Vice President, Product Management

Forward Financing is a Boston-based financial technology company with an operational hub in the Dominican Republic, on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is investing in its employees, technology, and customer experience – with long-term success in mind every step of the way.

As Vice President of Product Management, you will spearhead product vision and strategy, working in close partnership with the CTO to ensure seamless alignment between product innovation and technological capabilities. You'll collaborate with business units to launch omni-channel credit products, taking a customer-first approach to understanding merchant, broker, and partner needs. This role requires driving strategy with data and third-party insights, alongside critical thinking and systems design for effective problem-solving and workflow mapping.

The VP will foster cross-functional partnerships, champion process optimization, and own the product development lifecycle with agile delivery. This leader demonstrates full-stack product leadership, building and inspiring a high-performing product organization, and leveraging AI for accelerated development through GenAI practices.

In this role you will:

• Drive product vision and strategy - Collaborate with Business Unit leaders to craft long-term product strategies, ensuring roadmaps directly support company objectives and financial targets.

• Orchestrate Omni-Channel Credit Product Launches - Partner with key business stakeholders to develop and execute comprehensive plans for launching innovative credit offerings across multiple channels.

• Foster a Customer-First Product Culture – Instill a deep understanding of merchant, broker, and partner needs across the product lifecycle, driving the creation of intuitive and impactful digital solutions.

• Drive strategy through Data & Insights – Actively research and integrate emerging third-party data sources (bank transaction APIs, e-commerce, POS, payroll, fraud, accounting, etc.) to enhance and unlock new product features.

• Bring deep critical-thinking & systems-design mindset – Able to deconstruct ambiguous product challenges.  Map end-to-end workflows and craft pragmatic, scalable solutions that balance speed, risk, and business impact.

• Instill elite cross-functional partnership practices – Serve as the connective tissue between Engineering, Risk, Credit, Underwriting, Operations, Compliance, Sales, and Finance.

• Have an eye toward process optimization and a strong bias for action - Own the end-to-end product-development lifecycle in close partnership with Engineering. Champion a pragmatic, action-oriented culture that balances speed with discipline and delivers high-quality outcomes.

• Exhibit Agile delivery excellence – Drive sprint cadence, backlog prioritization, and release management in concert with Engineering; remove blockers and ensure high-quality, on-time delivery.

• Display strength in Full-Stack Product Leadership – Seamlessly pivot between high-level strategic vision and hands-on, "in the weeds" deep dives into key initiatives, providing clear tactical guidance while orchestrating the overall product portfolio toward cohesive, strategic outcomes.

• Build, develop and inspire a top performing Product organization – Hire, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of product managers and designers; cultivate a culture of ownership, accountability, experimentation, and continuous improvement.

• Leverage AI for Accelerated Product Development: Embed GenAI practices throughout the product lifecycle to improve efficiencies.

Requirements:

(Even if you don’t check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply.)

• At least 10  years of product-management experience, including 5 + years leading PM teams in fintech or alt-lending

• Possess deep expertise in credit origination

• Proven track record of launching Small Medium Business (SMB) origination products is a huge plus

• Hands-on experience

• Experience with implementing decision-engine and loan management systems

• Proven ability to partner with Engineering leadership to deliver modular origination platforms, with deep understanding of SDLC best practices

• Strong command of Agile/Scrum methodologies

• Deep understanding of product-metrics design (activation, funnel conversion, loss-rate etc) 

• Proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities in a high-growth environment 

• Executive-level communication skills—able to write crisp PRDs, influence at the executive level, and articulate trade-offs to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike.

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or MS-Finance/Analytics a plus.

• Drive the Mission - We believe in financial opportunity for underserved small businesses. We say “yes” when others say “no.”

• Keep It Real - We value direct communication, candid feedback, and authenticity. We are an open book.

• Act with Kindness - We create an environment where caring is cool and helping is the norm. We do the right thing.

• Shoot for Extraordinary - We are inspired by innovative thinking and continuous improvement. We never settle for yesterday’s best.

About Us:

Forward Financing is a financial technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts with an operational hub in Santiago, Dominican Republic, on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Whether facing challenges accessing traditional financing or simply needing a convenient, flexible solution, Forward is committed to funding more of the millions of small businesses nationwide. Forward offers revenue-based financing – delivering an upfront sum of working capital in exchange for a set amount of the business’s future revenue. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward is often able to deliver approvals within hours and funds that same day – giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward has expanded access to capital by providing over $3.5 billion in funding to more than 71,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau with an Excellent / 4.7 stars rating on Trustpilot.com. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is dedicated to empowering both its team and the customers they serve, helping them succeed and thrive.

Perks & Benefits:

At Forward, our team members are at the heart of our company, and we are committed to taking care of them as people, not just employees. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, and commuter benefits, a flexible time-off policy, paid parental leave, 401k match for US employees, wellness reimbursement, volunteering days, annual professional development budget, and charitable donation match.

Workplace flexibility is a top priority at Forward too. Our Employee Choice policy means that almost all of our employees get to decide where they work. As a business, we are focused on impact; we are more concerned with your contributions to the success of the company than where you get your work done. If face-to-face time is desired, people managers are empowered to find a cadence that works for their team. 

When we aren’t collaborating to drive business and support our customers, we’re finding virtual and in-person ways to get to know our colleagues, celebrate team wins, and have fun together! 

U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Information

Forward Financing is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to fostering a fair and inclusive culture built on a foundation of high performance and exceptional customer experience. With a laser focus on employee impact, we’re able to reduce biases and ensure the right people are in the right jobs to contribute to our mission. The varied perspectives of our people fuel innovation and make us a stronger team. By embracing what makes each of us unique, we create a supportive environment where people feel valued, accepted, and empowered to thrive.

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