Director, Product Management – ML/AI

We are seeking a product leader to own the strategy and execution for our core recommendations team. In this pivotal role, you will relentlessly improve our recommendations system that delivers results for our members by harnessing the power of machine learning, next-gen AI, LLMs, user behavior modeling, and personalization!
The ideal candidate will possess a technical background in machine learning technologies, proven product leadership experience, and a passion for data-driven product innovation.
You will report directly to the SVP of Core Products.
Where you’ll work:This is a hybrid role and requires in-office collaboration three days per week. This position is located in San Francisco, and/or Palo Alto, CA.

In this role, you will:

• Strategic Vision and Leadership:
• Develop and implement a product strategy that brings to bear machine learning and recommendation technologies to deliver personalized and impactful user experiences. Align this strategy with broader business goals to ensure coherence and support from top management. 
• Actively lead and scale a team of hard-working product managers. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Provide mentorship and career development opportunities to team members, ensuring they are motivated and equipped to meet their goals. 
• Work closely with engineering leaders, data science, and other department heads to synchronize efforts and prioritize projects that improve product impact and value. Facilitate seamless communication between teams to avoid silos and ensure everyone is aligned with the product direction. 
• Promote the integration of sophisticated machine learning capabilities across the company’s product suite. Advocate for the adoption of these technologies by demonstrating their impact on enhancing user engagement, personalization, and overall satisfaction, thereby driving competitive advantage.
• Product Development Lifecycle:
• Be responsible for the entire product development lifecycle from concept through launch and beyond. 
• Implement meticulous experimentation processes to assess product stability, performance, and readiness before launch. Post-launch, continuously supervise product performance metrics.
• Establish a feedback loop with customer support to quickly address and rectify user issues, ensuring high satisfaction and retention rates.
• Team member Collaboration:
• Act as the primary recommendations product evangelist and point of contact to build awareness and understanding across all levels of the organization. 
• Collaborate extensively with engineering, data science, analytics, and product teams to create alignments across initiatives. Lead regular cross-functional meetings to review progress, address challenges, and adjust plans as vital to meet strategic goals. 
• Provide transparent and frequent updates to collaborators that highlight goals, progress against goals, and strategic adjustments. Ensure that all team members are engaged in the product’s success and future directions.
• Data-Driven Decision Making:
• Champion a culture of experimentation within the product management team by promoting A/B testing, multivariate tests, and other statistical approaches to decision making. Encourage learning from both successes and failures to continuously improve product offerings. 
• Harness both qualitative and quantitative data to form a complete view of the product landscape. Apply quantitative data to measure user engagement, conversion rates, and other critical metrics, while employing qualitative insights from user feedback, usability testing, and market research to understand user needs and perceptions.

You’ll need:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or an equivalent. Sophisticated knowledge of Machine Learning, Analytics or Data Science preferred. 
• Minimum of 8+ years in product management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role directly overseeing teams that specialize in machine learning or recommendations systems. Demonstrated experience in successfully launching and managing products is essential. 
• Current knowledge of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data analytics platforms. Experience with modern recommendation algorithms, personalization techniques, and predictive modeling is required. 
• Proven track record to lead, inspire, and grow teams in a fast-paced environment. Should possess strong mentoring and coaching skills to foster talent within the team. 
• Strong skills in analytics with the ability to think strategically and translate strategies into actionable plans. Capable of making tough decisions and solving sophisticated problems under pressure. 
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences. Be comfortable presenting to team members and external partners. 
• A deep understanding of user experience, with a track record of developing user-focused products that improve engagement. 
• Dynamic, resourceful, and able to thrive in a changing environment while maintaining focus on key business goals and personal objectives.

Nice to have:

• An interest in large language models and how they can be applied in our recommendation systems. 
• Past experience scaling online marketplaces.

As a full-time employee, you will enjoy:

• Unlimited PTO (with no waiting period), 10 annual Wellness Days
• Time off to volunteer and charitable donations matched up to $15,000 annually
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental coverage
• 100% 401(k) employer match up to 10%, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• 100% paid parental leave (including for non-birthing parents), family forming benefits, and Milk Stork, which provides access to breast milk shipping for business travel, surrogacy, and employee relocation
• Investment in your development: mentorship through our MentorMatch program, access to 6,000+ online courses through Udemy, and an annual $3,000 stipend for your professional development
• Investment in your wellness: access to mental health support via Modern Health, BetterHelp, and Insight Timer; paid concierge medical membership, pet insurance, fitness membership subsidy, and commuter subsidy
• Free subscription to Tinder Gold

Commitment to Inclusion
At Tinder, we don’t just accept difference, we celebrate it. We strive to build a workplace that reflects the rich diversity of our members around the world, and we value unique perspectives and backgrounds. Even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications, we invite you to apply and show us how your skills could transfer. Tinder is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace where we welcome people of all sexes, gender identities, races, ethnicities, disabilities, and other lived experiences. Learn more here: https://www.lifeattinder.com/dei
If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [email protected].