Principal Product Manager- AI Strategy

Paylocity is an award-winning provider of cloud-based HR and payroll software solutions, offering the most complete platform for the modern workforce. The company has become one of the fastest-growing HCM software providers worldwide by offering an intuitive, easy-to-use product suite that helps businesses automate and streamline HR and payroll processes, attract and retain talent, and build a strong workplace culture.

While traditional HR and payroll providers automate basic HR processes such as payroll and benefits administration, Paylocity goes further by developing tools that HR and businesses need to compete for talent and deliver against the expectations of the modern workforce.

We give our employees what they need to succeed, including great benefits and perks! We offer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and a 401(k) match, as well as perks that support you, your family, and your finances. And if it’s career development you desire, we provide that, too! At Paylocity, people matter most and have always been at the heart of our business. 

Help Paylocity enhance communication and enable employees to connect, collaborate, and create from anywhere with a position in Product & Technology!

Want to develop the strategies and principles needed to deliver compelling software? Join our team and help us enhance our all-in-one software platform, elevate our one-of-a-kind technology, and improve the employee experience.  

Take your career to the next level at one of G2's Top 100 Software Companies. Explore our Product & Technology positions to see where you fit! 

Position Overview 

Product management is the function that guides every step of a product’s lifecycle — by focusing on the product and its customers first and foremost. Product Managers identify the most valuable problems to solve, enable their team to ship and iterate high-quality solutions quickly, and validate market impact. They leverage customer insights to deeply understand their problems, define the correct backlog priorities and create a clear Product brief.  

We are seeking a visionary and results-driven Principal Product Manager - AI to lead the strategy, development, and execution of our AI product portfolio. You oversee the entire product lifecycle, from ideation through delivery, ensuring alignment with company objectives and market demands. You leverage deep business acumen to make data-driven decisions, prioritize high impact features, and manage complex dependencies across multiple teams. As a thought leader, you will guide and influence cross-functional teams, driving alignment on goals and execution while ensuring that products meet customer needs, security standards, and business outcomes.  

Primary Responsibilities  

The below represents the primary duties of the position, others may be assigned as needed. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Own the end-to-end product lifecycle, managing complex dependencies, risks, and milestones across teams (Engineering, Design, Marketing, etc.) while influencing and driving alignment to successfully execute on the product vision.  
• Strategically balance product, customer, and business considerations, while continuously refining the product roadmap based on data insights and market trends.  
• Act as a strategic customer advocate, driving a deep understanding of customer needs, pain points, lead market research and competitive analysis to inform product strategy, ensuring that the product remains aligned with evolving market demands and anticipates future customer needs.  
• Oversee the delivery of product features with a focus on high-quality execution. Ensure product initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with the highest standards.  
• Identify new market opportunities and lead the development of breakthrough product features and platforms. Champion the development of innovative solutions that differentiate the product in the marketplace, ensuring alignment with long-term strategic goals. 
• Work closely with senior leadership to ensure product strategies align with corporate goals. Mentor and guide other product managers, helping to elevate the team’s capabilities and drive a culture of excellence in product management.  
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners, including vendors, customers, and third-party collaborators. Drive alignment on product goals, manage dependencies, and ensure all partners are aligned on key deliverables and timelines.  
• Communicate the product vision, strategy, and roadmap to executives, stakeholders, and teams. Be a key spokesperson for the product, articulating its value and impact both internally and externally. Evangelize the product’s vision to inspire teams and stakeholders to drive success.  
• Lead the continuous improvement of product management practices, driving innovation in how products are developed, delivered, and iterated. Provide thought leadership across the organization, advocating for best practices and new methodologies in product management. Education and Experience  

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s Degree  
• 12+ years of experience in product management, with a proven track record of owning and delivering complex, high-impact products at scale that result in business outcomes. 
• Deep understanding of AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. This includes working knowledge of AI ethics, data privacy and compliance. 
• Deep understanding of data pipelines, APIs, and AI model deployment. 
• Proven track record of developing and launching successful SaaS based products from introduction to retirement, specifically AI/ML products. 
• Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to align product development with long-term business goals and market trends.  
• Deep expertise in driving customer-centric product strategies, with a strong focus on using customer and market insights to shape product direction.  
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership.  
• Expert in data-driven decision-making, with a strong ability to define, track, and analyze key product metrics to drive continuous improvement.  
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, complex product portfolios and initiatives across multiple teams and functions.  
• Proven experience in mentoring and developing product managers and fostering a high-performance product team culture. 
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate product strategy and vision clearly to diverse audiences, including executives, stakeholders, and teams.  
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, navigating ambiguity and driving clarity in product direction.  
• Experience in shaping and executing the product roadmap in collaboration with stakeholders across various business functions and external partners. 

Paylocity is an equal-opportunity employer. Paylocity is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. At Paylocity, we believe diversity makes us better.
 

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, culture, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We actively cultivate these differences through our employee resource groups (ERGs), employee experiences, perspectives, talents, and approaches to drive innovation in the software and services we provide our customers.
 

We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the job application or interview process, please contact accessibility@paylocity.com. This email address is exclusively designated for such requests, aligning with federal and state disability laws. Please do not send resumes to this email address, as they will be removed. 

The pay range for this position is $212,900 - $276,800 /yr; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This position is eligible for an annual bonus and restricted stock unit grant based on individual performance in addition to a full range of benefits outlined here Benefits Link. This information is provided per the relevant state and local pay transparency laws for the location in which this position will be performed. Base pay information is based on market location. Applicants should apply via www.paylocity.com/careers. 

Fully Remote (U.S. Only): This is a fully remote position, allowing you to work from home or location of record within the U.S. with no in-office requirements.  You must be available five days per week during designated work hours.  The work arrangement for this role is subject to change based on business needs and individual performance. This may include adjustments to on-site requirements or schedule expectations, as necessary. 

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