Mediabistro logo
job logo

Product Strategist

Promise · Oakland, CA, USA ·

Job type:
Full Time

Product Strategist

Promise is seeking a user and performance obsessed Product Strategist to lead the strategy and development of our flagship product PromisePay, a flexible payments platform for utilities and government agencies.
This role focuses on optimizing enrollment experiences and improving plan performanceensuring that every customer, especially those from low-income or underbanked communities, has a dignified, low-friction way to repay past-due balances and maintain access to essential services.
You'll work cross-functionally to drive enrollment growth, repayment success, and partner satisfaction, while navigating the operational and technical complexities of working with utility CIS systems and government IT environments.
Lead PromisePay Enrollment Experience

Own the end-to-end user journey for enrolling in PromisePay payment plans.
Identify and eliminate friction points that prevent billpayers from completing enrollment, with a focus on accessibility, trust, and usability.
Partner closely with Design and Engineering to deliver fast, intuitive, mobile-first experiences that drive higher conversion rates.
Improve Plan Performance

Design and launch features that boost repayment rates, reduce drop-offs, and increase recovery of missed payments.
Use behavioral data and A/B testing to understand what drives plan success and implement interventions that support sustained repayment.
Partner with Clients and Stakeholders

Collaborate with utility and government partners to ensure product features align with regulatory, compliance, and operational needs.
Translate partner feedback and policy constraints into actionable product requirements that improve client outcomesincluding higher revenue recovery and customer satisfaction.
Leverage Data & Insights

Use analytics platforms like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Fullstory to track and improve key metrics such as enrollment conversion, payment completion rates, and user satisfaction.
Work closely with the Data and CX teams to identify insights that inform roadmap priorities and growth strategies.
Drive Operational and Ethical Excellence

Ensure all payment experiences adhere to privacy, compliance, and ethical standards, maintaining Promise's commitment to dignity, transparency, and trust.
Partner with Engineering and Legal to ensure compliance with PCI DSS, privacy regulations, and local government requirements.
What Will Enable You

38 years of product management experience, ideally in FinTech, payments, or utilities.
Proven track record of improving user flows, driving measurable product outcomes, and launching customer-facing features in complex environments.
Strong analytical and data-driven mindset, with experience leveraging metrics to make decisions and demonstrate impact.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to translate between business, technical, and partner contexts.
Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, design, operations, and partner-facing teams.
Willingness to travel up to 25% to customer or partner sites.
Preferred

Experience with regulated utilities, municipalities, or government programs.
Familiarity with compliance and privacy standards in payments (e.g., PCI DSS, SOC2, HIPAA).
Experience designing for low-income, underbanked, or public-sector populations.
Role Impact

As Product Manager for Payments, you will play a key role in helping millions of Americans avoid disconnection, penalties, or loss of access to essential serviceswhile helping agencies recover revenue efficiently and ethically. Your work will directly influence how public institutions and utilities engage with their communities, turning complex systems into simple, human experiences.
How We Support Our People

100% paid health coverage
Generous PTO and sick leave
Lunch, snacks, and coffee provided
Company retreats
Hybrid Work: We deeply value in-person collaboration and are in-office or on-site at least four days a week.
Promise is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or military or veteran status. Additionally, the Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates. Promise is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, pregnant individuals, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email accommodations@joinpromise.com.
Promise engages in US government contracts and restricts hiring to US persons, which includes US citizens and permanent residents (e.g., Green Card holders). Additionally, candidates must reside in the US.
Promise participates in E-Verify. To learn more, view E-Verify Participation Notice and Right to Work Notice.