a mission-driven environment where product decisions directly influence educational outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the comprehensive strategy, integrated roadmaps, and lifecycle management for all product lines within the assigned portfolio, ensuring alignment with strategic business goals and financial targets.

• Lead data-informed decision-making processes for product lifecycle transitions, investment prioritization, and ongoing support plans, utilizing key product performance metrics.

• Translate the company's vision and broader product strategy into actionable, integrated roadmaps across student instruction, professional learning, and educator insights.

• Develop and maintain robust frameworks for assessing product-market fit, competitive differentiation, and optimizing market positioning for the product portfolio.

• Drive the implementation and adoption of scalable, AI-based tools for efficient roadmap management, communication, and maintenance across the entire portfolio.

• Establish and refine repeatable, cross-functional processes for portfolio planning, roadmap updates, and ensuring go-to-market product readiness.

• Coordinate market analysis, customer research, and competitive intelligence to identify and scope critical investment opportunities and emerging trends.

• Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, and Research teams to ensure product roadmaps accurately reflect the evolving needs of districts, states, teachers, and students.

• Drive strong product management practices, ensuring clear and well-documented requirements, well-defined user stories, and measurable outcomes for all product initiatives.

• Lead and mentor product management and technical product management teams, equipping them with the necessary frameworks, AI-based tools, and skills training for effective delivery.

• Represent the product portfolio in executive forums, providing strategic insights and recommendations to inform high-level decision-making.

• Participate in high-stakes customer engagements as needed to inform product direction, strengthen relationships, and champion the product vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic portfolio ownership, hands-on product management leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. The explicit mention of "AI-based tools" and "scalable processes" indicates a focus on modernizing operations and driving efficiency within product development and management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in a related field such as Business, Computer Science, Education, or a relevant technical discipline is typically expected for a VP-level role. A Master's degree or MBA is often preferred. Experience:

• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive product leadership experience, with a significant portion in the EdTech sector or adjacent mission-driven industries.

• Minimum of 3+ years of direct experience leading and managing multi-product teams, demonstrating strong people management and team development capabilities.

• Proven track record of successfully owning and delivering on product roadmaps for large-scale product portfolios, driving tangible business outcomes.

• Demonstrated success with SaaS or technology-enabled education products, with a clear history of driving adoption, retention, and revenue growth.

• Experience leading within cross-functional product teams or matrixed organizations, successfully delivering complex digital curriculum products at scale. Required Skills:

• Product Strategy & Vision: Ability to define and articulate a compelling product vision and strategy aligned with business goals.

• Product Roadmap Management: Expertise in developing, prioritizing, and managing integrated product roadmaps for complex portfolios.

• K-12 EdTech Expertise: Deep, up-to-date understanding of the K-12 landscape, including curriculum, pedagogy, technology adoption cycles, RFP processes, and state purchasing procedures.

• SaaS Product Management: Proven experience managing and growing SaaS-based education products.

• Portfolio Management: Ability to oversee multiple product lines, manage lifecycles, and make data-driven investment decisions.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Strong ability to lead, influence, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams including Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success.

• Market Analysis & Competitive Intelligence: Skills in gathering and interpreting market data, customer feedback, and competitive insights to inform product strategy.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Proficiency in using data and metrics to drive product decisions, track performance, and report on outcomes.

• Executive Presence: Ability to communicate effectively, influence stakeholders at all levels, and represent the product portfolio with confidence.

• Operational Excellence: Exceptional organizational skills with a talent for balancing long-term strategy with near-term execution and process optimization.

Preferred Skills:

• 10+ years of leadership experience, with a strong preference for VP-level experience.

• Experience with AI-based tools for product management and roadmap development.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and scaled agile frameworks.

• Strong understanding of educational research, learning science, and pedagogical best practices.

• Experience in budget forecasting, portfolio-level budget management, and product margin reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" experience level, combined with the VP title, strongly suggests this role is for a seasoned leader. The emphasis on K-12 EdTech expertise, including RFP and state purchasing processes, is critical and sets this role apart from general product management positions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Alignment: Demonstrated ability to align product portfolio strategy with overarching company mission, business objectives, and market opportunities. This includes articulating how each product contributes to the "Literacy for All" vision.

• Integrated Roadmapping: Experience in developing and maintaining cohesive, integrated roadmaps across multiple product lines (e.g., student instruction, professional learning, educator insights) that demonstrate dependencies and synergies.

• Lifecycle Management Framework: Ability to establish and execute data-driven frameworks for product lifecycle management, including strategic decision-making for new product introduction, iteration, sunsetting, and reinvestment.

• Performance Metrics & ROI: Proven track record of defining, tracking, and reporting on key product performance metrics (e.g., adoption, engagement, customer satisfaction, financial contribution, ROI) to executive leadership.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolio Planning: Development and maintenance of structured, repeatable processes for portfolio planning, including market analysis integration, competitive intelligence, and customer feedback loops.

• Roadmap Communication: Establishment of scalable, AI-enabled processes for updating, communicating, and maintaining product roadmaps across the portfolio to internal stakeholders and, where appropriate, external partners.

• Go-to-Market Readiness: Creation and implementation of cross-functional processes to ensure cohesive product development, launch readiness, and successful go-to-market execution across Product, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success.

• Budget & Resource Allocation: Processes for forecasting, tracking, and reporting on portfolio budgets, including variance analysis and product margin reviews, in collaboration with Finance and Operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a structured, process-oriented approach to product portfolio management, with a focus on data-driven decision-making, scalability, and cross-functional alignment. The explicit mention of AI for roadmap management points to a forward-thinking operational approach.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the Vice President title, 10+ years of experience, and the specialized EdTech industry, a highly competitive executive compensation package is expected.

• Estimated Range: $200,000 - $300,000+ USD annually, potentially including a significant bonus structure (e.g., 20-40% of base salary) and equity or long-term incentive plans.

• Research Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for VP-level Product Strategy and Management roles in US-based EdTech companies, particularly those with remote-first policies and significant product portfolios. Data from sources like Radford, Option Impact, and executive compensation surveys for SaaS and EdTech sectors were considered. Location (United States) and remote status are factored in, assuming a national compensation strategy rather than location-specific adjustments for a remote role.

Benefits:

• Home Office Setup Reimbursement: A practical benefit to support remote employees in establishing a productive workspace.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Typically includes medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Such as a 401(k) with potential company match.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Standard coverage offerings.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing learning, training, and conference attendance to support career growth in product strategy and management.

• Potential for Equity/Incentive Plans: Common for executive roles, offering long-term financial rewards tied to company performance.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically around 40 hours per week. However, given the executive nature of the role and remote work flexibility, there may be an expectation for occasional extended hours to meet critical deadlines, manage cross-time zone teams, or participate in high-stakes meetings. The remote-first policy suggests flexibility in managing one's schedule, provided work is completed effectively and team collaboration is maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for a VP-level role in a specialized industry and location. Actual compensation will vary based on specific experience, negotiation, and the company's compensation philosophy. The inclusion of performance-based bonuses and potential equity is standard for executive positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education Technology (EdTech), specifically focusing on K-12 literacy and educator effectiveness. Cambium Learning Group operates multiple brands, including Lexia Learning, which is known for its literacy solutions.

Company Size: While not explicitly provided in the raw data, LinkedIn data often indicates companies like Cambium Learning Group are medium to large, likely employing several hundred to a few thousand employees. This suggests a structured organization with established processes but also potential for agility.

Founded: Cambium Learning Group has been in operation for a significant period (founded in 2004), indicating stability and a deep understanding of the EdTech market. Lexia Learning itself has a long history in literacy.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: The VP reports directly to the SVP, Product, indicating a clear hierarchy within the product organization.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: This role requires extensive collaboration with Product Marketing, Sales, Finance, Customer Success, Engineering, Design, and Education & Research teams.

• Team Leadership: The VP will lead direct reports within Product Management and Technical Product Management, likely managing multiple teams or product lines.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven: Strong emphasis on data-informed decision-making for product strategy, investments, and performance tracking.

• Customer-Centric: A core value is understanding and addressing the needs of students, educators, and school districts, translating classroom realities into product solutions.

• Mission-Oriented: Driven by the mission of "Literacy for All," implying a focus on impact and educational outcomes.

• Innovation & Efficiency: Encourages leveraging modern tools, including AI, to improve processes, scale operations, and drive innovation in product development.

Company Website: https://www.cambiumlearning.com/ (and https://www.lexialearning.com/ for the specific product focus)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company operates in a critical sector (K-12 EdTech) with a clear mission. The "Remote First" approach suggests a modern, flexible work environment, which is a significant cultural aspect for candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior executive-level position (Vice President) within the Product organization, signifying a strategic leadership role with significant influence over product vision, strategy, and execution. It implies a high level of autonomy and accountability for a substantial product portfolio.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the SVP, Product. This places the VP within the senior leadership team of the product organization, with potential for direct interaction with C-suite executives.

Operations Impact: The VP's primary impact is on the strategic direction and success of Lexia's core product offerings in student instruction, professional learning, and educator insights. Success in this role directly influences:

• Educational Outcomes: Driving product improvements that enhance literacy for students and effectiveness for educators.

• Market Position: Strengthening the company's competitive standing in the K-12 EdTech market.

• Revenue Growth: Contributing to adoption, retention, and financial performance through effective product strategy and execution.

• Innovation Pipeline: Shaping the future product roadmap and identifying opportunities for new solutions, potentially leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement: Potential progression to SVP, Product, Chief Product Officer (CPO), or other senior executive roles within Cambium Learning Group or the broader EdTech industry.

• Skill Development: Opportunity to deepen expertise in K-12 EdTech, AI applications in product management, strategic portfolio management, and executive leadership.

• Leadership Experience: Gaining experience leading larger, more complex product teams and influencing company-wide strategy.

• Industry Impact: Contributing significantly to improving educational outcomes through innovative technology solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for an experienced product leader to shape the future of critical educational tools. The growth path is clearly towards higher executive leadership within the company or the industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company adopts a "Remote First" work environment. This means that remote work is the standard and is prioritized. While there might be offices, the culture and infrastructure are built around supporting remote employees effectively.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company has a presence in the United States. Specific physical office locations are not detailed but are implied by the company's broader operations. The "Remote First Work Environment" policy also means that employees can work remotely within the US, provided they meet the technical requirements.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: Emphasis on video-based collaboration with cameras on for virtual meetings, fostering a sense of presence and engagement despite the remote setup.

• Technology: Access to necessary digital tools and platforms for product management, communication, and collaboration. The role explicitly mentions the use of AI-based tools for roadmap management.

• Flexibility: The remote-first approach offers significant flexibility in managing one's work environment and schedule, focusing on output and results rather than physical presence.

• Support: Reimbursement for home office setup demonstrates a commitment to ensuring remote employees have an adequate and productive workspace.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, but the remote-first policy allows for flexibility in daily scheduling as long as work is completed, deadlines are met, and team collaboration is maintained. Active participation in virtual meetings, often requiring camera use, is a key aspect of the schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote First" policy is a defining characteristic of the work environment, signaling a culture of trust, autonomy, and a focus on results. Candidates who thrive in remote settings and are comfortable with virtual collaboration will find this environment appealing.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter or HR screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the SVP, Product, to delve deeper into strategic thinking, leadership philosophy, and specific experience related to portfolio management and EdTech.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Education/Research to assess collaboration style, strategic alignment, and understanding of their respective functions.

• Executive/Panel Interview: Potentially a session with other senior leaders or a panel to evaluate executive presence, strategic vision, and overall suitability for the VP role.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to prepare and present a strategic analysis, roadmap proposal, or a review of a past product success/failure, demonstrating their approach to problem-solving, strategy, and communication.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Strategic Impact: Showcase examples where your product strategy directly led to significant business outcomes (revenue growth, market share increase, improved educational impact). Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Demonstrate Portfolio Management: Present case studies that illustrate your ability to manage complex, multi-product portfolios, including how you prioritized investments, managed lifecycles, and integrated roadmaps.

• K-12 EdTech Relevance: Highlight specific experience within the K-12 EdTech landscape, demonstrating understanding of the unique challenges, buying cycles (RFPs, state purchasing), and pedagogical considerations.

• Data & Metrics: Be prepared to discuss how you used data and metrics to drive decisions, measure success, and report on product performance and ROI.

• Leadership & Collaboration: Illustrate your leadership style and how you effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve product goals. Use examples of driving consensus and influencing stakeholders.

• AI & Scalability: If applicable, showcase experience in leveraging AI or implementing scalable processes within product management.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Thinking: Be ready to discuss your approach to developing product strategy, identifying market opportunities, and competitive analysis.

• Problem-Solving: Prepare examples of how you’ve tackled complex product challenges, made difficult trade-offs, and driven successful product outcomes.

• Leadership Scenarios: Anticipate questions about team leadership, conflict resolution, motivating teams, and fostering a positive culture, especially within a remote environment.

• Company & Market Knowledge: Thoroughly research Cambium Learning Group, Lexia Learning, their products, competitors, and the current state of the K-12 EdTech market. Understand their mission and values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous for a VP-level role, involving multiple stages and potentially a strategic presentation. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only tactical product skills but also executive-level strategic thinking and leadership capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Platforms: JIRA, Confluence, Aha!, Productboard, or similar tools for roadmap planning, backlog management, and documentation.

• Collaboration Suites: Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet).

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for real-time team communication.

• AI-based Tools: Specific AI tools for roadmap updates, market analysis, or content generation (as mentioned in responsibilities). The exact tools would depend on the company's adoption.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker for data visualization and dashboard creation.

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for tracking product usage and user behavior.

• CRM Analytics: Salesforce Einstein Analytics or similar for customer and sales data insights.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Salesforce is a common platform in EdTech for managing customer relationships, sales pipelines, and customer success interactions.

• Marketing Automation: HubSpot, Marketo, or Pardot might be used for lead nurturing and campaign management, though less directly for product management.

• Integration Platforms: Tools like Zapier, MuleSoft, or custom APIs for connecting various systems to ensure data flow and process automation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the responsibilities point towards a modern tech stack that includes product management platforms, robust analytics/BI tools, and a strong CRM. The explicit mention of AI-based tools for roadmap management is a key differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of K-12 students, educators, and administrators. Decisions are made with the end-user in mind.

• Mission-Driven: A strong belief in the company's mission of "Literacy for All," which guides strategic decisions and fosters a sense of purpose.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing data and analytics to inform product strategy, drive innovation, and measure impact, while also being open to exploring new technologies like AI.

• Accountability & Ownership: Fostering a culture where individuals and teams take ownership of their work, drive results, and are accountable for their outcomes.

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Encouraging teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives, especially within a remote-first environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Strong emphasis on breaking down silos and working collaboratively across Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Customer Success, and Education/Research teams.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that values constructive feedback, continuous improvement, and iterative development processes.

• Remote-First Communication: Proactive and clear communication practices are essential, leveraging various digital tools to ensure alignment and connection among team members, regardless of location.

• Strategic Alignment: Ensuring all teams are aligned on the product vision, strategy, and roadmap through consistent communication and shared understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of mission-driven purpose, data-informed strategy, and modern operational practices, all adapted for a remote-first environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Complex Market: The K-12 EdTech landscape is competitive and constantly evolving, requiring continuous adaptation to new pedagogical approaches, technological advancements, and shifting district/state priorities.

• Balancing Portfolio Demands: Managing a diverse product portfolio with potentially competing priorities and resource constraints requires strategic trade-offs and effective prioritization.

• Driving Innovation with AI: Successfully integrating and leveraging AI-based tools for product management and development requires careful planning, adoption, and measurement of impact.

• Remote Team Leadership: Maintaining strong team cohesion, engagement, and productivity within a fully remote environment presents unique leadership challenges.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Ensuring alignment among numerous internal stakeholders (executives, sales, marketing, engineering) and external stakeholders (customers, partners) on product strategy and roadmaps.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Executive Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone skills in strategic planning, financial management, and executive communication.

• EdTech Market Expertise: Deepening understanding of current trends, research, and policy impacting K-12 education and technology.

• AI in Product Management: Gaining hands-on experience and expertise in applying AI tools and methodologies within product strategy and lifecycle management.

• Remote Leadership Best Practices: Developing advanced skills in leading and managing distributed teams effectively.

• Industry Influence: Potential to shape the direction of literacy education through impactful product development and thought leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges that are commensurate with its executive level, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and impact within the EdTech sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a product strategy for a large, multi-product portfolio in the K-12 EdTech space. How would you ensure alignment with the 'Literacy for All' mission?"

  • Preparation: Focus on frameworks for portfolio strategy, market analysis, competitive differentiation, and how you translate mission into actionable product goals. Use examples of past portfolio successes.

• "How would you leverage AI-based tools to enhance roadmap management and improve cross-functional collaboration within a remote team?"

  • Preparation: Discuss specific AI applications in product management (e.g., predictive analytics, content generation, data synthesis) and how they can support remote teams. Highlight scalability and efficiency gains.

• "Walk us through a time you had to make a difficult strategic decision regarding a product's lifecycle (e.g., investment, sunsetting). What was your process, and what was the outcome?"

  • Preparation: Prepare a STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) response. Emphasize your data-driven approach, stakeholder management, and the quantifiable impact of your decision.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Cambium Learning Group and Lexia Learning, and why are you interested in leading our product strategy?"

  • Preparation: Research the company's mission, values, products, recent news, and competitors. Articulate how your experience and values align with theirs.

• "How would you foster a high-performing, cohesive product team in a remote-first environment?"

  • Preparation: Discuss strategies for communication, accountability, team building, professional development, and ensuring inclusivity in a distributed setting.

• "How do you measure the success of a product strategy and its impact on business objectives and educational outcomes?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) for product strategy, revenue, adoption, engagement, and educational impact. Provide examples of how you've tracked and reported on these.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around key themes or strategic initiatives relevant to the role (e.g., Portfolio Growth, Innovation, Process Improvement, Team Leadership).

• Case Studies: Select 2-3 impactful case studies that demonstrate your strategic thinking, leadership, and execution in product management, particularly within EdTech.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, the actions taken, and the measurable results (e.g., revenue increase, adoption rates, user satisfaction scores, improved learning outcomes).

• Highlight Collaboration: Show how you worked with cross-functional teams to achieve success.

• Address Challenges: Be prepared to discuss challenges faced and how you overcame them.

• Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals (charts, graphs) to present data and support your narrative. Ensure any AI-generated content used in preparation is fact-checked and presented as your own strategic insight.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their strategic acumen, leadership philosophy, and specific experience in EdTech and portfolio management. The interview process will likely assess their ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and align with the company's mission and remote-first culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Vice President, Product Strategy and Management position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://cambiumlearning.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/camb/job/Remote/Vice-President--Product-Strategy-and-Management_REQ-4494

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your experience in product leadership, K-12 EdTech, SaaS product management, portfolio strategy, and leading remote teams. Use keywords from the job description and incorporate quantifiable achievements.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate examples of your most impactful product strategy work, focusing on how you drove business and educational outcomes. Be ready to present case studies that highlight your strategic thinking, leadership, and ability to manage complex product portfolios.

• Research Thoroughly: Gain a deep understanding of Cambium Learning Group, Lexia Learning, their mission, products, and the competitive landscape. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your responses to potential interview questions, focusing on clear, concise, and impactful communication. Be prepared to articulate your leadership philosophy and strategic vision.

⚠️ 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.