Product Lead Practitioner

Accountabilities: Lead and contribute to product assessments for investment firms and portfolio companies across the EMEA investment lifecycle, from pre-close due diligence through post-close value creation and exit preparation. Evaluate product strategy, roadmaps, go-to-market approaches, competitive positioning, and defensibility across EMEA markets. Assess the practical application of AI and machine learning within products, distinguishing genuine capabilities from surface-level positioning and identifying implications for competitive advantage, risk, and value creation. Analyse product-market fit, customer segmentation, expansion opportunities, localisation requirements, and the assumptions behind growth projections. Review product organisation structures, delivery capabilities, execution track records, and readiness for growth across distributed and international teams. Conduct primary research through executive interviews, customer discovery conversations, expert networks, and relevant market research. Synthesise documentation, customer evidence, market data, interviews, and competitive intelligence into structured, investment-grade deliverables. Present complex product, technology, and market dynamics clearly to investment teams, investment committees, operating partners, and senior company leadership. Advise product leaders on strategy, prioritisation, localisation, organisational capabilities, and product development following investment. Requirements 15+ years of product management experience, including substantial experience in senior or executive leadership positions such as Director, VP, CPO, or equivalent. Strong experience within B2B software or SaaS businesses operating across EMEA or international markets. Demonstrated success shipping products at scale, with ownership of product strategy, roadmap prioritisation, and cross-functional delivery in agile environments. Hands-on experience developing or leading AI/ML-powered products, including defining AI strategy, evaluating build/partner/buy decisions, managing model-related risks, and addressing data protection, user trust, and customer experience considerations. Ability to critically assess AI strategies from an external perspective, including data assets, model dependencies, technical differentiation, competitive exposure, responsible AI practices, regulatory considerations, and the realism of AI-driven product plans. Strong analytical skills and the ability to use market research, customer data, competitive intelligence, and regional market signals to develop evidence-based conclusions. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex product and technology topics into concise narratives for senior, non-technical audiences. Broad experience across enterprise software, B2B SaaS, and the full product lifecycle, from discovery and delivery through growth and expansion. Experience working across multiple EMEA markets, ideally within distributed, multicultural, or multilingual environments. Comfortable operating in fast-paced, ambiguous situations involving multiple markets, stakeholders, and time zones, with a high level of accountability for the quality of deliverables. Experience in management consulting, investment due diligence, or advisory work with private equity-backed businesses is preferred. Familiarity with private equity investment models, transaction processes, and technology value creation frameworks is advantageous. Experience supporting software companies through rapid growth, operational improvement, international expansion, or M&A is a plus. Sector expertise in areas such as FinTech, HealthTech, GovTech, LegalTech, MarTech, HR Tech, industrial software, or compliance-focused technology is desirable. Experience building or scaling product organisations across distributed teams is beneficial, as is exposure to sell-side advisory, exit preparation, or investor-facing product storytelling. Benefits Fully remote working arrangement from anywhere in Europe. Opportunity to work across diverse EMEA markets, technology businesses, and investment situations. Exposure to senior investment professionals, operating partners, portfolio company executives, and product leaders. High-impact advisory work spanning product strategy, AI, technology transformation, growth, and value creation. Variety of engagements across different industries, business models, markets, and stages of the investment lifecycle. Opportunity to apply senior-level product expertise to strategic and investment-critical decisions. Collaborative environment grounded in service, curiosity, credibility, commitment, and creativity. Flexible international working environment designed to support collaboration across multiple markets and time zones.