Forward Deployed Product Manager

What You’ll Do

• Own the customer relationship end-to-end. Act as the customer's day-to-day strategic partner and primary point of contact, building trust across all levels of the organization and being candid about tradeoffs.
• Shape what we build and why. Translate ambiguous business problems into crisp problem statements, user journeys, and success metrics — and work with customers to define what "success" actually means.
• Turn messy problems into shipped solutions. Translate ambiguous needs into clear requirements, PRDs, and plans for engineers. Shape workflows, edge cases, and evaluation criteria for AI-powered systems.
• Drive execution across multiple AI products. Run the day-to-day rhythm — planning, check-ins, risk tracking — and coordinate between customers, engineers, designers, and Fractional teammates to keep work unblocked and on time.
• Help create demand, not just fulfill it. Jump on early, messy conversations where the project is still a vague idea. Help founders and sales tease out real pain, sketch solution approaches live, and spot expansion opportunities.
• Drive adoption and long-term impact. Work with client teams on rollout, enablement, and change management so the systems you build actually get used. Bring back insights that inform Fractional's playbooks and product direction.
• Bring judgment and clarity. When requirements are fuzzy or customers change course, be the person in the room who can say: here's what we're trying to do, here's what we know, here's the plan.

What You Bring

• Customer-facing, high-stakes experience. You've led projects where customers were under pressure, stakeholders weren't aligned, and the path wasn't obvious. You're comfortable pushing back, reframing the problem, and holding the line on quality. We typically look for 4–8 years in product, consulting, or implementations, although we care more about what you've done than the label on your resume.
• Real product and delivery experience. You've built and shipped products with engineers and designers across multiple cycles. You can run an execution rhythm — stand-ups, planning, tracking, retros — without turning it into process theater.
• Structured problem-solving and communication. You ask good questions, structure chaos, and turn ambiguity into a plan — moving from whiteboarding with execs to writing a crisp doc for engineers without losing the plot.
• Bias for action and ownership. You roll up your sleeves and make things happen, whether that's writing a scrappy SQL query, drafting a support playbook, or jumping into a last-minute exec demo.
• Comfort with ambiguity and intensity. You like high-energy environments, messy problems, and "we haven't done this before" projects. You can juggle multiple customers, keep priorities straight, and make good calls with incomplete information.
• AI curiosity, not AI Dogma. You don't need deep AI expertise on day one — you do need strong reasoning, a desire to learn fast, and a willingness to overuse AI in your own workflow.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation Package: Attractive salary aligned with your experience and skills.
• 401k with Matching: Invest in your future with our company-matched retirement plan.
• Unlimited PTO: Take the time you need to relax and rejuvenate.
• Exceptional Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Comprehensive health benefits to keep you and your family healthy.
• Health FSA: Manage out-of-pocket health expenses effectively.
• Commuter Benefits: Make your travel to work easier and more affordable.
• Life Insurance: Providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
• Team Events and Activities: Regular events to build camaraderie and a strong team spirit.