VP Product

Description

Papaya is one of the world’s fastest-growing mobile gaming companies, delivering engaging, high-performing games to millions of players. Based in Tel Aviv, our mission is to create exceptional gaming experiences through outstanding product thinking, innovation, and execution.

At the VP of Product you are the connective tissue between business strategy, customer needs, and technical execution. The VP of Product ensures the organization is building the right product for the right business outcomes.

This role requires a deep understanding of Gaming Market trends, User acquisition and onboarding, player motivation and engagement, platform design, live operations and meta features, and monetization strategies. You will work closely with Engineering, Data, Customer success, Marketing and business teams to develop a scalable, high-performance gaming ecosystem that enhances player experiences and drives business growth.

You will lead a team of ~15 product managers, Artists and Game Designers across multiple domains, including Core Gameplay, backend services, data infrastructure, payments, game economy tools, meta-features, live-op tools, personalization, and more. You will work cross-functionally with company leadership, engineering, data, and game teams to build great games and a scalable and robust platform that powers our games and player experiences.

If you thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments and are passionate about building world-class platform solutions and working in a super exciting gaming company, keep reading, this might be just what you are looking for!

Responsibilities

Vision & Strategic Alignment:

• Market & Business Integration, from Vision to Product Strategy.
• Translates the company vision and mission into a cohesive product strategy that ensures we can deliver our promise while meeting our business goals(revenue, conversion, retention).
• Portfolio Ownership: Decides where to invest resources, when to launch new products and features, and when to sunset underperforming ones.
• Competitive Positioning: Keeps a pulse on market trends, competitor moves, and customer shifts to keep the product ahead of the curve.

Team Leadership & Scalability:

• Building the Org: Recruits, develops, and mentors Product Managers, Designers, and Game Design professionals.
• Process & Tooling: Implements scalable frameworks for discovery, prioritization, and roadmapping without stifling speed.

Cross-Functional Bridge Building:

• Partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership to shape company strategy and product direction.
• GTM Synergy: Partners closely with Business Owners, Marketing and Customer Success to ensure products can be effectively positioned, scaled, and supported.
• Engineering Partnership: Works hand-in-hand with the VP of Engineering, VP Data and CTO to balance speed-to-market with technical debt.

Metrics & Accountability:

• North Star Metrics: Defines and tracks top-tier product metrics (e.g., LTV, CAC payback, retention, adoption).
• ROI of R&D: Ensures engineering and product investments yield clear business value.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in product management, with experience in the Gaming industry and mobile apps specifically.
• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills, with experience working closely with CEO, company leadership, game units, and cross-functional teams.
• Strategic mindset with strong execution skills, able to balance long-term vision with day-to-day decision-making.
• Proven track record of launching and scaling platform-level products in the gaming or entertainment industry.
• Experience leading product teams of ~15 people, including managing managers, hiring, mentoring, and scaling teams in high-growth environments.
• Experience with monetization strategies, matchmaking, social features, and live operations.
• Strong technical acumen – Ability to work closely with engineering teams and understand complex technical architectures.
• Data-driven mindset with expertise in analytics, KPIs, and player behavior insights.
• Passion for gaming and deep knowledge of player communities and trends.
• Experience in fast-growing startups or environments with strong founder influence. 
• Strong change management skills and adaptability.