Forward Deployed Product Manager (SF/NY) at Ode with Anthropic in San Francisco Office

Job description

• Our culture prioritizes impact over hierarchy. While some roles include defined levels to reflect scope and experience, titles remain intentionally simple and consistent. The posted compensation range may cover multiple levels where applicable. Individual offers vary based on level (if relevant), responsibilities, skills, and experience.
• Overview
• Our customers come to us with ambitious, often fuzzy goals — make content moderation faster, customer service cheaper and better, unlock new integrations, automate the workflows no one else can touch.
• Your job is to turn those goals into AI-powered solutions that work in the real world, and to own the journey from first conversation to live system to real business impact.
• Part product manager - you decide what we build and why.
• Part engagement manager - you're the primary face of Ode to the client.
• Part delivery manager - you run the execution motion end-to-end.
• Part “do whatever it takes" operator - you jump into the gaps to keep things moving.

Responsibilities

• Shape what we build and why. Translate ambiguous business problems into crisp problem statements, user journeys, and success metrics - and work with customers to define what "success" actually means.
• Help create demand, not just fulfill it. Jump in early, messy conversations where the project is still a vague idea. Help tease out real pain, sketch solution approaches live, and spot expansion opportunities.
• Turn messy problems into shipped solutions. Translate ambiguous needs into clear requirements, PRDs, and plans for engineers. Shape workflows, edge cases, and evaluation criteria for AI-powered systems.
• Own the client relationship end-to-end. Act as the customer's day-to-day strategic partner and primary point-of-contact, building trust across all levels of the organization and being candid about tradeoffs.
• Drive execution across multiple AI products. Run the day-to-day rhythm including planning, check-ins, risk tracking, and coordinating between clients, engineers, designers, and Ode teammates to keep work unblocked and on time.
• Drive adoption and long-term impact. Work with client teams on rollout, enablement, and change management so the systems you build actually get used. Bring back insights that inform Ode's playbooks and product direction.
• Bring judgment and clarity. When requirements are fuzzy or customers change course, be the person in the room who can say: here's what we're trying to do, here's what we know, here's the plan.

Requirements

• Real product and delivery experience. You've built and shipped products with engineers and designers across multiple cycles. You love to execute and are good at it without building process for the sake of process.
• Client-facing, high-stakes experience. You've led projects where clients were under pressure, stakeholders weren't aligned, and the path wasn't obvious. You're comfortable pushing back, reframing the problem, and holding the line on quality. We typically look for 4+ years in product and consulting/client management or product implementations, operations, or support. However, we care more about what you've done than the label on your resume.
• Structured problem-solving and communication. You ask good questions, structure chaos, and turn ambiguity into a plan - moving from whiteboarding with execs to writing a crisp doc for engineers without losing the plot. You are a clear and direct communicator.
• Bias for action and ownership. You roll up your sleeves and make things happen, whether that's writing a scrappy SQL query, creating a prototype, drafting a support playbook, or jumping into a last-minute exec demo.
• Comfort with ambiguity and intensity. You like high-energy environments, messy problems, and "we haven't done this before" projects. You can juggle multiple client, keep priorities straight, and make good calls with incomplete information. When you don’t know how to do something, you take the initiative to
• AI curiosity, not AI Dogma. You don't need deep AI expertise on day one - you do need strong reasoning, a desire to learn fast, no job too big/small mentality, and a willingness to overuse AI in your own workflow.
• Team-first mentality. You lift others up and actively share best practices and seek to learn from others. You care about winning together.

Skills

Required

• Product and delivery experience
• Client-facing, high-stakes experience
• Bias for action and ownership
• Comfort with ambiguity and intensity
• Team-first mentality

Preferred

• AI curiosity, not AI Dogma

Benefits

• 🏦 Competitive Compensation Package: Attractive salary aligned with your experience and skills.
• 📈 401k with Matching: Invest in your future with our company-matched retirement plan.
• 🌴 Unlimited PTO: Take the time you need to relax and rejuvenate.
• 🏥 Exceptional Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Comprehensive health benefits to keep you and your family healthy.
• 🚑 Health FSA: Manage out-of-pocket health expenses effectively.
• 🚌 Commuter Benefits: Make your travel to work easier and more affordable.
• 🏥 Life Insurance: Providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
• 🎉 Team Events and Activities: Regular events to build camaraderie and a strong team spirit.