VP - Product Management-Strategic Initiative

Baker Hill Solutions•Carmel, IN

About The Position

The VP Product Management – Strategic Initiatives & Programs drives the execution, governance, and coordination of strategic product initiatives and programs across Baker Hill. This role ensures product development follows the Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC), maintains portfolio alignment, and delivers measurable business value. Working across multiple product initiatives at varying PDLC stages, this leader establishes critical product cadences, oversees portfolio governance, and serves as a trusted partner between executive strategy and product delivery teams.

Requirements

10+ years in product management, product development, or related roles in B2B enterprise software or financial services
5+ years leading product portfolios, managing strategic initiatives, or coordinating complex, cross-functional programs
3+ years in Scaled Agile (SAFe) environments, PI Planning, or large-scale product delivery organizations
Deep experience managing multiple product initiatives simultaneously at different lifecycle stages
Bachelor's degree in business, Product Management, Finance, or related field (required)
Strategic thinking with ability to translate business objectives into executable product initiatives and measurable outcomes
Expert knowledge of product portfolio management, product lifecycle management, and scaled delivery (SAFe)
Proven track record managing dependencies, capacity planning, and cross-functional coordination at scale
Deep understanding of the community bank and credit union landscape, regulatory environment, and product challenges in lending and payments
Exceptional communication skills—able to articulate complex ideas clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including board-level executives
Advanced analytical and data-driven decision-making skills; proficiency in defining KPIs, building business cases, and measuring ROI
Expertise with product management tools (Jira, Azure DevOps) and program dashboarding platforms
Strong stakeholder management and executive presence; comfort navigating organizational complexity
Exceptional conflict resolution and consensus-building capabilities

Nice To Haves

MBA or equivalent executive education (preferred)
SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) or SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner (POPM) certification (desired); must be able to obtain within the first 90 days of employment

Responsibilities

End-to-end execution of strategic product initiatives from exploration through post-launch adoption
Governance frameworks and decision authorities across the PDLC (Ideation, Epic Approval, MVP Commitment, Launch Go/No-Go)
Portfolio health monitoring, capacity planning, and cross-initiative dependency management
Establishment and execution of recurring product cadences (Pricing Committee, GTM Readiness, GM Business Reviews, Portfolio Reviews)
Portfolio dashboards, metrics, and reporting that drive strategic decision-making
Coordination of standard product practices and processes across all delivery streams
Lead definition, prioritization, and execution of strategic product initiatives and programs across the portfolio, ensuring each progresses through the appropriate PDLC stages
Establish and maintain governance frameworks with clear decision authorities—ensuring initiatives achieve required outcomes before phase progression (Ideation Review, Epic Approval, MVP Commitment, Release Approval, Launch Go/No-Go)
Coordinate across functional leads (Chief Architect, Head of Product, Product Directors, R&D, Sales, Marketing, Legal, Compliance) to ensure aligned execution and remove cross-functional barriers
Monitor initiative progress, manage dependencies, communicate risks and blockers, and facilitate course corrections as needed
Ensure completion of compliance, security, legal, and regulatory reviews at appropriate PDLC stage
Establish and facilitate recurring product cadences including Pricing Committee, GTM Readiness Reviews, GM Business Reviews, and quarterly/annual Portfolio Reviews
Develop and maintain product portfolio dashboards that track initiative health, capacity, dependencies, business metrics, and strategic alignment
Oversee portfolio balancing across the innovation matrix (exploitation vs. exploration) and ensure strategic priorities align with market conditions, competitive landscape, and revenue targets
Lead quarterly and annual planning cycles to refresh portfolio priorities and communicate trade-offs across competing initiatives
Participate in and help coordinate SAFe Program Increment (PI) Planning events to ensure strategic initiatives align with ART capacity, dependencies, and delivery timelines
Work with ART stakeholders, Release Train Engineers, Product Owners, and delivery teams to translate strategic initiatives into actionable backlog items and team commitments
Manage cross-ART dependencies and ensure effective integration across multiple delivery streams
Monitor PI execution health, manage risks, and facilitate adjustments to keep strategic initiatives on track
Champion adherence to Baker Hill's PDLC across all product initiatives—from Exploration through Post-Launch & Adoption—ensuring quality at each stage
Define and track key metrics and success criteria for each PDLC phase; drive process refinement based on data and lessons learned
Coordinate product-wide standard practices including release planning, beta execution, go-to-market readiness, and post-launch adoption reviews
Drive cross-functional involvement in launches and GTM readiness to ensure seamless coordination between Product, Marketing, Sales, and Support
Lead Executive Product Committee participation to present initiative business cases, secure approvals, and communicate strategic decisions
Provide clear, transparent communication to executives, the board, and stakeholders on portfolio status, strategic priorities, and market positioning
Act as a trusted bridge between Product Management, Product Development, and business leadership, facilitating alignment and managing conflicting priorities
Facilitate stakeholder discussions and consensus-building around portfolio trade-offs and resource allocation
Stay informed on industry trends, regulatory developments, and competitive landscape relevant to community banks and credit unions
Incorporate market insights into strategic initiative prioritization and go-to-market planning
Support positioning, messaging, and competitive strategy for product launches and initiatives
Participate in cross-functional strategic projects as assigned