Senior Director, Product & Design

The Contingent • Portland, OR

2d • $125,000 - $135,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Contingent is seeking a Senior Director, Product and Design to lead and grow its product and design function during a period of organizational expansion. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring clarity, decisiveness, and a deep sense of humanity. The ideal candidate is a servant-leader who develops people as intentionally as they ship products, believing that diverse minds build better technology. The role involves owning the product roadmap, leading cross-functional teams, coaching and developing team members, and ensuring successful state launches. The Senior Director will also serve as a key thought partner to the Chief Product and Innovation Officer on product strategy and organizational capability building. The Contingent is a national venture nonprofit focused on tackling complex social challenges through innovation and technology, with its flagship initiative, Every Child, transforming foster care recruitment into a coordinated, data-driven system.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in product management or product leadership.
• At least 3 years in a people management role.
• Track record of successfully rallying cross-functional teams (engineering, design, customer-facing) around shared goals and delivering together.
• Experienced coach who develops talent across career stages.
• Experience in nonprofit, civic tech, or mission-driven environments.
• Fluent in human-centered design.
• Clear, decisive communicator who can energize a room and also say “no” and “not now” with kindness and credibility.
• Legally eligible to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with government or state agency partnerships is a plus.
• Commitment to the mission of The Contingent, including Every Child and The Script.
• Ability to relate well and work effectively with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to articulate a position on the importance of diverse community organizations engaging vulnerable children, youth, and families.
• Deep commitment to serving vulnerable kids, youth, and families and those in government who work with them.
• Deep commitment to increasing the diversity of leadership in the communities we serve.
• Self-motivated leader that takes initiative.
• Adaptable to changing situations and processes.
• Demonstrates a passion for operational, technical, and customer experience excellence.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the product roadmap, sprint planning, quarterly planning, and release planning end-to-end.
• Lead scope reviews, product approvals, and wireframe reviews, setting a high bar while developing the team's craft.
• Coach and develop the team with patience, intentionality, and high expectations, finding satisfaction in watching people grow.
• Create the conditions (structure, patience, psychological safety) for different kinds of thinkers to do their best work.
• Adapt leadership style to the individual rather than expecting one approach to fit everyone.
• Hire and develop an Implementation PM to coordinate internal product configuration and state-facing timelines for new state launches.
• Ensure every new state launch is properly configured, thoroughly tested, and delivered on schedule, working cross-functionally with Relationship and Change Management leads.
• Serve as a key thought partner to the Chief Product and Innovation Officer (CPIO) on product strategy, team structure, and organizational capability building.
• Translate high-level organizational vision into executable roadmaps and team action.
• Be prepared for a dynamic work environment with potential variability in responsibilities and duties as deemed by the supervisor.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits including premium medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• 100% coverage for employee medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• 80% coverage for spouse and/or dependents for medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• 19 paid holidays.
• Additional vacation, sick, bereavement and parental leave.
• 401(k) with a 5% (annual salary) match.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed