Head of Product & Solutions Architecture
Richmond, VA - USA
Job Summary
We are a global investment bank specializing in M&A and private capital advisory services. Clients worldwide rely on us to help unlock value in their business and turn ambitious goals into reality. We approach every engagement with boundless collaboration pooling expertise and relationships across industries service offerings and geographies. For over 30 years our clients have trusted us to think strategically execute precisely and deliver premium outcomes to help them grow.
We are ambitious in our goals and steadfast in the belief that clients deserve our very best. To achieve our highest aspiration we invest in world-class team-oriented individuals who are smart driven and principled those who are eager to be part of something bigger than themselves. When you join Harris Williams you are welcomed into a collegial environment where every individual has the opportunity to make an impact in a powerful and significant way. We invite you to learn more about careers at Harris Williams.
The Role:
Harris Williams is seeking a Head of Product & Solutions Architecture to lead the strategic design and delivery of the technology that powers our deal-making and firm-wide services. This is a high-impact build-oriented leadership role that sits at the intersection of investment banking product strategy application delivery and artificial intelligence.
You will lead the team that serves as the firms architect for digital services intelligent platforms automated workflows and data access translating complex business needs into scalable applications that increase efficiency unlock insight and expand secure data sharing while embedding AI into how the firm works. A defining mandate of this role is to evolve and elevate the firms Product function: clarifying how the team is organized aligning talent to priorities strengthening practices and modernizing the operating model through which product strategy is delivered. You will build Generative AI skills tools and standards into the firms product and solution architecture methodology and develop a cohesive high-performing team that partners closely with our business and engineering colleagues.
Why This Role is Unique
This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead how Product is practiced at Harris Williams a leading M&A and private capital advisory firm. Rather than following an established playbook you will set the strategy structure and standards for the firms Product function with Generative AI at the center of that vision.
- Shape the function. Define the operating model team and roadmap for the firms Product function with a clear mandate to modernize.
- AI at the forefront. Help lead the firms adoption of Generative AI across deal workflows from document analysis and market research to comparable analysis and pitch preparation defining where the technology creates real advantage.
- A direct line to the business. Partner with senior dealmakers and firm leaders translating frontline challenges into technology that measurably improves how deals get done.
- Firm-wide impact. Your work spans CRM deal origination and execution finance talent and data.
Core Responsibilities:
As the senior leader of the Product function you will be accountable for establishing and leading Product & Solutions Architecture at Harris Williams. Your mandate spans translating business needs into clear product roadmaps owning the end-to-end product lifecycle serving as the connective point between business and engineering teams maturing the structure and operating model of the function and embedding Generative AI and data capabilities into firm workflows in a deliberate governed and scalable way.
Product Function Leadership
- Define the operating model for the Product function including role structures team configuration decision rights and ways of working.
- Establish the responsibilities scope and career framework for product roles driving consistency across the organization.
- Develop a team of product professionals embedded across functional domains building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the senior product leader and escalation point for prioritization scope and delivery decisions.
- Partner with HR and firm leadership to ensure the function is appropriately resourced as the technology portfolio grows and Generative AI drives new efficiencies.
Roadmap & Delivery
- Lead the development maintenance and delivery of product roadmaps across business functions such as CRM Deal Origination & Execution Finance Talent and Data Management balancing near-term needs long-term platform vision and AI enablement.
- Facilitate cross-functional roadmap reviews with senior stakeholders communicating progress trade-offs and upcoming milestones.
- Lead resource planning and prioritization across the team making deliberate allocation decisions when roadmap demands compete.
- Define and track success metrics for each functional domain.
Product Architecture & Strategy
- Define and own the firms technology product architecture roadmap ensuring alignment with business strategy and long-term scalability.
- Lead the design of integrated platforms supporting deal origination execution client engagement knowledge management talent finance and business operations.
- Evaluate and help select third-party technology vendors and platforms including data providers and SaaS solutions.
AI Enablement & Innovation
- Lead product direction and solution architecture in support of the firms Generative AI strategy identifying use cases and standards where AI can meaningfully enhance productivity insight and deal-team success.
- Partner with deal teams to build and deploy intelligent solutions for capabilities such as document analysis market research comparable analysis and pitch preparation.
- Monitor emerging Generative AI trends and technologies assessing strategic opportunities and risks.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Serve as a trusted advisor to business teams translating challenges into actionable technology and AI solutions.
- Enable collaboration across deal teams and firm-wide services.
- Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
Job Specific Competencies Education and Experience:
The ideal candidate combines technical depth financial services acumen and the leadership presence to build and influence a sophisticated high-performing organization.
Experience
- 15 years of progressive experience in technology leadership product management and product architecture ideally within financial services or professional services.
- A track record of building or leading delivery functions spanning Product and Technology including driving improvement in the software delivery lifecycle (SDLC).
- Experience leading and delivering roadmaps across complex enterprise domains with a preference in financial services.
- Familiarity with investment banking workflows deal processes or financial data ecosystems is highly preferred.
- Bachelors degree required; advanced degree in Computer Science Engineering Business or a related field preferred.
Skills & Competencies
- Exceptional communication and executive presence with the ability to influence and build trust with business leaders.
- Strong foundation in product architecture and a history of leading complex multi-stakeholder technology programs.
- Ability to hold both strategic vision and delivery accountability across multiple domains simultaneously.
- A decisive structured leader who can define operating models and create role clarity in ambiguous environments.
- A data-driven decision maker experienced in defining and tracking measures of product value.
- Proven ability to build technically oriented delivery teams spanning product through development.
Our Culture & Growth
When you join Harris Williams you step into a highly collaborative high-expectations environment where individuals are empowered to take ownership and make a visible impact. We value curiosity accountability and a strong team-first mindset.
This is an environment where you will be expected to lean in contribute meaningfully and grow quickly working alongside passionate colleagues who are committed to excellence and continuous improvement.
Additional Information
- This role is based in our Harris Williams Richmond VA office.
- Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
- This description reflects the core responsibilities of the role but is not intended to be all-inclusive. Responsibilities and focus areas may evolve based on business needs.
Disclaimer: Harris Williams will not accept unsolicited resumes from contingency recruiters. Any such resumes received will not be considered as legitimate submissions and Harris Williams will not pay for the placement of a candidate resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Furthermore Harris Williams strictly forbids any contingency recruiter from representing the firm in the market without prior consent
Successful candidates must demonstrate appropriate knowledge skills and abilities for a role. Listed below are skills competencies work experience education and required certifications/licensures needed to be successful in this position.
To learn more about these and other programs including benefits for full time and part-time employees visit.
If an accommodation is required to participate in the application process please contact us via email at . Please include accommodation request in the subject line title and be sure to include your name the job ID and your preferred method of contact in the body of the email. Emails not related to accommodation requests will not receive responses. Applicants may also call and say Workday for accommodation assistance. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
At PNC we foster an inclusive and accessible workplace. We provide reasonable accommodations to employment applicants and qualified individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to perform the essential functions of their positions.
PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race color sex religion national origin age sexual orientation gender identity disability veteran status or other categories protected by law.
This position is subject to the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and for any registered role the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) and/or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) which prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain criminal history.
Required Experience:
Director