Product Director - AI, Wirecutter - The New York Times : Job Details

The The New York Times mission is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. Independent journalism is at the heart of our work, with a world-renowned newsroom reporting from nearly 160 countries and a focus on how readers experience our journalism across print, audio, digital, and apps. Our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it's worth paying for.

Wirecutter, a product recommendation company owned by The New York Times Company, provides evidence-based advice on the best things to buy. Through rigorous research, reporting, and extensive hands-on testing, our expert journalists and editors help millions of readers make informed decisions. We believe in journalistic independence and unbiased, meticulously tested recommendations.

We're looking for a creative, strategic, and deeply knowledgeable Product Director, AI to lead Wirecutter's AI-driven transformation. This role will be an expert on the AI landscape, translating new technologies into actionable strategies that drive cultural and process changes, enhance reader services, and help Wirecutter achieve its goals. You will report to the VP of Product, Wirecutter, with a dotted line to the Editor-in-Chief, Wirecutter.

• AI Vision, Strategy & Business Impact: Serve as Wirecutter's AI expert, monitor new technologies (LLMs, generative AI) and industry trends for their impact on our business.
• Define a clear, actionable AI vision and strategic roadmap aligned with Wirecutter's mission.
• Amplify reader services, improve operational efficiency, and optimize our commerce initiatives through AI.
• Identify and champion high-impact AI use cases.
• Partner with Digital Leadership to evolve our product lifecycle with AI-powered solutions from discovery to iteration.
• Drive the identification, evaluation, and implementation of AI technologies for internal operations and platforms (CMS, Commerce Engine).
• Collaborate to accelerate AI-powered features that enhance reader discovery, personalization, and user journeys while upholding editorial integrity.
• Develop metrics to monitor AI solution impact on editorial quality, efficiency, reader engagement, and commercial performance.
• Be a passionate AI evangelist, fostering experimentation and integration across teams; lead educational initiatives to demystify AI and secure buy-in.
• Champion the ethical and responsible use of AI, ensuring tools uphold accuracy, objectivity, and reader trust.
• Partner with The New York Times Company's central AI teams to leverage infrastructure and expertise.
• Demonstrate support for journalistic independence and the mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

• 10+ years of progressive product management or related experience with a track record of strategic impact in digital environments.
• 3+ years directly in AI/ML product management, including defining, launching, and iterating AI-powered solutions.
• 1+ years delivering complex AI solutions, ideally in media, e-commerce, or content-heavy environments.
• 3+ years of experience with LLMs, NLP, ML, and data engineering principles and their application in real-world products.
• 3+ years of experience with AI/ML methodologies, data analysis, and practical applications.
• Ability to discuss technical dependencies and system architecture with engineering and data science teams.

This is a hybrid role with our New York City office. (#LI-Hybrid)

REQ-018478

The annual base pay range for this role is $160,000 - $185,000 USD.

The New York Times Company is committed to being the world's best source of independent, reliable, and quality journalism. We embrace a diverse workforce with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, citizenship, veteran or military status, and other protected characteristics. Applications are considered without regard to legally protected characteristics. The U.S. EEOC's Know Your Rights poster is available here.

The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by law. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email [email protected]. The Company will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable laws and policies.

Please include your information as prompted in the application form if you choose to apply. The application page will request details about your background, experience, and eligibility to work in the specified country.