Director, Product Operations
Samba TV
Product, Operations
New York, NY, USA
Posted on Aug 27, 2025
Samba TV tracks streaming and broadcast video across the world with our proprietary data and technology. We are on a mission to fundamentally transform the viewing experience for everyone. Our data enables media companies to connect with audiences for new shows and movies, and enables advertisers to engage viewers and measure reach across all their devices. We have an amazing story with a unique perspective on culture formed by a global footprint of data and AI-driven insights.
We are seeking an exceptional Director of Product Operations to serve as the operational backbone and strategic force multiplier for our Chief Product Officer and the entire Product Organization. This critical leadership role will drive operational excellence across our product portfolio while ensuring seamless execution of our product strategy from ideation through launch and beyond.
The Director of Product Operations will act as the connective tissue between Product, Engineering, Data Science, Sales, Marketing, and other key stakeholders—orchestrating cross-functional alignment, establishing scalable processes, and enabling our product teams to deliver maximum customer and business impact. This is a unique opportunity to shape how our product organization operates at scale while directly influencing our company's strategic direction.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Strategic Program Management & Organizational Excellence
- Serve as strategic partner to the CPO, providing analytical insights, operational leverage, and execution leadership to drive product organization's strategic initiatives
- Collaborate with technical PMO in Engineering to ensure seamless coordination while maintaining clear ownership of product-side operations
- Design and implement scalable operational frameworks that enable the organization to operate with clarity, speed, and accountability
- Lead quarterly and annual planning processes to facilitate strategic alignment across all product lines with clear prioritization of initiatives
- Drive development and communication of product strategy throughout the organization, translating complex technical and business concepts for diverse audiences
Launch Planning & Cross-Functional Orchestration
- Own the product launch framework and process, coordinating across Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success to ensure flawless execution
- Lead war rooms for critical launches, serving as central command for cross-functional coordination and rapid decision-making
- Create feedback loops between launch outcomes and product strategy to ensure continuous improvement in launch effectiveness
Inter-Departmental Communication & Alignment
- Act as chief liaison between Product Organization and other departments, ensuring clear, consistent, and timely communication of product plans, changes, and outcomes
- Design and facilitate regular forums for cross-functional alignment including steering committees, business reviews, and strategic planning sessions
- Establish feedback mechanisms that bring market, customer, and operational insights back to product teams in actionable formats
Strategic Research & Vision Development
- Partner with CPO to develop and articulate product vision, translating strategic intent into operational reality
- Lead special projects and strategic initiatives that shape the future direction of the product organization
- Synthesize complex data from multiple sources to provide actionable insights for executive decision-making
Performance Management & Analytics
- Define and track key performance indicators across the product portfolio, creating visibility into product health, team performance, and strategic progress
- Build and maintain executive dashboards providing real-time insights into product metrics, operational efficiency, and business impact
- Lead operational reviews that assess performance, identify bottlenecks, and drive corrective actions
WHO YOU ARE
- 10+ years of experience in product operations, program management, or strategy consulting at high-growth technology companies
- Proven track record of driving operational transformation and scaling product organizations through rapid growth
- Direct experience working with C-level executives and board members as a trusted strategic advisor
- Deep understanding of modern product development methodologies including Agile, Lean, and continuous delivery practices
- Strategic thinking ability that connects big picture vision to operational details
- World-class program management skills for complex cross-functional initiatives with multiple stakeholders
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with ability to craft compelling narratives and influence without authority
- Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills to synthesize complex data into clear insights and recommendations
- Systems thinking approach to design and optimize complex operational frameworks that balance efficiency with flexibility
- Executive presence with confidence and credibility to represent the product organization in high-stakes situations
- Proficiency with modern product management tools (Jira, Productboard, Confluence, Miro, Slack) and data visualization platforms (Tableau, Looker, Databricks)
- Strong understanding of technical architecture, APIs, and system integrations
- MBA or advanced degree in relevant field (preferred)
- Experience in media/ad tech businesses (preferred)
- Background in management consulting, particularly in technology or operations practices (preferred)
- Experience with AI/ML products and understanding of data platform architectures (preferred)
- Track record of building product operations functions from scratch (preferred)
- Intellectual curiosity with growth mindset and passion for continuous learning
- High emotional intelligence with ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics
- Comfort with ambiguity and ability to bring structure to undefined problems
- Strong bias for action balanced with thoughtful analysis
- Natural collaborator who builds trust quickly and maintains strong relationships
- Self-awareness and humility combined with confidence to challenge the status quo
Samba TV is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We strive to empower connection with one another, reflect the communities we serve, and tackle meaningful projects that make a real impact.
Samba TV may collect personal information directly from you, as a job applicant, Samba TV may also receive personal information from third parties, for example, in connection with a background, employment or reference check, in accordance with the applicable law. For further details, please see Samba's Applicant Privacy Policy. For residents of the EU , Samba Inc. is the data controller.