Senior Product Manager - Gen AI and Conversational Platforms at Theeconomistgroup

Who we are We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them. We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. As new technologies reshape how people access information, our journalism is increasingly discovered, interpreted and consumed through AI-native and conversational platforms. Large language models, agent frameworks and conversational interfaces are rapidly becoming primary gateways to knowledge, acting as intermediaries between audiences and authoritative sources. We are seeking a Senior Product Manager to own The Economist’s approach to Gen AI and conversational platforms - ensuring that when AI systems surface, summarise or reason over our journalism, they do so accurately, responsibly and in line with our editorial standards. The role The Senior Product Manager for Gen AI & Conversational Platforms owns how The Economist is represented, queried and interpreted across third-party AI-native and conversational environments. This role treats AI ecosystems, such as LLM-based assistants, agent-based systems and AI-driven discovery environments, as platforms in their own right - each with distinct product dynamics, technical requirements and success metrics. A core focus of the role is ownership of LLM connector and retrieval experiences. This includes defining and evolving the schemas, interfaces and protocols that allow AI systems to: • Query The Economist’s content accurately • Retrieve the correct material with appropriate context • Ground responses in authoritative sources • Attribute and cite journalism clearly and consistently You will work on capabilities analogous to MCP-style integrations, tool and function calling, retrieval pipelines, grounding and citation mechanisms, and agent-facing content interfaces. This role focuses on representation, fidelity and optimisation at the boundary between our content and external AI systems. You will report to the Principal Product Manager for Web, Newsletters & Conversational Platforms, and work closely with Search & Discovery, Web, App, Engineering, Data Science and Editorial teams. Responsibilities • Own the vision and roadmap for Gen AI and conversational platforms as distribution and interpretation environments. • Define how The Economist’s journalism should be queried, retrieved, grounded, cited and represented by LLMs and agent-based systems. • Lead product strategy for LLM connector and retrieval integrations, including schemas, APIs, tools, metadata and grounding mechanisms. • Partner closely with engineering and data science on retrieval pipelines, content representations, evaluation approaches and optimisation strategies. • Partner closely with Marketing and SEO specialists for how we want our brand to appear on these platforms, and what is/is not paywalled. • Ensure AI systems can reliably distinguish authoritative content, context, timeliness and editorial intent. • Define standards for fidelity, attribution, transparency and trust in AI-mediated representations of our journalism. • Monitor emerging AI platforms, protocols and standards (e.g. new agent frameworks, connector models, distribution patterns), identifying opportunities and risks. • Work with Web and App teams to ensure products are well-optimised for AI-driven discovery, referral and interpretation. • Define and track success metrics related to accuracy, grounding quality, authority, reach and consistency of representation. • Act as an internal expert on AI platform dynamics, advising editorial, legal, commercial and product stakeholders. Who you are • Experience owning AI-powered, platform or ecosystem-facing products, particularly where third-party systems act as intermediaries. • Strong understanding of how LLMs retrieve, reason over and present content, including retrieval-augmented generation concepts. • Comfort working on technically complex product areas involving APIs, schemas, metadata, evaluation and system boundaries. • Ability to partner effectively with engineers and data scientists on ambiguous, evolving problems. • Sound judgement around responsible AI, editorial integrity and risk management. • Clear communicator able to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Domain knowledge • Large language model ecosystems, conversational agents and agent frameworks. • Content retrieval, grounding, citation and attribution mechanisms. • Connector models, tool/function calling and AI-facing interfaces. • Platform dynamics and third-party integrations. • Responsible AI considerations in content-rich environments. • Enthusiasm for The Economist’s mission, journalism and editorial values. #LI-Hybrid Working Arrangements The majority of our roles operate on a hybrid working pattern, with 3+ days office attendance required. AI usage for your application We are an innovative organisation that encourages the use of technology. We recognise that candidates may utilise AI tools to support with their job application process. However, it is essential that all information you provide truthfully and accurately reflects your own experience, skills, and qualifications. What we offer Our benefits package is designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance. It includes a highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan, private health insurance, and 24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Program. We also offer a range of lifestyle benefits, including our Work From Anywhere program, which allows you to work from any location where you have the legal right to do so for up to 25 days per year. In addition, we provide generous annual and parental leave, as well as dedicated days off for volunteering and even for moving home. You will also be given free access to all The Economist content, including an online subscription, our range of apps, podcasts and more.