About the position
Cognitiv is seeking a visionary, strategic Vice President of Product to define and lead the future of Cognitiv’s product strategy. This executive role will report directly to the CEO and will shape our product vision, anticipate market trends, and identify high-impact opportunities for innovation in the AI-powered advertising space. As a key member of the leadership team, you’ll drive the long-term product roadmap, uncover whitespace opportunities, and ensure our offerings remain differentiated, scalable, and customer-centric. This role requires familiarity with AI, machine learning, or deep learning technologies, with a strong preference for experience in AI-based AdTech solutions or platforms. You’ll be responsible for scaling both our product offerings and our product management processes, ensuring operational excellence as we grow. You’ll partner cross-functionally to align product direction with business goals and client needs, while also attracting, mentoring, and retaining top-tier product talent. A key component of this role will be fostering a team culture focused on growth, development, and innovation—empowering the product team to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. This position will be located in New York City, NY with a hybrid work schedule of 3 days in the office (Mon/Tue/Wed) and 2 days remote optional (Thursday/Friday).
Responsibilities
- Own and evolve Cognitiv’s product vision and multi-year roadmap, aligned with business objectives and industry trends
- Identify unmet market needs, gaps in existing offerings, and new opportunities to expand Cognitiv’s impact and reach
- Stay ahead of emerging technologies, competitive dynamics, and buyer behavior to influence strategic direction
- Champion innovation and creative problem-solving across the organization
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and founders in scaling product-driven revenue and growth
- Collaborate with executive stakeholders in Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and Client Success to ensure seamless product-market alignment
- Shape product narratives that resonate with both technical and commercial audiences
- Represent the product vision externally in strategic customer conversations, industry events, and partner briefings
- Bring clarity and strategic framing to internal and external discussions around the future of Cognitiv’s offerings
- Guide product development efforts from concept through launch, ensuring efforts are prioritized for business impact and customer value
- Foster a strong feedback loop between customer needs and product planning, emphasizing continuous iteration
- Support the product team in translating strategic objectives into clear, actionable initiatives
- Ensure delivery teams are focused on the highest-leverage opportunities — without becoming mired in day-to-day execution
- Oversee launch strategies in close partnership with Marketing, Sales, and Client Success
- Define product positioning, messaging, and value proposition in alignment with customer pain points and market opportunity
- Establish and track KPIs that measure product adoption, business impact, and client satisfaction
- Drive ongoing product optimization based on client feedback, competitive landscape, and usage data
- Build, mentor, and inspire a product team that combines strategic insight with execution excellence
- Cultivate a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and customer-first thinking
- Create clear paths for growth and development within the Product function
- Actively contribute to company-wide leadership and organizational development
- Ensure product direction reflects data privacy regulations and responsible AI practices
- Partner with Engineering to inform risk mitigation strategies and compliance frameworks
- Maintain a high-level understanding of evolving data regulations and their implications on product strategy
- Champion ethical product development and Cognitiv’s commitment to user trust
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred
- 8+ years of product leadership experience, including 4+ years in a senior or executive role at a high-growth technology company
- Strong track record of owning product strategy and roadmap development, particularly in data-intensive or AI-powered environments
- Proven ability to identify market trends, define differentiated product visions, and deliver meaningful innovation
- Exceptional executive communication skills with the ability to inspire, align, and influence across technical and commercial functions
- Demonstrated success driving growth through user-centric, outcome-oriented product strategy
- Deep understanding of customer needs in complex B2B or B2B2C ecosystems
- High EQ and leadership presence; able to build trust and collaboration across all levels of the organization
- Strategic mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity in fast-changing markets
- Strong leadership capabilities with experience building, scaling, and managing high-performing product teams (5+ team members preferred)
- Outstanding executive communication skills capable of clearly articulating complex product strategies and technical concepts to diverse stakeholders
Nice-to-haves
- Experience launching AI or AdTech products to enterprise clients or agency/brand ecosystems
- Familiarity with scaling global product offerings and leading go-to-market efforts
- Strong grasp of market dynamics in advertising, marketing technology, or adjacent spaces
- Passion for connecting customer insights with bold product bets
Benefits
- Medical, Dental and Vision coverage, including some plans that are 100% employer paid
- 12 weeks paid parental leave
- Career Ladders slated to advance your career
- Unlimited PTO
- Work-From-Anywhere August
- Equity at all levels
- Comprehensive onboarding program (Cognitiv University)
- Hybrid work model
- Daily Lunch On Us
- Health and Wellness Stipend
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Parking Expense (CA & WA Offices)
- 401(k) plan with employer match
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pre-tax commuter benefits
