Director of Product Innovation
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Job Location:
Waterloo, WI - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
Yesterday
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Empowering Success. Elevating Experiences.
This is a senior hands-on role for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy product discovery and technical feasibilityand who knows how to move innovation forward without losing momentum in delivery.
Why this role matters
As Director of Product Innovation youll partner directly with the President of Forbin to shape the technology roadmap that drives future growth. Youll identify new opportunities validate concepts and help teams navigate tradeoffs so the right ideas move forwardclearly confidently and with purpose.
This role is not about owning delivery teamsits about setting direction enabling execution and building alignment across product engineering and business leaders.
Working Location:Waterloo IA or surrounding areas; hybrid or remote opportunities available.
What youll do
- Define and evolve the technology innovation roadmap with a strong focus on software platforms AI-enabled capabilities and scalable architecture.
- Identify and validate new product and technology opportunities through market insight customer needs and internal analysis.
- Partner with technology production and business leaders to evaluate and prioritize technology initiatives based on strategic alignment impact feasibility and risk.
- Provide portfolio-level insight and recommendations related to sequencing dependencies capacity constraints and investment tradeoffs.
- Lead discovery concept development and early prototyping to test feasibility before major investment.
- Translate complex ideas into clear concept briefs options tradeoffs and recommendations that leaders can act on.
- Partner closely with Production and Engineering leaders to enable smooth handoff and early execution alignment.
- Coordinate and train with marketing & sales teams to take product to launch.
- Monitor the external technology landscapeAI automation data platforms and emerging trendsto keep Forbin future-ready.
- Build trust and influence across teams by facilitating discussion driving clarity and helping stakeholders reach consensus.
Key Qualifications
Youre a strategic product and innovation leader who:
- Has deep experience in software-based products or platforms with enough technical fluency to engage credibly with engineers.
- Understands AI and emerging technologiesnot just whats possible but whats practical and valuable.
- Excels at structured thinking and communication especially when navigating ambiguity.
- Brings strong influence skills and can align diverse stakeholders without formal authority.
- Enjoys discovery problem framing and early-stage innovation as much as execution planning.
- Thinks in systemsseeing dependencies risks data flow and long-term scalability.
You have
- 3 years of experience in product innovation product management technology strategy or a related field.
- Strong understanding of modern development practices and architectures (APIs cloud CI/CD microservices or modular monoliths observability).
- Strong communication skillsable to explain complex technical topics to non-technical audiences and facilitate decisions.
- Experience assessing vendors and tools (AI platforms analytics automation integration middleware) preferred.
- Proven success moving ideas from concept through feasibility and to execution.
- Experience partnering with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
- Background in SaaS digital platforms or technology-enabled services strongly preferred.
Physical Requirements
- Visual abilities include reading distance vision and peripheral vision.
- Operation of office equipment and using technology efficiently such as computers phones misc. office equipment.
- Ability to consistently communicate with other VGMF and VGM Group personnel in person and via Microsoft Office 365.
- Travel to VGM headquarters as needed.
This job description reflects the general duties of the job but is not a detailed description of all duties which may be inherent to the position. Reasonably related additional duties may be assigned to the individual Associate.
VGM Group Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.
Required Experience:
Director
Key Skills
- Crisis Management
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Fundraising
- Media Relations
- Constant Contact
- Strategic Planning
- Social Media Management
- Team Management
- Public Speaking
- Wordpress
- Writing Skills
