VP PRODUCT STRATEGY

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: VP Product Strategy

Company: ICBA/TCM Bank

Location: Tampa, FL (Remote with travel)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Strategy / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-28

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Remote OK (with required travel)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the definition and execution of the bank's overarching product strategy, aligning with core business objectives and market opportunities.

• Lead the identification and prioritization of new product initiatives and enhancements, leveraging customer insights, market trends, and business needs to inform product roadmap development.

• Champion cross-functional collaboration across technology, operations, risk, marketing, and business teams to ensure seamless product lifecycle management from ideation to launch and continuous improvement.

• Translate complex business requirements, client feedback, and sales input into actionable product strategies, roadmaps, and detailed product requirements documents.

• Evaluate and manage strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, as well as third-party vendors, to enhance product offerings and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While titled "VP Product Strategy," the description emphasizes individual contribution and cross-functional leadership rather than direct team management. The role requires a strong hands-on approach to strategy development and execution within product management, closely collaborating with various operational and business units. This suggests a senior individual contributor role with significant influence and responsibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize new product opportunities and enhancements based on customer insights, market trends, and business needs, directly influencing strategic direction.

• Develop actionable product strategies and roadmaps in collaboration with strategic partners and other ICBA subsidiaries, ensuring alignment with overall business goals.

• Drive execution across the product lifecycle, contributing critical insights that inform product strategy and measure effectiveness, from pilot phases to scaled deployment.

• Lead cross-functional initiatives, ensuring robust stakeholder alignment and high-quality execution of product development and launch plans.

• Partner cross-functionally with technology, operations, risk, marketing, and business teams to ensure successful product delivery, adoption, and integration into existing workflows.

• Develop comprehensive solution/product requirements, document detailed use cases, and translate client and sales feedback into actionable product enhancements that drive customer value.

• Evaluate and manage partnerships with both internal/external stakeholders and 3rd party vendors, ensuring optimal collaboration and resource utilization for product initiatives.

• Present strategic recommendations, product performance analyses, and key findings to executive leadership, influencing strategic decision-making at the highest levels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on the entire product lifecycle, from strategic ideation and market analysis to execution and stakeholder management. The emphasis on "driving execution" and "partnering cross-functionally" indicates a need for strong project management and operational execution skills in addition to strategic thinking.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience: 13+ years of experience in product strategy or product management, with a significant focus on the payments and credit card industry.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in defining and executing product strategy within the financial services or banking sector.

• Deep expertise in payments and credit card products, including market dynamics, regulatory considerations, and customer lifecycle management.

• Proven ability to develop actionable product roadmaps and translate business needs into clear product priorities and requirements.

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities to identify opportunities, assess market trends, and drive data-informed decisions.

• Demonstrated experience in leading cross-functional initiatives and ensuring stakeholder alignment across diverse teams (technology, operations, risk, marketing, business).

• Executive-level communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to influence and gain buy-in from senior leadership.

• Proactive problem-solving approach with a strong emphasis on delivering solutions and driving business outcomes. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with product lifecycle management methodologies and tools.

• Familiarity with Agile or other iterative product development frameworks.

• Knowledge of banking operations, risk management, and compliance within the financial services industry.

• Experience in vendor management and evaluating third-party partnerships.

• Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives concurrently with increasing independence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "13+ years" requirement combined with a Bachelor's degree suggests a need for deep, specialized experience. The emphasis on "payments/credit card expertise" and "strategic thinking" points to a role that requires not just tactical execution but also a comprehensive understanding of the financial services product landscape and strategic market positioning.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a history of successfully defining and executing product strategies that have led to demonstrable business growth or improved customer experience.

• Include detailed case studies of product development lifecycles, highlighting the strategic rationale, market analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and ultimate outcomes.

• Provide examples of product requirement documents (PRDs) or similar artifacts that clearly articulate solutions, use cases, and functional specifications derived from client and sales feedback.

• Demonstrate experience in measuring product success through key performance indicators (KPIs), including examples of how data was used to iterate and improve product offerings. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of defining and documenting product strategies, including market analysis, competitive landscaping, and strategic positioning.

• Examples of developing and managing product roadmaps, illustrating prioritization methodologies and cross-functional alignment processes.

• Documentation of processes used to gather and translate customer and sales feedback into actionable product requirements and enhancements.

• Case studies detailing the management of product launches, including coordination with technology, operations, and marketing teams for successful go-to-market strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the strategic nature of the role and the emphasis on cross-functional execution, a portfolio demonstrating a structured approach to product strategy development, roadmap planning, and successful product launches will be crucial. The ability to articulate the "why" behind strategic decisions and demonstrate measurable impact is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is based on the provided salary data for the VP Product Strategy role in Tampa, FL, considering the experience level (13+ years), industry (Banking/Financial Services), and the specific responsibilities outlined. The actual compensation will be finalized based on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and skills, potentially falling above or below the posted range. Bonus eligibility is also mentioned.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Competitive retirement savings options, including 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with a company match.

• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

• Generous company-paid parental leave.

• Support for continuous learning through educational assistance and paid continuing education credits.

• Employee assistance program (EAP) for professional and personal support.

• Extensive paid time off, including 12 holidays, 3 Paid Employee Appreciation Days, 2 Celebrate You Days (Birthday & Anniversary), and additional time-off options for vacation, volunteering, or personal/family care.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range appears to be on the lower end for a VP-level Product Strategy role, especially with 13+ years of experience and specialized financial services/payments expertise in a remote capacity. However, the comprehensive benefits package, including generous PTO and paid holidays, significantly enhances the total compensation. The emphasis on remote work with travel requirements should also be factored into the overall value proposition.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking & Financial Services (specifically focused on credit cards and related financial products for community banks).

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, ICBA/TCM Bank is a significant player in supporting community banks, suggesting a mid-to-large-sized organization with a substantial reach. This size implies structured processes and a need for clear operational execution.

Founded: TCM Bank has been operating for over 30 years, providing a stable and established environment for its employees. This history suggests a company with deep industry knowledge and a commitment to its mission.

Team Structure:

• The role operates as a senior individual contributor, working closely with cross-functional teams. This implies a collaborative environment where influence and partnership are key, rather than direct hierarchical management.

• Collaboration extends across technology, operations, risk, marketing, and business units, indicating a matrixed or project-based team structure for product initiatives.

• The role requires interaction with strategic partners and other ICBA subsidiaries, suggesting a networked organizational approach. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the need for analytical skills, customer insights, and market trend analysis to inform product strategy.

• Workflow optimization is a core aspect, as the role aims to improve customer experience and ensure successful product delivery and adoption.

• Strategic planning and roadmap development are central to the role, requiring a structured approach to prioritizing initiatives and defining product direction.

Company Website: https://www.tcmbank.com/ (Assuming this is the primary URL for TCM Bank operations)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on supporting community banks suggests a mission-driven culture that values partnership and stability. The "VP" title, coupled with individual contributor responsibilities, indicates a role that values deep expertise and the ability to drive strategy through influence and collaboration across various operational departments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level Product Strategy role, equivalent to a VP or Director in many organizations, focusing on high-level strategic planning and cross-functional execution within the product domain. It requires seasoned professionals with extensive experience in a specialized area (payments/credit cards).

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, this role likely reports to a senior executive such as a Chief Product Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, or potentially a Head of Banking Operations, given the cross-functional nature of its responsibilities.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the bank's revenue generation and market positioning by defining and executing product strategies that enhance customer experience, drive adoption, and support strategic objectives. Its success is measured by the successful development, launch, and scaling of profitable products and capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Deepening: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in payment product strategy for community banks, potentially leading to more senior strategic roles or advisory positions.

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to lead broader strategic initiatives or take on more direct management responsibilities for product teams as the organization grows or evolves.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop stronger leadership and influencing skills by working with a wide array of departments, which can open doors to broader GTM or operational leadership roles.

• Industry Recognition: Through successful product strategy execution and executive presentations, build a reputation that could lead to broader industry influence or opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "VP" title suggests significant responsibility and a high level of autonomy. Growth opportunities would likely involve expanding the scope of strategic influence, potentially moving into more direct leadership roles, or specializing further within the fintech and payments product space.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily remote, with an expectation of approximately 4 overnight travel trips per year to the Tampa, FL headquarters or other key locations for strategic meetings and collaboration.

Office Location(s): Tampa, FL is the primary headquarters. The role is open to qualified candidates in AL, AZ, DC, FL, GA, IA, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NE, NC, OH, PA, SC, TX, & VA.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Flexibility: Offers the advantage of working from a home office, allowing for personalized work environments and reduced commute times for eligible candidates.

• Collaborative Technology: Success in this role will depend on leveraging collaboration tools and video conferencing platforms to maintain strong connections with remote and in-office colleagues.

• Strategic Interaction: Travel to the Tampa HQ or other locations will provide opportunities for in-person strategic planning, team building, and direct engagement with executive leadership and key stakeholders.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. While remote, the expectation is to be available and responsive during core business hours, with flexibility managed by the individual to meet project deadlines and collaborative needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature combined with required travel necessitates strong self-discipline and time management skills. The travel component is critical for fostering relationships and driving strategic alignment, indicating that while remote, this is not a fully isolated role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter or HR screen to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and interest in the role and company.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your product strategy experience, leadership style, and fit for the team, potentially including scenario-based questions.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key partners from technology, operations, risk, and business teams to evaluate collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and ability to influence.

• Executive Presentation/Case Study: A high-stakes interview where candidates may be asked to present a strategic recommendation or a case study demonstrating their approach to product strategy, problem-solving, and executive communication. This is where portfolio highlights will be critical.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive for final approval and cultural fit assessment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Impact Focus: Clearly articulate the strategic "why" behind your product initiatives. Showcase how your strategies addressed business needs, market opportunities, or customer pain points.

• Quantifiable Results: For each case study, present concrete metrics demonstrating the success of your product strategies. This could include revenue growth, market share increase, customer acquisition/retention improvements, or operational efficiency gains.

• Process & Collaboration: Detail your process for strategy development, roadmap creation, and cross-functional collaboration. Highlight how you managed stakeholders, resolved conflicts, and ensured alignment.

• Payments/Credit Card Specialization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your expertise in the payments and credit card domain, showcasing specific product successes or strategic contributions in this area.

• Executive Communication Examples: If possible, include anonymized examples of executive presentations or strategic documents that illustrate your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to senior leadership.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Problem-Solving: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a given product strategy challenge for a community bank, focusing on market analysis, competitive positioning, and potential product solutions.

• Roadmap Prioritization: Practice articulating how you would prioritize a backlog of product initiatives based on strategic value, feasibility, and business impact.

• Stakeholder Management Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would manage disagreements or gain buy-in from different departments with competing priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process likely culminates in an executive-level presentation, making a well-curated and compelling portfolio essential. Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic thinking, operational execution capabilities, and deep domain expertise in payments and credit cards.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Aha!, Productboard, or similar for roadmap planning, requirements management, and backlog grooming.

• CRM Systems: Experience with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, or other CRM platforms used for customer insights, sales feedback, and partnership management.

• Analytics & Business Intelligence Tools: Proficiency in tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Looker, or Google Analytics for analyzing product performance, market trends, and customer behavior.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: Skills in SQL for data extraction and manipulation, and experience with statistical analysis tools.

• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to create and interpret dashboards that track product KPIs, financial performance, and customer engagement metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Process Automation Tools: Understanding of how automation can enhance product delivery and customer experience, even if not directly managing automation tools.

• Collaboration Suites: Proficient use of Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Outlook) or Google Workspace for daily communication, document sharing, and project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role's nature demands proficiency in standard product management, analytics, and collaboration software. The ability to leverage data and technology to drive product strategy and operational efficiency is critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A strong commitment to improving customer experience through well-defined and effective product offerings.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing insights derived from data analysis, market research, and customer feedback to guide strategic choices.

• Collaboration and Partnership: Emphasizing teamwork and the ability to build strong relationships across diverse departments to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for product enhancement and process optimization.

• Integrity and Risk Awareness: Upholding high ethical standards and ensuring products are developed and managed with a keen awareness of risk and compliance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role is designed to foster deep collaboration across departments, requiring open communication and a willingness to integrate diverse perspectives into product strategy.

• Influence and Persuasion: Success hinges on the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels through clear communication, data-backed recommendations, and a demonstrated understanding of business needs.

• Proactive Problem Solving: A culture where individuals are encouraged to identify challenges and propose solutions independently, contributing to a dynamic and responsive operational environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on community banking and its established history likely foster a culture that values stability, trust, and strong relationships. The emphasis on collaboration and data-driven decision-making aligns with modern product management practices.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Operational Execution: Effectively translating high-level strategy into tangible product roadmaps and ensuring seamless execution across diverse operational teams.

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Needs: Managing competing priorities and expectations from various departments, including technology, risk, operations, and sales, to achieve consensus.

• Driving Innovation in a Regulated Industry: Identifying and implementing innovative product solutions within the constraints of banking regulations and established operational processes.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong team cohesion and driving strategic alignment across a distributed team, especially with the travel requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Payments Expertise: Opportunity to expand knowledge in the rapidly evolving payments and credit card landscape, potentially leading to specialization in emerging fintech areas.

• Executive Leadership Development: Gaining experience in presenting to and influencing C-suite executives, honing strategic communication and negotiation skills.

• Cross-Industry Best Practices: Learning from strategic partners within the ICBA network to bring best practices from other community banks into product strategy.

• Product Lifecycle Mastery: Developing a comprehensive understanding and practical application of the entire product lifecycle, from ideation through maturity and end-of-life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a significant opportunity to shape the strategic direction of product offerings in a critical sector. The challenges are balanced by substantial growth potential, particularly in strategic leadership and specialized industry knowledge.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a product strategy for a new payment product in the community banking sector. What key factors would you consider?" (Focus on market analysis, customer segmentation, competitive landscape, regulatory environment, and alignment with bank objectives.)

• "How would you prioritize a list of potential product enhancements for TCM Bank's credit card offerings, given limited resources? Walk us through your prioritization framework." (Emphasize data-driven approaches, ROI analysis, customer impact, and strategic alignment.)

• "Imagine a scenario where the operations team raises concerns about the scalability of a new product feature you're advocating for. How would you address this to ensure alignment and successful implementation?" (Focus on collaborative problem-solving, data sharing, risk assessment, and finding mutually agreeable solutions.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about TCM Bank and its mission to support community banks?" (Research the company's values, recent news, and its role in the financial ecosystem.)

• "How do you see your product strategy expertise contributing to our team's success in a remote-first environment?" (Highlight your experience with remote collaboration tools and strategies for effective communication and influence.)

• "Describe a time you had to present a complex product strategy to executive leadership. What was the outcome, and what did you learn?" (Prepare a concise case study demonstrating your executive communication skills and ability to drive buy-in.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio around key product initiatives, detailing the problem, your strategic approach, the execution challenges, and the quantifiable results.

• Highlight the "Why": For each example, clearly articulate the strategic rationale and business objectives that drove your decisions.

• Showcase Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with technology, operations, risk, and other teams to bring products to life.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your strategies, such as revenue growth, market share, customer satisfaction, or operational improvements.

• Tailor to TCM Bank: Connect your experience and past successes to the specific needs and opportunities of TCM Bank and the community banking sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess strategic acumen, operational execution capabilities, and executive-level influence. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their thought process, demonstrate a data-driven approach, and showcase their ability to collaborate and lead through influence.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this VP Product Strategy position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Dayforce portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Align your resume with the job description, emphasizing your 13+ years of experience in product strategy, deep expertise in payments and credit cards, and proven track record in cross-functional leadership and executive communication. Use keywords from the job description such as "product strategy," "roadmap development," "stakeholder management," and "payments expertise."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Prepare a concise portfolio that highlights 2-3 key product strategy initiatives. Focus on demonstrating your strategic thinking, execution process, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable business impact, particularly within the financial services industry.

• Prepare Your Executive Presentation: Anticipate a presentation component where you'll articulate a strategic recommendation or a case study. Practice presenting your portfolio highlights with a focus on clarity, data-driven insights, and persuasive storytelling.

• Research TCM Bank: Understand TCM Bank's mission, its role in supporting community banks, and its current product offerings. Prepare to discuss how your strategic vision aligns with the company's goals and market position.

⚠️ 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.