Lead Product Experience Strategist

Location: Charlotte, NC (3 days onsite) LOCALS ONLY
Rate: $45/hr
Need local to Charlotte consultants


We're looking for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys understanding how work really happens, and can turn operational complexity into confident product decisions. Success is measured by the quality of decisions influenced before engineering begins—not by research reports or design deliverables.
The Opportunity Establish and scale Product Discovery as a core capability. Working alongside Product, Engineering and Operations, determine what evidence is required, how to obtain it eƯ iciently and when the organization has enough confidence to invest. Influence product strategy, shape AI-enabled experiences and help create a repeatable discovery operating model.


Regular travel to customer sites for operational discovery
Cross-functional partnership with Product, Engineering and Operations
Daily use of AI to accelerate planning, synthesis and communication


What You'll Do
Design evidence strategy
Translate ambiguous business questions into structured discovery plans.
Identify what is known, assumed and unknown.
Select the lowest-cost activities that reduce uncertainty.
Determine when there is sufficient confidence to invest.


Lead operational discovery
Plan and facilitate workflow observations, customer interviews, stakeholder workshops, co-creation sessions, prototype validation and competitive assessments.
Adapt the approach to the decision rather than following a prescribed methodology.


Shape product direction
Identify opportunities that create meaningful operational advantage.
Quantify business impact.
Surface reusable capabilities across products and sectors.
Recommend whether initiatives should proceed, pivot, pause or stop.
Lead Product Experience Strategist.


Influence the portfolio
Partner early with Product, Engineering and leadership.
Turn complex evidence into concise recommendations that improve roadmap, platform and investment
decisions.


Experience
7-10+ years in Product Strategy, Service Design, Product Discovery, Experience Strategy or similar roles in complex enterprise environments
Demonstrated experience influencing product direction before development
Experience designing discovery strategies—not only executing research
Strong executive communication and workshop facilitation skills
Experience using AI to accelerate discovery, synthesis or strategic work is highly desirable


What Great Candidates Can Demonstrate
Changed or stopped a product investment before development
Designed a discovery strategy that materially reduced uncertainty
Identified an operational opportunity others overlooked
Quantified business outcomes such as time saved, cost avoided, quality improvements or risk reduction
Influenced senior leaders through evidence rather than opinion.