Product Lead Practitioner

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Product Lead Practitioner based in Italy. As a Product Lead Practitioner, you will advise investors and technology leaders on high-impact product and technology decisions across EMEA. You will assess product strategy, AI capabilities, market positioning, and growth opportunities throughout the investment lifecycle. Working closely with investment teams, operating partners, and portfolio company executives, you will turn complex product and market information into clear, actionable insights. The role combines senior product leadership experience with strategic advisory and analytical work in a fast-moving environment. You will evaluate products across different markets, cultures, customer segments, and regulatory contexts. You will also support portfolio companies with product strategy, prioritisation, localisation, and capability development following investment. This is an opportunity to apply deep product expertise to consequential business and investment decisions across diverse technology businesses. \n Accountabilities - Lead and contribute to product assessments for investment firms and portfolio companies across the EMEA investment lifecycle, from pre-close due diligence through post-close value creation and exit preparation. - Evaluate product strategy, roadmaps, go-to-market approaches, competitive positioning, and defensibility across EMEA markets. - Assess the practical application of AI and machine learning within products, distinguishing genuine capabilities from surface-level positioning and identifying implications for competitive advantage, risk, and value creation.

- Analyse product-market fit, customer segmentation, expansion opportunities, localisation requirements, and the assumptions behind growth projections. - Review product organisation structures, delivery capabilities, execution track records, and readiness for growth across distributed and international teams. - Conduct primary research through executive interviews, customer discovery conversations, expert networks, and relevant market research. - Synthesise documentation, customer evidence, market data, interviews, and competitive intelligence into structured, investment-grade deliverables. - Present complex product, technology, and market dynamics clearly to investment teams, investment committees, operating partners, and senior company leadership. - Advise product leaders on strategy, prioritisation, localisation, organisational capabilities, and product development following investment. Requirements - 15+ years of product management experience, including substantial experience in senior or executive leadership positions such as Director, VP, CPO, or equivalent. - Strong experience within B2B software or SaaS businesses operating across EMEA or international markets. - Demonstrated success shipping products at scale, with ownership of product strategy, roadmap prioritisation, and cross-functional delivery in agile environments. - Hands-on experience developing or leading AI/ML-powered products, including defining AI strategy, evaluating build/partner/buy decisions, managing model-related risks, and addressing data protection, user trust, and customer experience considerations. - Ability to critically assess AI strategies from an external perspective, including data assets, model dependencies, technical differentiation, competitive exposure, responsible AI practices, regulatory considerations, and the realism of AI-driven product plans. - Strong analytical skills and the ability to use market research, customer data, competitive intelligence, and regional market signals to develop evidence-based conclusions.