Head of Product Strategy & Development, The Bike Shop at the University of Chicago

University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

3d

About The Position

The Head of Product Strategy & Development leads The Bike Shop’s end-to-end lifecycle of products that sit at the frontier of human-AI collaboration. Rooted in the conviction that algorithms and AI should enhance — not replace — human capability, The Bike Shop develops computing tools that serve as true “bicycles for the mind”— scaling the reach, consistency, and effectiveness of human decision-making. Reporting to The Bike Shop’s leadership, this role is responsible for translating cutting-edge research in AI and algorithmic innovation into rigorous product strategies, working prototypes, and partner-ready solutions. The Head of Product Strategy & Development will bridge The Bike Shop’s research and real-world impact by stewarding tight feedback loops between discovery, development, and deployment — ensuring that the lab’s most promising ideas are realized in tangible working products. The Head of Product Strategy & Development will supervise engineers, developers, and other team members working on product. This person will also perform other related work as needed, including supporting The Bike Shop leadership with mission-critical initiatives around impact and stakeholder engagement

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent professional degree) in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Business, Economics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ownership of complex products from concept to launch.
• Experience working in or alongside technical teams, with the ability to engage substantively on questions of software architecture, data systems, or AI/ML product development.
• Track record of successfully bringing new products or solutions to market, including experience with go-to-market strategy, user research, and iterative prototyping.
• Experience working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments — such as early-stage startups, research labs, or innovation-focused teams — where products are novel and processes are not yet fully defined.
• 7+ years of experience in product management, go-to-market strategy (especially for technology), business development, strategic partnerships, management consulting, or a related field.
• Proven track record managing teams of 5+ direct reports, setting ambitious goals, and motivating teams to overachieve on large, complex initiatives from end to end.
• Experience working with new product or service teams to build frontier products, with a demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and create structure in undefined problem spaces.
• Experience in commercialization, business development, or strategic partnerships — including developing, negotiating, and executing partnership agreements that expand a product’s reach and impact.
• Experience working with state and local government, educational institutions, or social impact-oriented organizations.
• Startup experience, or experience at a VC/PE-backed firm.
• Experience owning and driving roadmap strategy and definition, with the ability to make and communicate clear tradeoffs across competing priorities.
• Experience working directly with engineers on product enhancements and feature delivery.
• Knowledge of generative AI, AI/ML applications, and industry trends; experience in AI products and technology is a strong plus.
• Background working with enterprise software, cloud, or B2B software environments.
• Experience establishing operational frameworks and metrics for new or growing teams.
• Highly analytical, with structured thinking and strong business judgment — able to break down complex problems and advise senior leadership with confidence.
• Strong commercial acumen and a knack for identifying opportunities to better serve users and partners, with the ability to influence toward deepening institutional relationships.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills; proven ability to build trust quickly with diverse stakeholders — from researchers to executives to external partners.
• Effective communicator who can translate complex technical solutions for diverse audiences and build a strong internal and external presence for the work.
• Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments; energized by building something genuinely new.

Responsibilities

• Own the full product lifecycle from initial discovery and problem framing through iterative design, prototyping, and delivery.
• Develop clear product roadmaps that align research capabilities with user needs and organizational priorities.
• Lead user research, define user stories, and translate insights into testable prototypes and minimum viable products.
• Champion a product culture that embraces novelty and pursues genuinely new approaches — building tools that expand the frontier of what human-AI collaboration can achieve.
• Stay current with developments in AI, machine learning, and human-computer interaction to identify opportunities for breakthrough product concepts.
• Develop structured frameworks for assessing and prioritizing breakthrough product ideas
• Serve as a technically fluent product manager, capable of evaluating technical feasibility and engaging deeply with engineering and research teams.
• Assess and validate technical constraints, architecture decisions, and build-vs-partner tradeoffs throughout the product lifecycle.
• Maintain detailed product documentation, sprint planning, and delivery processes appropriate for a research-to-product environment.
• Create and maintain bi-directional feedback loops between The Bike Shop’s research teams and product development work — translating research breakthroughs into product opportunities and channeling real-world user insights back into the research agenda.
• Collaborate closely with researchers and data scientists to understand the capabilities and limitations of new algorithms and AI systems.
• Facilitate regular cross-functional syncs to ensure alignment between research priorities, product strategy, and stakeholder needs.
• Mentor, grow, and lead a high-performance product and engineering team; set ambitious goals, foster trust, and celebrate success.
• Take initiative on mission-critical projects, collaborating with leadership on impact measurement and stakeholder engagement.
• Make key decisions on hiring, resource allocation, and product direction.
• Identify pathways to bring Bike Shop products and tools to market/scale, including partnerships with academic institutions, industry, and government stakeholders.
• Develop go-to-market strategies that account for both the novelty and social impact of frontier AI-enhanced products.
• Define and track product-market fit metrics, pricing considerations, and adoption strategies in collaboration with leadership.
• Manages the development of intellectual portfolio patenting, licensing, commercialization activities, and marketing plans.
• Contributes to the strategic direction and expansion of new initiatives, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains strong relationships with inventors, legal counsel, prospective and actual licensees, and colleagues to advance strategic priorities.
• Communicates and collaborates with internal and external community members and leadership to achieve strategic priorities.
• Provides training and mentorship in intellectual property, negotiation, licensing, and commercialization activities to employees.
• Reviews and approves agreements.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees