Sr. Director of Product

SXSW • Austin, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

SXSW is seeking a Senior Director of Product to lead the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of major event technology and product initiatives that support the SXSW attendee experience. This is a highly visible player-coach role that leads product and project management teams while driving critical, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution. The role also includes hands-on product management responsibility for key projects and initiatives. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in live events, entertainment, media, or event technology, along with strong industry relationships and a proven ability to build trusted partnerships across internal teams, external vendors, sponsors, and technology providers.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in project delivery, product management, event technology, live events, media, entertainment, or a related industry
• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional technology, product, or operational initiatives in high-pressure, deadline-driven environments
• Experience operating as a player/coach, with the ability to lead teams while also personally driving critical initiatives
• Strong existing network within the event technology or live event ecosystem, with demonstrated ability to build new relationships quickly
• Significant experience with vendor management, RFPs, budgeting, contracts, and external partner accountability
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate competing needs into clear priorities and executable plans
• Strong understanding of UX principles and industry trends
• Experience with Agile, hybrid, and traditional project delivery models - either a PMP/CSM or on-the-job equivalent experience
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach project and product management teams while also owning and driving select high-priority initiatives directly.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of complex event technology, product, and operational programs across planning, development, launch, and live-event execution.
• Manage the company's full tech roadmap.
• Drive major strategic initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to balance business goals, operational needs, and user experience priorities.
• Establish discipline across the annual roadmap.
• Standardize requirements, prioritization, project planning, reporting, and retrospectives.
• Drive process improvement.
• Manage vendor relationships, including the Request for Proposal process, vendor evaluation, software cost reduction, contract support, budget oversight, performance management, and issue resolution.
• Serve as a key on-site leader during SXSW's 15-day live event, supporting tech readiness, stakeholder communication, escalation management, and real-time problem solving.

What This Job Offers

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