Principal Product Manager Strategic Initiatives

Thyme Care is seeking an experienced Principal Product Manager to spearhead the development of innovative, AI-driven solutions aimed at revolutionising oncology care. This is a unique opportunity to work on "zero-to-one" initiatives, building products from the ground up that promise to make the complex journey of cancer treatment more human, supportive, and efficient for patients and their care teams. The role sits at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making processes within the oncology landscape.

About the Role

As the Principal Product Manager for Strategic Initiatives, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of Thyme Care's offerings. Your primary focus will be on identifying and developing new product opportunities that harness the power of AI to significantly improve the quality and delivery of cancer care. This involves a deep understanding of the oncology ecosystem, from patient needs to clinician workflows, and the strategic application of technology to address critical gaps. You will be expected to navigate ambiguity, define clear product visions, and translate complex technical concepts into tangible, user-centric solutions. This position requires a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, capable of driving innovation within a dynamic and mission-driven organisation.

The responsibilities for this pivotal role are broad and impactful, centred around the end-to-end product lifecycle for AI-powered oncology solutions. You will be tasked with:

• **Roadmap Development:** Defining and owning the product roadmap for strategic AI initiatives, with a clear focus on improving care decisions within the oncology sector.
• **Product Prototyping and Launch:** Leading cross-functional teams through the prototyping, testing, and eventual launch of new AI-powered products, ensuring they meet user needs and business objectives.
• **Workflow Tool Creation:** Designing and building essential workflow tools that empower clinicians and care teams, streamlining their daily operations and enhancing their ability to provide optimal patient care.
• **AI Evaluation Standards:** Establishing robust evaluation standards and frameworks to ensure that all AI recommendations are safe, trustworthy, and clinically sound.
• **Technical Collaboration:** Working closely with engineering teams to define and refine the technical architecture for AI systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and adherence to best practices.
• **Stakeholder Communication:** Clearly articulating product strategies, technical considerations, and critical trade-offs to senior leadership and other key stakeholders to foster alignment and support.
• **Efficiency Enhancement:** Leveraging AI technologies to improve internal work efficiencies and accelerate the prototyping process for new product ideas.

What They're Looking For

Thyme Care is searching for a seasoned product leader with a proven track record in bringing new, complex products to market. Ideal candidates will possess:

• **Extensive Product Management Experience:** A minimum of six years of experience in product management, with a significant portion dedicated to early-stage initiatives and the conceptualisation of new ventures.
• **Healthcare Acumen:** Prior experience within the healthcare industry is highly desirable, particularly in areas related to workflow optimisation or integration products.
• **Comfort with Ambiguity:** The ability to thrive in uncertain environments, defining clear paths forward and making decisive recommendations when faced with limited information.
• **AI/LLM Product Expertise:** Hands-on experience in delivering products powered by artificial intelligence and large language models.
• **Exceptional Communication Skills:** Strong verbal and written communication abilities are essential for effectively aligning diverse teams and communicating complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• **Detail-Oriented Approach:** A meticulous and detail-oriented mindset, with a solid understanding of data models and the ability to anticipate and manage edge cases in product development.

In South Africa, principal product management roles, especially those involving cutting-edge technology like AI and within specialised sectors such as healthcare, are highly sought after. While salaries vary widely based on experience, location, and the specific company's funding and scale, such positions often command competitive remuneration packages. Employers range from established health insurers and providers exploring digital transformation to innovative health-tech startups. Career progression typically involves moving into senior leadership roles, such as Head of Product, VP of Product, or even Chief Product Officer, with opportunities to shape entire product portfolios and company strategy.

• 6+ years of product management experience with early-stage initiatives.
• Experience in healthcare, ideally in workflow or integration products.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and defining paths forward.
• Hands-on experience with AI/LLM-powered product delivery.
• Strong communication skills to align across teams.
• Technical detail-oriented, familiar with data models and edge cases.