Director of Product Management (Startup Nation Finder Platform)

Description

This is a critical leadership role requiring both strategic vision and deep hands-on execution. As the Director of Product Management for Finder, you will own the product strategy, roadmap, and day-to-day execution for our core SaaS platform. You are an executionist at heart, driven by delivering exceptional value and comfortable diving into the details to make things happen. You'll define the vision while also rolling up your sleeves to write user stories, define detailed requirements (PRDs), manage the Jira backlog, and work directly with engineers and designers on implementation specifics.

You will directly manage and mentor a dedicated team comprising a Product Manager and a Product UI/UX Designer, fostering a culture of high-velocity execution, user-centricity, collaborative innovation, and continuous learning. You are a natural product evangelist, passionate about the Israeli tech scene and adept at championing the Finder platform's vision and details internally and to the global community we serve.

Requirements

• Experienced SaaS PM: Minimum 7 years of product management experience, specifically within B2B SaaS, data platforms, or information services environments, with demonstrable experience in hands-on execution (writing stories, managing backlogs).
• Proven Product Leader: Demonstrated success in owning and driving the strategy and execution for a significant product or product area. Experience directly managing or formally mentoring Product Managers and/or UI/UX professionals (Minimum 1-2 years) is required.
• Execution-Driven & Deeply Hands-On: You have a strong bias for action and excel at the tactical aspects of product management (detailed requirements, Jira mastery). You aren't afraid to be "in the weeds" to ensure quality execution.
• Data-Centric: Expertise in using quantitative and qualitative data to drive decisions. Proficient with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude/Mixpanel).
• Ecosystem Passion: Deep understanding of/passion for the global startup ecosystem. Specific knowledge of the Israeli tech ecosystem is a significant advantage.
• Technically Adept: Comfortable working closely with engineers and data scientists, understanding technical trade-offs. Familiarity with agile methodologies. Expertise with PM tools (Jira, Confluence, Productboard, etc.).
• Curious & Growth-Oriented: Naturally inquisitive, a passionate learner committed to continuous improvement for yourself, your team, and the product. Genuinely enthusiastic about technology, data, and SNC's mission. AI enthusiast is a plus.
• Excellent Communicator: Superior verbal, written, and presentation skills in English. Hebrew proficiency is an advantage.
• Team Player & Collaborator: Strong collaborative spirit, builds relationships and influences across functions.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience building data-heavy platforms, marketplaces, or network-effect products.
• Direct experience incorporating AI/ML features into a product.
• Interest in leveraging your skills for a role that drives social and economic impact.
• Experience working within or closely with the Israeli high-tech industry.
• Master's degree (MBA or technical field).

Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Roadmap:

• Develop, articulate, and champion a clear, data-informed product vision and strategy for Finder, directly supporting Start-Up Nation Central's goals.
• Own the Finder product roadmap: conduct market/user research, identify opportunities, define initiatives, prioritize ruthlessly, and build compelling business cases.
• Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the Finder platform, its data assets, the Israeli innovation ecosystem, user workflows, and competitive intelligence platforms.

Hands-On Execution & Delivery:

• Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle: ideation, validation, writing detailed user stories and Product Requirements Documents (PRDs), prototyping, actively managing the product backlog in Jira, development oversight, launch, and iteration.
• Be deeply hands-on daily: Work directly with your PM, UI/UX designer, data analysts, and engineering teams to clarify requirements, make tactical trade-offs, remove execution roadblocks, and ensure high-quality, timely delivery.
• Define, track, and analyze key product metrics (KPIs/OKRs) for Finder to measure success, drive adoption, and inform future iterations. Utilize A/B testing and experimentation.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Manage, mentor, and develop the Product Manager and Product UI/UX Designer focused on the Finder platform, guiding their work and fostering their professional growth.
• Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with Engineering (including the Director of Engineering), Data (including the Director of Data), Research, Marketing, Global Partnerships, and other internal teams.
• Act as a product evangelist, effectively communicating plans, benefits, and results to all stakeholders.

User & Market Focus:

• Engage directly and continuously with Finder users through interviews, surveys, and usability testing to deeply understand their pain points, needs, and workflows.
• Translate user feedback and market insights into actionable product requirements and a prioritized backlog for Finder.
• Stay abreast of AI/ML trends and identify opportunities to leverage AI for enhanced Finder capabilities.