roles
Staff Product Manager
Primary Role:
High-leverage IC solving complex, ambiguous problems across domains
Reporting Relations:
Reports to Director/VP
Decision Making Authority:
Influences roadmap across multiple teams
Stratigic Planning
Shapes strategy at portfolio level
Team Management:
None formally; mentors PMs
Meeting Involvment:
Executive-facing contributor
Project Management:
Drives complex cross-functional programs
Communication:
Communicates with execs and senior stakeholders
Professional Development:
→ Principal PM / Director
Group Product Manager (GPM)
Primary Role:
Manages multiple PMs and owns a product portfolio
Reporting Relations:
Reports to Director/VP
Decision Making Authority:
Roadmap authority across portfolio
Stratigic Planning
Drives portfolio-level planning
Team Management:
Manages 2–5 PMs
Meeting Involvment:
Leadership team contributor
Project Management:
Oversees parallel product tracks
Communication:
Org-wide alignment
Professional Development:
→ Director of Product
Lead Product Manager
Primary Role:
Leads a product area and coordinates other PMs without formal people management
Reporting Relations:
Reports to Director
Decision Making Authority:
Final call on roadmap within area
Stratigic Planning
Drives planning within product area
Team Management:
May coordinate 1–2 PMs (informal)
Meeting Involvment:
Facilitates roadmap reviews
Project Management:
Manages multi-stream launches
Communication:
Primary cross-functional voice
Professional Development:
→ GPM / Director