Vice President Product Management

Description

Job Scope:

Responsible for developing new, and managing a portfolio of existing deposit, lending, and Non-Interest Income (NII) products throughout the entire product journey and lifecycle. This leader is also responsible for ensuring the portfolio of products enable Sunward to compete in new and existing markets, differentiates Sunward from our competitors, continually increase member satisfaction ratings, generates sustainable and profitable growth, and aligns our product and value proposition with Sunward strategic objectives. This role also requires continual development of our product management methodology, strategic vision, and tactical product roadmaps. Cross-team collaboration is paramount to the success of this role to ensure the development and execution of strategic product and analytical initiatives designed to achieve growth and stability goals.

Essential Functions

• Engage members, non-members, and end users by use of quantifiable feedback to determine desired products, financial needs, and enhancements to the current Sunward’s product line. Collaborate across business units to leverage a voice of member program.
• Utilize relevant market research to assess product and market trends to identify a need or market opportunity. Manage the development, production, roll-out, pricing or promotion of new products or enhancements to existing products or experiences. Recognize, anticipate, and resolve operational and process problems that arise.
• Drive annual production and financial results in collaboration with business units through the selection, design, development and promotion of new and existing products or experiences utilizing traditional and emerging capabilities in technology, operations, and data analytics.
• Develop product dashboards and metrics recommendations in support of analyzing and evaluating product growth and performance. Provide frequent updates on performance.
• Assume "lead" role in product based cross-functional collaboration to develop a clear roadmap of prioritized features and initiatives that deliver against organization’s strategic vision. Own the overall product roadmap from discovery to delivery.
• Develop and implement product development methodology that satisfies the following criteria:
• Accelerate new product time to market to meet industry standards.
• Conduct market research to increase the probability of success.
• Set expectations for all phases of the product development lifecycle.
• Team-based and collaborative approach with business leaders and key stakeholders
• Frequent product reviews for competitive analysis based on market developments. Recommend enhancements to products and potential sunset when applicable.

Requirements

Qualifications:

Experience And Education

• 12+ years of experience in bringing financial services products to market and leading a product management team.
• Experience structuring solutions involving data and advanced analytics.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent mix of education and experience required. Advanced degree preferred. 

Leadership Competencies

• Translates organizational strategy into actionable product priorities and long-term roadmaps.
• Leads the organization through change by communicating a clear vision, managing uncertainty, and fostering adaptability.
• Makes timely, high-quality, data-driven decisions even when faced with ambiguity or incomplete information.
• Encourages experimentation and creative thinking; drives continuous improvement in product methodology and processes.
• Mobilizes cross-functional teams and external partners to achieve shared objectives.
• Builds bench strength by coaching, providing feedback, and creating development opportunities for team members.
• Effectively represents product strategy to senior leadership, the board, regulators, and external partners.
• Models integrity, stewardship, and a strong focus on member experience in all product decisions.

Knowledge

• Expertise in end-to-end product development processes including agile frameworks, go-to-market strategies, and product retirement.
• Familiarity with data platforms, dashboards, and tools for measuring performance, segmentation, and forecasting.
• Knowledge of user research techniques, journey mapping, and customer experience best practices.
• Awareness of digital banking trends, fintech partnerships, API ecosystems, and other innovations affecting product delivery.
• Ability to evaluate business cases, build pro formas, and assess ROI and risk for new initiatives.
• Deep knowledge of retail deposit, lending, and non-interest income (NII) products, pricing structures, and profitability levers preferred.
• Understanding of federal and state regulations affecting credit unions and banks (e.g., Truth in Savings, Reg Z, Reg E, BSA/AML) preferred.

Skills/Abilities

• Strong leadership ability, including mentorship, development, and growth of a team of highly capable professionals.
• Highly skilled in cross-functional collaboration by developing deep relationships and credibility with key partners across the organization.
• Exceptional member interaction and relationship management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate professionally at all levels including executive management and board of directors.
• Ability to identify key data sources and utilize data-driven insights to improve business decisions effectively.
• Ability to build strategies aligned with business goals and organizational culture.
• Expert critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to synthesize research and data that tells an accurate and compelling story.
• Strong project, time, and resource management and problem-solving skills to deliver projects and execute initiatives on-time in a fast-paced environment.
• Forward-thinking and creative individual with the ability to perform strategically.
• Models the desired culture and values of Sunward.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Primarily a professional office environment with frequent use of standard office equipment (computer, phone, printer, projector).
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer with regular reading of reports, spreadsheets, and digital displays.
• Occasional standing, walking, reaching, and moving around during meetings or presentations.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds (e.g., laptops, presentation materials).
• Occasional travel to branch locations, partner sites, conferences, or offsite meetings (approximately 5–15%).
• Fast-paced, dynamic environment requiring the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Hybrid or flexible work arrangements may be available based on organizational policy.