Deployment Strategist Lead

Have you struggled to reserve that coveted summer camping spot at a state park? Wondered why you’re still filling out a paper form at the DMV? Or tried (and failed) to book your favorite pickleball court from your phone?

Kaizen Labs is rebuilding the government’s digital front door - bringing modern, people-first software to the public services millions of Americans rely on every day. From parks & recreation and permitting to licensing and payments, we’re replacing outdated systems with intuitive, beautiful technology designed for residents and the public servants who serve them.

Our platform now powers over 50 agencies across 17 states, reaching more than 30 million residents. Recent partners include Maricopa County (AZ), San Bernardino County (CA), and the Cherokee Nation. In Maryland, our platform helped eliminate seven-mile traffic jams at state parks, saving hundreds of thousands in costs and dramatically improving the visitor experience.

Founded in 2022 and based in New York City, Kaizen has raised $35 million from world-class investors, including NEA, Andreessen Horowitz, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital.

We’re a team of builders, designers, and operators redefining what it means to serve the public in the digital age - and we’re just getting started.

This is a hybrid role based out of our New York City HQ. Candidates must reside in New York or be able to commute to New York City to work out of our office at least three times a week (Tuesdays - Thursdays).

We’re looking for a Product-Led Deployment Lead to serve as the connective tissue between our customers and our Engineering, Product, and Design (EPD) org. In this high-impact role, you’ll lead complex customer launches, shape product direction through frontline insights, and help scale mission-critical implementations nationwide. You’ll operate with autonomy, build trusted customer relationships, and drive cross-functional execution that makes a real difference for public institutions. This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of deployment, product, and strategy - and who wants to stay close to both user impact and technical execution.

• You’ve led high-stakes customer deployments in ambiguous environments where you had to set the direction and do the work

• You’re equally comfortable in the weeds of a technical workflow as you are framing strategy for a non-technical audience

• You think in systems - not just about shipping software, but how it gets used, scaled, and improved over time

• You’re energized by creating clarity, mentoring teammates, and delivering outcomes in messy, fast-moving contexts

• You care deeply about public institutions and believe great software can help them better serve their communities

• Own mission-critical deployments: Lead complex, high-priority customer launches from scoping to go-lives - including technical setup, workflow mapping, and stakeholder alignment

• Be the frontline voice of the user: Serve as the bridge between customers and the EPD team, translating real-world needs into actionable product feedback and roadmap input

• Drive cross-functional execution: Partner with design, engineering, and sales to bring clarity to messy problems, resolve blockers, and ensure teams are aligned

• Lead with urgency and empathy: Whether it’s jumping on a call to debug a data sync or crafting a last-minute training deck, you’ll do what it takes to make customers happy and successful

• Scale what works: Build and refine implementation playbooks, internal tools, and training materials to level up how we deploy software as a team

• Coach and grow others: Mentor other deployment strategists and help onboard new hires, sharing your expertise on configuration, communications, and customer strategy

• Champion user impact: Serve as a trusted advisor to public sector leaders, helping them not just adopt Kaizen, but reimagine how they deliver services to their communities

• 5 - 8 years of experience in software implementation, deployment, or product-facing roles (e.g., Implementation Lead, Product Manager, Solutions Architect, or something similar)

• Proven success leading large, complex software rollouts, especially in government, civic tech, healthcare, or other industries with legacy systems

• A track record of working in flat, fast-paced organizations where you had to both lead and execute

• Strong technical fluency and the ability to translate customer problems into product requirements, influence product direction through structured feedback, and collaborate effectively with engineers

• Outstanding communication skills across stakeholders - from frontline staff to C-level leaders

• Experience building scalable processes, tools, or documentation that improved implementation outcomes

• A high-slope growth mindset, you’re a fast learner who thrives in ambiguity and doesn’t wait for permission to act

• Comfort with project management and tooling (e.g., Jira, Linear, Asana, Monday)

Base Salary is $150k - $200k

🩺 Comprehensive Health Coverage

We offer Silver, Gold, and Platinum PPO plans through Oxford (United), with 85% of premiums covered for employees on the Platinum plan, with a $0 premium option

🏥 Dental, Vision & Financial Wellness

You’re covered with Guardian PPO dental and Beam vision plans - Kaizen pays 99% of premiums for employees and 50% for dependents. We also offer:

• 💳 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA & Dependent Care FSA)

• 🛡️ $100,000 in fully paid life insurance

• 🏦 401(k) access through Guideline

🤰🏼 Parental Leave That Supports Families

Because time with your growing family matters.

• 🍼 16 weeks fully paid for birthing parents and 10 weeks paid for non-birthing parents

🗽 Everyday Support & Flexibility

• 🚆 $50/month toward your commute

• 🏡 One-time setup stipend (up to $750) for your home or NYC office

• 💪 $100/month for wellness or productivity

🎡 Perks That Make Life Better

• 🎉 $250/year for recreation - because fun matters

• 📚 $500/year for professional development - because growth does too

• 🍱 Expensed lunch three days a week when you're in the office

• 💻 Company-provided laptop

🌴 Time Off to Recharge

• 🌅 Unlimited PTO

• 🇺🇸 All federal holidays off

• ☃️ A company-wide winter break during the week of Christmas

Kaizen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We are committed to maintaining a supportive and inclusive environment for people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We respect the varied identities, abilities, cultures, and traditions of the individuals who comprise our organization and recognize the value that different backgrounds and points of view bring to our organization.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be treated as confidential and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the interview process.