Senior Director of Product, Transformation

Posted Aug 3

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

We deeply value product innovation at Upwork, and continuously challenge ourselves to better serve our customers and their needs. And the coming AI platform shift unlocks the opportunity to do this in bold news ways that will transform our products and define the next chapter for Upwork.

We are looking for a dynamic and entrepreneurial IC Senior Director of Product to set the strategy and lead the creation of transformative product solutions. As the single threaded leader, this is a high-visibility role with a massive opportunity for impact. We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader with a high degree of output, velocity, and ability to manage ambiguity, ready to seize this extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of our company. While this role does not have direct reports, it requires highly developed leadership skills to influence decisions and drive transformational change. We are looking for an exceptional leader who can navigate complex situations, inspire teams, and effectively manage stakeholders across the company. This role will report to the VP of Product Management.

Your Responsibilities:

Product Vision: Set the strategic direction for transformational products. Understand market trends, customer needs, and the competitive landscape to identify game-changing opportunities.
High-Impact Execution: Execute at high velocity and drive the product lifecycle from concept to rapid iteration to launch. Manage ambiguity by making informed decisions quickly, based on available data and insights.
Cross-Functional Partnership: Influence and collaborate effectively with teams across the organization - including engineering, design, operations, marketing, and data science. Foster relationships that enable seamless cooperation and communication, ensuring product goals are met.
Business Acumen: Demonstrate a deep understanding of our business model and financial drivers. Use this knowledge to identify opportunities, make informed decisions, and deliver high impact results.
Communication and Advocacy: Effectively communicate the product vision and roadmap to stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Advocate for the product both internally and externally, ensuring alignment with our company's strategic objectives.
Innovation Mindset: Champion an environment of innovation. Continuously explore and incorporate new technologies, methodologies, and ideas to disrupt the current marketplace and keep our business at the forefront of the industry.

What will catch our eye:

Proven Track Record: You have a demonstrable history of successfully leading large-scale product transformations. You have introduced disruptive products or features in previous roles that have dramatically changed market dynamics.
Technical Proficiency: You possess strong technical understanding that complements your product management skills. You are capable of having meaningful conversations with engineers about the technical feasibility of the product features you propose.
Strategic Thinker and Doer: You have a unique ability to think strategically while executing tactically. You've shown you can set a vision, develop a strategic roadmap, and then roll up your sleeves to help make it a reality.
Collaborative Leadership: You've shown a knack for leading through influence rather than authority. You have a proven record of building strong relationships and fostering cross-functional collaboration in previous roles.
Analytical Prowess: Your data-driven decision-making process and ability to translate complex data into actionable insights are evident in your past work.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: You have an entrepreneurial spirit, and have led true 0-1 products or started your own thing. You have demonstrated your ability to take ownership, navigate uncertainty, and be resourceful.
Customer-Centric Mindset: You have a deep understanding of user experience and customer-centered design principles. Your work has always prioritized delivering exceptional value to the customer.

The annual base salary for this position in California and Washington ranges from $218,000 - $310,000. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position in California and Washington, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees.

At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.

We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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