Lead-Level Freelance Data & AI Product Manager

Join projectsbyif as a Freelance Data and AI Product Manager to shape the future of city services. This is a 9-month contract role starting June 1st, 2026, requiring a minimum of 4.5 days per week. Work remotely across GMT/BST or CET-friendly time zones, collaborating with experienced AI/ML Engineers, Data Scientists, Designers, and Product Managers to prototype and launch MVP-ready data and AI components for innovative city services.

Role Overview

This hands-on position sits at the intersection of product strategy and technical delivery. You will be responsible for scoping, defining features, and creating roadmaps that enable cities to progress from conceptual ideas through prototypes to market-ready MVPs. Your impact will be felt across multiple dimensions:

Feature & Roadmap Definition: Scope and define product features and technical roadmaps to help city teams transition from ideation to prototypes to MVPs.
Team Coaching & Mentorship: Provide product coaching and strategic guidance to city teams developing their own AI prototypes, ensuring alignment with best practices.
Solution Scoping: Research appropriate solutions, assess technical and organizational feasibility, and ideate data and AI solutions tailored to specific city challenges.
Risk & Impact Assessment: Explore approaches to identify and mitigate potential risks introduced through AI and data applications in city services.
Stakeholder Engagement: Drive clarity in prototyping scope, build consensus among stakeholders, and maintain momentum through shared working practices.

Must-Have Skills & Experience

To excel in this role, you should demonstrate:

Proven expertise in core AI concepts, technologies, and their practical applications
Track record of scoping, prototyping, and launching data and AI-enabled products or features
Demonstrated ability to define and refine complex problem statements with clarity
Experience leading solution ideation sessions with cross-functional teams
Proficiency in discovering and documenting technical, organizational, and user requirements
Strong ability to scope prototyping efforts while driving stakeholder consensus and team alignment
Proven collaboration with engineers and data scientists on technical scoping and feasibility assessments
Proactive approach to identifying blockers and risks, with ability to develop mitigation strategies
Excellent communication skills for explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Strong stakeholder engagement and coaching capabilities
Demonstrated ability to maintain team focus and momentum through structured rituals and shared working practices
Professional proficiency in Portuguese (required for this engagement)

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

Experience working in civic tech, smart cities initiatives, or government digital transformation projects is valuable but not essential.

Contract Details

Duration: 9 months (June 1st, 2026 – February 2027)
Schedule: Minimum 4.5 days per week
Location: Remote (GMT/BST or CET timezone preferred)
Seniority Level: Lead
Rate: Day rate dependent on experience

💰 Compensation not publicly listed. Market estimate for similar roles: from $130K, varying by experience and location.

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Freelance Data and AI Product Manager