Forward Deployed Product Manager

About the Role

This is a high-ownership, generalist role working directly alongside the founding team of an early-stage govtech startup building AI-powered software for state and local governments. You'll operate across strategy, product, and operations — helping shape the company from the ground up at a critical stage of growth. The work is meaningful: better technology for government means real impact on how public services are delivered.

What You'll Do

• Partner closely with the founder across strategic, operational, and fundraising initiatives.
• Take end-to-end ownership of key projects to help run and scale the business efficiently.
• Implement AI-native tooling across the full business to build a lean, fast, and scalable organization.
• Contribute to 0-to-1 product and company-building efforts alongside a small, high-impact founding team.
• Help drive the mission of making government agencies meaningfully more effective through technology.

What We're Looking For

• 4–10+ years of experience, including time at a large technology company (FAANG or equivalent tier).
• Early-stage startup experience (Seed through Series B) with demonstrated 0-to-1 building capability.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the early-stage environment — moving fast, wearing many hats, and putting in the hours.
• Hands-on experience with AI tools and workflows; willingness to learn and work with tools like Claude Code.
• Mission-driven mindset with real interest in improving the public sector through technology.
• Strong academic foundation — undergraduate degree from a well-regarded university.
• Experience in or exposure to state/city government agencies, or consulting with public sector clients, is a plus.
• Background as a chief of staff is a nice-to-have.
• No visa sponsorship available — must be authorized to work in the US.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $130,000 – $220,000 USD annually. Equity participation expected given the early-stage nature of the role. Visa sponsorship: not available.

Location

On-site in New York City, NY, five days per week.