Principal, R&D Strategy & Operations

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 171,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Remote work flexibility

Generous time off

Parental and wellness leave

Retirement savings program

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Principal, R&D Strategy & Operations to join the team. This remote US-based role shapes operating rhythm and strategic execution for R&D, aligning priorities with executives and cross-functional leaders.

You will drive lean processes, improve planning, and automate reporting in collaboration with Product, Engineering, Finance, Data, and GTM teams, with extensive exposure to executive narratives and cross-functional programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in product, engineering, and program management.
• Leadership experience, direct or through influence.
• Experience in B2B SaaS or PaaS product operations.
• Proven track record of managing high-impact, cross-functional programs.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for executive narratives.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the narrative for R&D in business reviews and executive communications.
• Lead strategic projects prioritized by executive leadership.
• Collaborate on annual and quarterly planning cycles and retrospectives.
• Monitor team progress and identify risks early through release governance forums.
• Support R&D/go-to-market interlock to inform planning cycles.
• Define and implement lean R&D processes to minimize manual overhead.
• Partner with Finance and Data teams to automate reporting metrics.
• Identify change management opportunities to enhance process adoption.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Organization

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Principal, R&D Strategy & Operations to join the team of a leader in the Enterprise Technology space.

This role will shape the operating rhythm and strategic execution for the R&D organization, helping ensure priorities are clearly communicated and progress stays aligned with executive expectations. The position partners closely with senior leaders across Product, Engineering, Finance, Data, and go-to-market teams to improve planning, reporting, and cross-functional coordination. It is a highly visible role focused on driving efficient processes, surfacing risks early, and strengthening decision-making through clear executive narratives.

Location: Remote - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $171,120 - $251,600 annually

Responsibilities

• Own the narrative for R&D in business reviews and executive communications.
• Lead strategic projects prioritized by executive leadership.
• Collaborate on annual and quarterly planning cycles and retrospectives.
• Monitor team progress and identify risks early through release governance forums.
• Support R&D/go-to-market interlock to inform planning cycles.
• Define and implement lean R&D processes to minimize manual overhead.
• Partner with Finance and Data teams to automate reporting metrics.
• Identify change management opportunities to enhance process adoption.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in product, engineering, and program management.
• Leadership experience, either direct or through influence.
• Experience in B2B SaaS or PaaS product operations.
• Proven track record of managing high-impact, cross-functional programs.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for executive narratives.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and generous time off.
• Ample parental and wellness leave.
• Healthcare coverage.
• Retirement savings program.
• Remote work flexibility with minimal travel.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.