Director, Product Insights & Operations

Risepoint is an education technology company that provides world-class support and trusted expertise to more than 100 universities and colleges. We primarily work with regional universities, helping them develop and grow their high-ROI, workforce-focused online degree programs in critical areas such as nursing, teaching, business, and public service. Risepoint is dedicated to increasing access to affordable education so that more students, especially working adults, can improve their careers and meet employer and community needs. The Product Strategy & Operations team ensures that Risepoint’s product organization is fully connected to and advancing the company’s broader mission and strategy. We sit at the intersection of strategy and operations, helping define where the Product organization should focus, where we compete, which opportunities to pursue, and why those choices matter to our partners and learners. We also help design the structures, processes, and operating models that create the clarity, velocity, and discipline needed to deliver against our priorities. As both strategic partner and integrator, we work across Product, Corporate Strategy, Partnerships, and other teams to ensure alignment on direction, investment, and execution. Our work spans from shaping product and market strategy to building the connective systems that translate bold ideas into tangible, sustained business outcomes. We bring a unique blend of business acumen, strategic insight, operational rigor, and analytical horsepower to everything we do—from shaping product investment decisions and go-to-market strategies to optimizing how teams plan, measure, and deliver impact. The team thrives in ambiguity, transforming complex, cross-functional challenges into structured, actionable plans that accelerate progress toward Risepoint’s mission and growth goals. Job Summary The Director, Product Insights & Operations is a business-oriented and analytical leader who will shape and advance Risepoint’s product strategy. Reporting to the VP of Product Strategy & Operations, this role serves as a trusted partner to senior product and business leaders, bringing structure, insight, and momentum to the organization’s most critical priorities. This individual will oversee the frameworks, processes and insights that guide how we prioritize opportunities, allocate resources, and deliver products that create measurable value for our partners and their students. This role will design and lead product planning and operating mechanisms that bring structure and clarity to complex, high-impact initiatives. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys bringing structure to ambiguity and solving high-impact business challenges. The successful candidate will be comfortable conducting both quantitative and qualitative analysis, building trusted relationships across teams, creating clarity and alignment, and presenting confidently to senior leaders. A background in management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or corporate strategy is strongly preferred. Key Duties and Responsibilities Business Insight & Problem Solving Frame complex business problems, develop structured hypotheses, and conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses to inform decisions on product focus, market opportunities, and investment priorities Translate business and market insights into actionable recommendations that shape product roadmaps and growth strategies Act as a thought partner to Product leadership, helping to shape the short and long-term product direction Business Case Development & Modeling Develop business cases, financial models, and scenario analyses to guide strategic tradeoffs and resource allocation Foster and promote a culture of data-drive decision-making, including supporting efforts to improve the use of data for product decisioning Planning and Execution Develop work plans that clearly articulate objectives and deliverables, define success measures, and outline actions and owners to guide how the Product organization pursues key opportunities Serve as the connector across teams to identify interdependencies, surface risks and enable proactive and timely issue resolution Establish and maintain a planning process that is clear and communicated across stakeholders. Drive cross-functional alignment between stakeholders to ensure strategies and process translate into execution Operational Excellence Design and refine product operating models, planning processes, and decision frameworks (e.g., prioritization) that drive clear accountability, transparent decision-making, and effective execution Identify key metrics that define success and track product performance to enable ongoing, data-driven decision making. Champion best practices in market intelligence, data interpretation, and performance measures Assess processes and systems for inefficiencies, identify tactical actions to improve them, and build alignment among stakeholders to execute Cross Functional Collaboration & Communication Contribute to executive-level communications and strategy materials, including board, leadership, and cross-functional updates Influence without authority, building credibility and trust across multiple teams and stakeholders Engage regularly with peers across other organizations to ensure harmonization of strategy efforts and transparency in outcomes Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA or similar) preferred but not required Experience: 8+ years of relevant professional experience with at least 2 years total at a top-tier management consulting firm, investment bank, or corporate strategy/ product strategy shop Proven experience translating business strategy into actionable plans and operations frameworks. Experience overseeing or leading strategic planning and decisions, business analyses (e.g., business case, investment thesis), and cross-functional initiatives in complex or fast-paced organizations Experience designing or improving operating models, planning processes, or decision frameworks preferred Strong leadership experience communicating and influencing at all levels from individual contributors to senior executives Skills / Knowledge / Abilities Deep business acumen and ability to translate complex data and insights into clear recommendations Strong structured and critical thinking skills; ability to scope and solve ambiguous problems Quantitative fluency with comfort developing business cases, ROI models, and scenario analyses Strategic project management and work-planning skills; able to structure ambiguous problems into clear, actionable workstreams with defined deliverables and milestones Strong storytelling and communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas through compelling narratives, visuals, and data Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills; able to build trust and alignment across functions and seniority levels Executive presence with the confidence to engage senior leaders and cross-functional partners Comfortable operating in ambiguity with a bias toward action and iteration; 80/20 mindset Builder mindset with the ability to thrive in a growing and evolving organization Travel Limited travel as needed for team and leadership meetings – expect 6-12 times per year Risepoint is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an equitable environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws. Risepoint is an equal-opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. Reliable. Empowered. Adaptable. Customer-centric. Heart. These are some of the words that describe Risepoint employees. We have spent the past nearly 20 years helping universities grow by expanding access to affordable, life-changing education for working adults. As an education technology company that provides trusted partnership and expertise to more than 125 universities and colleges, we primarily work with regional universities, helping them create online programs in critical areas such as nursing, teaching, business, and public service. We are dedicated to increasing access to affordable education so that more students can improve their careers and their communities.