Roles and teams
Group product manager
Also calledGPM, Director of product, Product director
A product leader who owns a portfolio of squads, often with a P&L: they set strategy for their area, choose its bets and develop the PMs who run them.
A group product manager or director usually leads four to six product managers. Their week shifts from running a backlog to setting strategy, allocating people across bets and coaching.
The role is often described as a mini-CEO for an area. That only holds if it comes with real levers: budget, hiring and the authority to stop work.
Common mistake
Accountability without the levers. A director responsible for a P&L but with no say over budget or hiring becomes a very senior status reporter.