Staff Product Manager, Search Algorithms

About the role

At Faire, we are revolutionizing the wholesale marketplace by connecting independent retailers with a diverse range of brands. As a Staff Product Manager focused on search algorithms, you will be at the forefront of enhancing our platform's discovery capabilities. This role involves shaping the product strategy that drives how users find and interact with products on our platform, ensuring a and efficient experience. You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of search-related products, from initial discovery and problem framing through execution and long-term optimization. You will define the vision and strategy for search relevance, performance, and user experience, translating complex algorithmic capabilities into clear product requirements. You will act as the central hub for all search innovation, ensuring that every initiative directly supports core business objectives around retailer acquisition and retention. You will partner deeply with our most critical stakeholders to ensure that search functionality meets the highest standards of quality and usability. Your work will have a direct impact on the success of thousands of retail businesses that depend on our platform to find and stock products.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop and execute a strategic roadmap aimed at optimizing the performance of our search algorithms, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of our users.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of search query segments to identify growth opportunities and address any system inefficiencies that may arise.
• Oversee a set of both online and offline metrics to assess search quality and the overall user experience, making data-driven decisions to enhance functionality.
• Balance various technical aspects, including system scalability, processing speed, cost-effectiveness, and modularity, to create a well-rounded product.
• Collaborate closely with teams across engineering, data science, design, and operations to align on product goals and execution strategies.
• Work alongside company founders and the CEO to influence high-level product decisions, ensuring alignment with the company's vision and objectives.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that drive improvements in search relevance and user satisfaction, leveraging insights from user feedback and market trends.
• Mentor junior product managers and team members, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the Discovery team.
• Define and own the North Star metrics for search, ensuring that product initiatives move the needle on retailer engagement and satisfaction.
• Translate complex algorithmic outputs and data findings into clear product requirements and user stories for the engineering team.
• Partner with data science to design and run experiments that validate hypotheses about search behavior and ranking changes.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities to improve conversion rates and retailer satisfaction through enhanced search functionality.
• Analyze competitor search offerings and market trends to ensure Faire remains a leader in wholesale discovery.
• Drive the collection and analysis of qualitative feedback to complement quantitative metrics and guide product intuition.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in a relevant field.
• At least 7 years of experience in product management or technical roles, particularly within fast-paced startup environments.
• A demonstrated history of developing high-scale products that effectively data science and engineering principles.
• Proven expertise in applying machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to address complex business problems.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate and make decisions in ambiguous situations with limited data.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, enabling effective interaction with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of search algorithms, ranking models, and relevance tuning methodologies.
• Comfort working with large datasets and SQL to derive insights and inform product decisions.

Nice to have

• Previous experience specifically focused on search algorithms, enhancing your ability to contribute to our product strategy from day one.
• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms or wholesale marketplaces, providing context for user needs and industry trends.
• Experience in leading cross-functional teams, demonstrating your capability to drive projects to successful completion.

Practical notes

• The salary range for this position is between $220,000 and $302,500 annually for candidates based in San Francisco, CA.
• Compensation packages include equity options and a comprehensive benefits plan.
• The role follows a hybrid work model, requiring employees to be in the office three days a week (specifically on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and one flexible day).
• Employees are permitted to work remotely for up to four weeks each year, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements.