Lead Product Manager, New York, (Contractor)

New YorkLab49 – Product and Delivery /Service Provider /HybridLab49 is an award-winning specialist consultancy that creates bespoke technology in partnership with the most important companies in finance. We were founded in 2002 to bring Silicon Valley solutions to Wall Street's door. Since then, we have worked on successive waves of technological change, including distributed computing, high-speed automation, enterprise UX and digital distribution (for which Lab49 was among the first significant practices established on Wall Street), DevOps, cloud and data science.Today, we are an established partner in financial markets, having delivered hundreds of projects for clients including all the world's Tier 1 investment banks and many of the largest buy-side firms globally.Lab49 is seeking a dynamic AI-first Product Leader to spearhead transformative projects across the Financial Services sector for our elite clients. In this pivotal role, you'll drive innovation, deliver high-impact solutions in a cross-functional agile environment, and play a key role in expanding our client relationships and identifying new business opportunities. Your ability to balance product excellence with strategic business growth will be crucial to our continued success.Key Responsibilities: Define and execute product strategy for complex financial services initiatives, aligning roadmaps and features with business objectives Lead cross-functional teams through roadmap execution while maintaining clear communication of priorities and mobilizing around shared outcomes Foster strategic relationships with clients to understand needs, gather feedback, and identify growth opportunities, including upselling and cross-selling Translate intricate financial concepts into actionable product specifications and user-centered solutions in collaboration with UX Apply data-driven decision making and hypothesis-led development to continuously improve product success, delivery, and client satisfaction Navigate complex client ecosystems, building long-term partnerships and identifying opportunities to expand engagements Qualifications: 7+ years of Product Management experience, including senior product roles leading complex initiatives 5+ years' experience in financial services with strong understanding of market trends, personas, and workflows, and the asset management industry Proven ability to manage full product lifecycle from discovery through delivery in complex environments Proven experience defining, launching, and scaling AI-native products, using AI as a primary approach to solving client and user problems, with the ability to make informed trade-offs across model performance, explainability, cost, and adoptionDemonstrated success in consultative selling approaches and building long-term client relationships Strong technical foundation in financial systems architecture and data analytics Exceptional leadership skills with ability to influence stakeholders across organizational levels, and align product direction with strategic goals Bachelor's degree in relevant field with preferred product management certifications Domain Expertise:We work across various financial services domains. For this role, understanding of the asset management industry including investment vehicles, portfolio management processes, investment workflows and key technology platforms serving institutional investors is preferred. Workplace Expectations:At Lab49, we prioritize close collaboration — with each other and with our clients. For this role, we expect a presence of at least 3–4 days per week on-site with clients. We believe that consistent in-person engagement helps build strong partnerships, drives better outcomes, and accelerates growth and innovation. Why Lab49: Join a team of experts pushing the boundaries of Financial Services products. At Lab49, you'll have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects, collaborate with industry leaders, and accelerate your career growth in a dynamic environment. More importantly, you'll play a crucial role in building and nurturing strong, long-lasting relationships with high-profile clients, identifying new business opportunities, and expanding our service offerings within the wealth management sector. Lab49/ION is committed to maintaining a supportive and inclusive environment for people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We respect the varied identities, abilities, cultures, and traditions of the individuals who comprise our organization and recognize the value that different backgrounds and points of view bring to our business.Lab49/ION adheres to an equal employment opportunity policy that prohibits discriminatory practices or harassment against applicants or employees based on any legally impermissible factor. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.