Head of Product Development Strategy, Senior Vice President

About the role

Citi is seeking a strategic, high-energy leader to serve as the principal strategist and execution partner to the Head of Product Development Transformation. This pivotal role will drive the design, buildout, and global scaling of Citi's modernized Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC). The ideal candidate brings consulting-caliber problem-structuring ability, deep product management expertise, and organizational savvy to drive adoption across a large, matrixed global institution. This role works alongside cross-functional partners—Business Heads, Product Leaders, Technology, Operations, Finance, Risk, Controls, and HR—to embed the PDLC framework into Citi’s daily operations.

This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution and is energized by building something new at enterprise scale.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) Leadership: Own the strategic architecture and ongoing evolution of the enterprise PDLC framework. Lead its design, global scaling, and operationalization, including sequencing, stakeholder engagement, change management, and adoption tracking.
• Program & Portfolio Oversight: Direct the planning, coordination, and management of a portfolio of strategic programs. Facilitate and arbitrate cross-functional macro-level topics, ensuring program scope, business case alignment, and benefits realization meet organizational objectives.
• Execution & Risk Management: Drive adherence to program processes, procedures, methods, and standards for consistent delivery. Lead the identification and resolution of complex issues and proactively manage program risks, developing and executing robust mitigation strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Cultivate trusted relationships with senior leaders across business, product, technology, operations, finance, risk, controls, and HR to foster alignment and accelerate adoption. Ensure clear and timely communication of program status, issues, and risks to all stakeholders, including senior management.
• Resource & Vendor Management: Negotiate for and secure necessary resources from various departments, ensuring appropriate program staffing and commitment. Monitor vendor performance and take corrective actions as warranted.
• Enablement & Performance Measurement: Develop enterprise-grade playbooks, toolkits, training curricula, and communities of practice to empower teams in adopting new models. Oversee pilot programs for iterative refinement of PDLC components. Define, track, and report on KPIs measuring PDLC adoption maturity, delivery velocity, and business impact to executive dashboards.
• Organizational & Financial Stewardship: Exercise shared responsibility for budget management, policy formulation, and strategic planning. Manage functional teams, including performance evaluation and personnel actions.
• Compliance & Ethical Conduct: Proactively assess and mitigate risks in business decisions, prioritizing the firm’s reputation and safeguarding Citi’s clients and assets. Ensure rigorous compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, adhere to company policies, and uphold sound ethical judgment in all business practices, escalating control issues with full transparency.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in management consulting, enterprise transformation, product management, operating model design, or delivery modernization. A background with a top-tier consulting firm is strongly preferred.
• Deep fluency in product management disciplines, product operating models, and the product development life cycle, ideally within a global financial institution.
• Demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous, complex problems into clear, actionable plans.
• Proven track record of driving large-scale change programs from design through adoption, including stakeholder alignment, change management, and measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels, from working teams to the C-Suite.
• An enterprise mindset with the ability to navigate complexity, competing priorities, and organizational dynamics.
• A bias for action, a strong sense of accountability, and a focus on delivering measurable results.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s/University degree or equivalent experience; Master's degree preferred.

Benefits

• Hybrid working model with 3 days in the office and 2 days working remotely.
• Direct strategic influence at the highest levels of the organization, with visibility and partnership across business, technology, and executive leadership.
• Ownership of a flagship enterprise transformation agenda, offering meaningful accountability and long-term career impact.
• Access to continuous learning and leadership development opportunities.
• Competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401(k) plan.
  • Life, accident, and disability insurance.
  • Wellness programs.
  • Paid time off packages, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Wellbeing and family support resources to help manage the demands of a senior leadership role sustainably.
• A performance-driven environment that values outcomes, rewards initiative, and provides autonomy to make an impact.

Pay

Full-time salary range: $163,600.00 - $245,400.00. In addition to salary, eligible employees may receive discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards.

Schedule

Full time. Hybrid model: 3 days in the office (New York, NY) and 2 days remote.