Head of Product Strategy & Development, The Bike Shop at the University of Chicago

Department

Harris School Bike Shop

About the Department

The Bike Shop seeks to solve society’s most pressing challenges by designing and scaling advanced algorithms—particularly AI—that enhance human capacity, not simply automate tasks. The center develops new behaviorally-informed AI technologies through foundational research, builds the tools and interventions that drive measurable social impact, and trains the next generation of scholars at the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and public policy. By translating advances into scalable, actionable solutions, the center empowers governments and institutions to achieve outcomes traditional approaches cannot.

Job Summary

The Head of Product Strategy & Development leads The Bike Shop’s end-to-end lifecycle of products that sit at the frontier of human-AI collaboration. Rooted in the conviction that algorithms and AI should enhance — not replace — human capability, The Bike Shop develops computing tools that serve as true “bicycles for the mind”— scaling the reach, consistency, and effectiveness of human decision-making. Reporting to The Bike Shop’s leadership, this role is responsible for translating cutting-edge research in AI and algorithmic innovation into rigorous product strategies, working prototypes, and partner-ready solutions. The Head of Product Strategy & Development will bridge The Bike Shop’s research and real-world impact by stewarding tight feedback loops between discovery, development, and deployment — ensuring that the lab’s most promising ideas are realized in tangible working products. The Head of Product Strategy & Development will supervise engineers, developers, and other team members working on product. This person will also perform other related work as needed, including supporting The Bike Shop leadership with mission-critical initiatives around impact and stakeholder engagement

Responsibilities

• Own the full product lifecycle from initial discovery and problem framing through iterative design, prototyping, and delivery.
• Develop clear product roadmaps that align research capabilities with user needs and organizational priorities.
• Lead user research, define user stories, and translate insights into testable prototypes and minimum viable products.
• Champion a product culture that embraces novelty and pursues genuinely new approaches — building tools that expand the frontier of what human-AI collaboration can achieve.
• Stay current with developments in AI, machine learning, and human-computer interaction to identify opportunities for breakthrough product concepts.
• Develop structured frameworks for assessing and prioritizing breakthrough product ideas
• Serve as a technically fluent product manager, capable of evaluating technical feasibility and engaging deeply with engineering and research teams.
• Assess and validate technical constraints, architecture decisions, and build-vs-partner tradeoffs throughout the product lifecycle.
• Maintain detailed product documentation, sprint planning, and delivery processes appropriate for a research-to-product environment.
• Create and maintain bi-directional feedback loops between The Bike Shop’s research teams and product development work — translating research breakthroughs into product opportunities and channeling real-world user insights back into the research agenda.
• Collaborate closely with researchers and data scientists to understand the capabilities and limitations of new algorithms and AI systems.
• Facilitate regular cross-functional syncs to ensure alignment between research priorities, product strategy, and stakeholder needs.
• Mentor, grow, and lead a high-performance product and engineering team; set ambitious goals, foster trust, and celebrate success.
• Take initiative on mission-critical projects, collaborating with leadership on impact measurement and stakeholder engagement.
• Make key decisions on hiring, resource allocation, and product direction.
• Identify pathways to bring Bike Shop products and tools to market/scale, including partnerships with academic institutions, industry, and government stakeholders.
• Develop go-to-market strategies that account for both the novelty and social impact of frontier AI-enhanced products.
• Define and track product-market fit metrics, pricing considerations, and adoption strategies in collaboration with leadership. Manages the development of intellectual portfolio patenting, licensing, commercialization activities, and marketing plans. Contributes to the strategic direction and expansion of new initiatives, policies, and procedures. 
• Maintains strong relationships with inventors, legal counsel, prospective and actual licensees, and colleagues to advance strategic priorities. Communicates and collaborates with internal and external community members and leadership to achieve strategic priorities.
• Provides training and mentorship in intellectual property, negotiation, licensing, and commercialization activities to employees. Reviews and approves agreements.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent professional degree) in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Business, Economics, or a related field.

Experience:

• Demonstrated ownership of complex products from concept to launch.
• Experience working in or alongside technical teams, with the ability to engage substantively on questions of software architecture, data systems, or AI/ML product development.
• Track record of successfully bringing new products or solutions to market, including experience with go-to-market strategy, user research, and iterative prototyping.
• Experience working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments — such as early-stage startups, research labs, or innovation-focused teams — where products are novel and processes are not yet fully defined.
• 7+ years of experience in product management, go-to-market strategy (especially for technology), business development, strategic partnerships, management consulting, or a related field.
• Proven track record managing teams of 5+ direct reports, setting ambitious goals, and motivating teams to overachieve on large, complex initiatives from end to end.
• Experience working with new product or service teams to build frontier products, with a demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and create structure in undefined problem spaces.
• Experience in commercialization, business development, or strategic partnerships — including developing, negotiating, and executing partnership agreements that expand a product’s reach and impact.
• Experience working with state and local government, educational institutions, or social impact-oriented organizations.
• Startup experience, or experience at a VC/PE-backed firm.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience owning and driving roadmap strategy and definition, with the ability to make and communicate clear tradeoffs across competing priorities.
• Experience working directly with engineers on product enhancements and feature delivery.
• Knowledge of generative AI, AI/ML applications, and industry trends; experience in AI products and technology is a strong plus.
• Background working with enterprise software, cloud, or B2B software environments.
• Experience establishing operational frameworks and metrics for new or growing teams.

Preferred Competencies

• Highly analytical, with structured thinking and strong business judgment — able to break down complex problems and advise senior leadership with confidence.
• Strong commercial acumen and a knack for identifying opportunities to better serve users and partners, with the ability to influence toward deepening institutional relationships.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills; proven ability to build trust quickly with diverse stakeholders — from researchers to executives to external partners.
• Effective communicator who can translate complex technical solutions for diverse audiences and build a strong internal and external presence for the work.
• Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments; energized by building something genuinely new.

Job Family

Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$150,000.00 - $180,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

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