What Is a Vice President of Product? How to Become One, Salary, Skills.

A vice president (VP) of product aligns product development activities with a company’s business goals. Here’s what to know about a vice president of product’s needed skills, salary and how to become one.

What Is a Vice President of Product?

Vice presidents of product help lead overarching product development initiatives and ensure products are creating intended value. VPs of product provide significant leadership in line with a strategic product vision.

What Do Vice Presidents of Product Do?

Vice presidents of product lead product strategy and help to resolve critical product development and management issues.

Vice President of Product Responsibilities

• Act as direct advisor and consultant of chief product officer (CPO).
• Lead product strategy initiatives and ensure alignment of development with business goals.
• Identify and resolve significant production workflow issues.
• Communicate important information and product expectations to directors and managers. 
• Handle sensitive team and product information.

Vice Presidents of Product Within a Company

VPs of product are leaders of product teams, which include product managers and directors, within a company. They report directly to chief product officers, or another C-suite role, depending on the makeup of the organization.

Importance of Vice Presidents of Product

VPs of product are an important extension of CPOs and overall product goals. They exist as a guiding figure to execute product strategy and set expectations that affect the entirety of a product team and development in a company.

What Skills Are Needed to Be a Vice President of Product?

Qualifications to Be a Vice President of Product

• Seven or more years of experience in product management, product development or related roles.
• Ability to create and execute product strategies and lead product vision.
• Ability to align multiple teams and resolve issues in accordance with business goals.
• Familiarity with product management software and related tools used by product directors and managers.

Vice President of Product Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics or related field.

Vice President of Product Hard Skills

• Vast experience in product management and product development life cycles.
• Expertise in product strategy development and roadmapping tools.
• Deep knowledge of project management tools.
• High-level modern technical and product knowledge.

Vice President of Product Soft Skills

• Adaptability.
• Critical thinking.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Project management best practices.
• Leadership and ownership skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills.

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How to Become a Vice President of Product

Vice President of Product Education and Experience

VPs of product tend to hold a bachelor’s degree in business, economics or a similar field. Some also hold a master’s degree in business administration (MBA), product management or similar field.

VPs of product are often expected to obtain seven or more years of experience in product management or product development and leadership. Knowledge of product strategy development, product initiative development, high-level product roadmapping, project management and cross-team collaboration are recommended.  

Vice President of Product Certificates and Courses

• Advanced Product Management: Leadership & Communication
• Product Management Accelerator
• Strategic Product Management and Leadership
• VPs and Directors of Product Management: Finding Excellence

Vice President of Product Career Path

VPs of product will likely gain experience as product managers, senior product managers and directors of product management before entering the role. After experience as a vice president of product, professionals may become chief product officers (CPOs).

Vice President of Product Salary and Job Outlook

Marketing management roles, including presidential and management roles for products, will grow 10 percent by 2031.

The full compensation package for a vice president of product depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s experience and geographic location. See below for detailed information on the average vice president of product salary.