What is a Chief Product Officer? Definition & Overview

Conducting usability testing is a critical part of this process, allowing the team to Software engineering gather feedback from real users and make necessary improvements before the product launch. Additionally, the HoP ensures alignment with customer support to guarantee that the product meets user expectations and addresses any issues that arise post-launch. This collaboration across departments helps create a cohesive approach to product development and market success.

Key Responsibilities of the Head of Product Development

In a nutshell, a CPO leads a product management (PM) team in building great products that deliver sustainable value to the business. From the early stages of developing a new product concept to beyond product launch, a CPO balances the needs and goals of both the product and the business. The Head of Product must understand the principles of good UX design, which include usability, accessibility, and user satisfaction. They collaborate closely with UX/UI designers to ensure that the product meets user expectations and provides a seamless experience.

• In larger companies, a head of product may have to oversee multiple teams and additional layers of management.
• ” These words were famously said by Francis Brown, a product development manager at Alaska Airlines, and they encapsulate the essence of what it means to be the head of the product department.
• Furthermore, the HoP is involved in revenue forecasting to predict the financial impact of product launches and updates.
• No need to rush your application – take your time to ensure it’s a good fit for your career goals.
• Instead of learning all about one user persona, you’ll look for opportunities to share information across the entire team.

VP Marketing and Sales

• The Head of Product is usually one level below the CPO and is responsible for implementing the product strategy across the organization.
• The Head of Product plays a pivotal role in the product development process, beginning with ideation and conceptualization.
• In organizations without a CPO, the Head of Product may take on more strategic functions similar to a CPO​.
• A successful head of product must be comfortable dealing with a bit of uncertainty.
• They play a crucial role in defining the product strategy, setting the product vision, and ensuring the successful execution of product initiatives.

They’ll be involved with a development team and take some responsibility for its progress too, aiming to prove themselves suitable for a senior role in the future. It Head of Product job is one of the oldest adages in the business world that most new product launches fail. Now, depending on where you’re getting your information from, the exact percentage of failed launches can range from 75% to up to 95%!

Growth VP

This includes crafting product vision and strategy, and maintaining that vision through everything produced by the product team. Generally speaking, this position will take on more responsibility, and begin to work more on setting processes and strategies, rather than implementing the day-to-day task of executing those strategies. A product manager may take on responsibility for a specific product or feature (e.g. the news feed for a social media site). The Head of Product, in these cases, would report to the VP of Product and focus more on aligning the product team with company strategy. However, in other organizations, these roles may not coexist, and the title used simply reflects the company’s structure.