Director I, Product Research

About the Role

As AI capabilities accelerate, so does the opportunity to fundamentally transform how Small Commercial operates — from how we launch and manage pricing programs, to how we underwrite risk, to how we monitor and react to in-market performance. This is a high-visibility role at the center of that transformation.

The Director, AI Program Management sits within Delivery and is accountable for coordinating, road mapping, and driving AI execution across all Small Commercial Product functions. This individual contributor role owns the Small Commercial Product AI investment roadmap — from intake and prioritization through execution, adoption, and performance measurement. Success requires strong program management craft, genuine curiosity about AI tools, and the ability to navigate and influence across a complex, matrixed organization — driving real business outcomes through close partnership with Product, Solaria, US Data Science, Technology, and USRM AI Enablement teams.

Candidates who live within 50 miles of our Boston, Portsmouth, Columbus, Plano or Seattle offices will be on-site two days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the SC Product AI investment roadmap end-to-end, sequenced for maximum business value and aligned to SC's broader strategic priorities; develop repeatable frameworks for business cases, success metrics, and KPIs
• Manage SC Product's AI portfolio as a single, function-wide book of work — maintaining visibility into active initiatives, dependencies, risks, and progress; develop and operate an intake and prioritization process for new ideas
• Drive execution across SC Product's highest-priority AI use cases spanning product delivery, underwriting automation, in-market monitoring, and everyday AI adoption
• Serve as SC Product's primary voice on AI with Solaria, US Data Science, Technology, and USRM AI Enablement teams — shaping strategy jointly and ensuring SC's priorities have appropriate visibility
• Partner closely with Small Commercial product teams and their respective AI Liaisons to align priorities, share learnings, and drive consistent execution of AI initiatives across the function
• Coordinate with RAIC and appropriate partners on risk, privacy, security, and compliance for individual initiatives; escalate conflicts and concerns to leadership as needed
• Engage actively in Underwriting's AI Council, offering SC Product's point of view on initiative prioritization and helping guide the group's direction
• Champion everyday AI adoption across SC Product — fostering curiosity and experimentation while helping SC Product teams onboard smoothly to new AI tools and capabilities
• Monitor AI trends, tools, and capabilities, proactively assessing relevance and applicability to SC's context

Key Responsibilities

Must-Have

• Strong foundation in program or project management, with a track record of driving complex, cross-functional initiatives from idea through execution in matrixed organizations
• Demonstrated curiosity about and hands-on experience with AI tools, with the ability to quickly assess practical applicability to real business problems
• Ability to bridge the gap between technology and business — translating complex processes into clear AI use cases and working fluently with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong agency and self-direction: able to build structure in ambiguous environments and drive momentum without formal authority
• Excellent communication, influencing, and partnership skills — building trust and alignment across teams with varying expertise

Strong Preferred

• Foundational knowledge of Small Commercial insurance — including product development and delivery, pricing programs, underwriting, or state management processes
• Experience working with Data Science or Technology teams in a business-facing capacity
• Familiarity with AI governance and responsible AI frameworks
• Experience standing up new functions, processes, or operating models in fast-moving environments

• Master's degree or equivalent in mathematics, economics, statistics, or other quantitative field. Masters, PhD, or equivalent helpful given quantitative work they are leading.
• Minimum of 7, typically 10 years or more relevant work experience.
• Expert skills in Excel, PowerPoint, and statistical software packages (e.g., SAS, Emblem).
• Must have exceptional planning, analytical, decision-making, communication, and project management skills.
• Expert knowledge of data sources, tools, and the busine