Find the best Product Directors in Berlin matched in minutes from 15,000 CVs with the power of AI
Bring in senior product leadership for discovery, roadmap decisions, pricing, platform growth, and cross-functional alignment. Get fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers who can step in without delay.
About the role
Product leadership A Product Director turns business goals into a clear product direction. This role connects strategy, customer needs, and delivery. In many companies, the search also includes titles such as Head of Product or VP Product when the scope is the same.
- Define product vision and decision criteria
- Shape roadmap priorities across teams
- Align product, design, engineering, and commercial goals
- Keep leadership focused on outcomes, not feature volume
What they deliver A strong Product Director owns the hard choices that move the product forward. They often join when a team needs clearer priorities, stronger product discovery, or steadier leadership across several squads.
- Product strategy and roadmap guidance
- Discovery structure and customer insight loops
- Stakeholder alignment for launches and changes
- Support for pricing, packaging, and go-to-market decisions
Core skills The best freelance Product Directors combine product judgment with calm leadership. They need to read data, listen to users, and translate both into practical action.
- Product discovery and prioritization
- OKRs, metrics, and portfolio thinking
- Workshop facilitation and executive communication
- Experience with B2B, B2C, SaaS, and platform products
Tools and methods They rarely work from intuition alone. Strong Product Directors use product analytics, research findings, experiment results, and team feedback to shape decisions. Common work includes portfolio reviews, roadmap planning, backlog framing, and launch readiness checks.
Berlin companies often look for this mix when they scale digital products, rebuild a legacy product line, or need local leadership for a distributed team. Clear communication in English is often enough, while German can help in more locally focused organizations.
When to hire freelance Freelance Product Directors make sense when the company needs senior product thinking now, but not a permanent hire yet. They are useful during transitions, new market entries, reorganizations, stalled product growth, or when a permanent leader is already being hired.
- Roadmap lacks clear priority
- Discovery is weak or inconsistent
- Teams need product leadership across functions
- A launch or turnaround needs experienced direction
What good looks like A strong Product Director brings structure without slowing the team down. They ask sharp questions, make trade-offs visible, and keep product work tied to commercial impact. They should be comfortable working with founders, C-level leaders, and delivery teams, whether they are called Product Director, Head of Product, or VP Product.
Meet FRATCH Product Directors
Maarten Van Der Most
Managing Director
Last position:
Managing Director at House of Code
- Led the end-to-end transformation of a 125+-person development organization, driving full operational integration into the Aviv Group within nine months
- Overhauled finance, HR, IT, and facilities by establishing scalable frameworks and modern governance models
- Introduced structured budgeting and cashflow processes, job leveling, and compensation frameworks to build transparency, accountability, and sustainable growth
- Implemented complete financial restructuring with a strategic budgeting process aligned to group objectives
- Re-engineered and operationalized HR functions, establishing modern talent management and organizational development processes
- Formalized nearshore vendor management by fully integrating partners and processes into Aviv Group’s operational framework
- Scaled IT infrastructure and support capabilities, significantly extending helpdesk services
- Instituted clear on-call and overtime regulations for nearshore partners to enhance service reliability and cost predictability
- Directed facilities and real estate management to ensure productive and efficient work environments
- Achieved a cohesive and accountable subsidiary fully aligned with Aviv’s strategy
Sascha Brossmann
Fractional CPO / VP Product / Head of Product / Product Lead
Last position:
Parent at Full-time Parent
Sascha Brossmann
Fractional CPO / VP Product / Head of Product / Product Lead
Last position:
Parent at Full-time Parent
Nikhil Kashid
Head of Product (Contract)
Last position:
Head of Product (Contract) at illuminem
- Leading product strategy and platform development for B2B sustainability solutions.
Nikhil Kashid
Head of Product (Contract)
Last position:
Head of Product (Contract) at illuminem
- Leading product strategy and platform development for B2B sustainability solutions.
- Leading product strategy and platform development for B2B sustainability solutions.
Jannis Wunderle
Interim Head of Product / Product Manager
Last position:
Product Management Consultant at reliance
- Translated the company’s ESG vision and strategy into a scalable product concept, defining user personas and end-to-end customer journeys.
- Designed a web application covering the full ESG transformation lifecycle.
- Built an interactive prototype (Base44) with user management and core features, enabling rapid stakeholder validation and alignment.
Jannis Wunderle
Interim Head of Product / Product Manager
Last position:
Product Management Consultant at reliance
- Translated the company’s ESG vision and strategy into a scalable product concept, defining user personas and end-to-end customer journeys.
- Designed a web application covering the full ESG transformation lifecycle.
- Translated the company’s ESG vision and strategy into a scalable product concept, defining user personas and end-to-end customer journeys.
- Designed a web application covering the full ESG transformation lifecycle.
- Built an interactive prototype (Base44) with user management and core features, enabling rapid stakeholder validation and alignment.
- Built an interactive prototype (Base44) with user management and core features, enabling rapid stakeholder validation and alignment.
Vijay Shivarudraiah
Head of Digital Product
Last position:
Head of Digital Product at Allride GmbH
- Defined and executed the end-to-end vision for Allride’s core mobility product, launching a fully functional mobile app on iOS and Android in under 3 months.
- Led product from 0 to 1 crafting roadmap, aligning teams, and driving execution to meet user needs and business objectives.
- Built a tiered S/M/L/XL subscription model based on mobility usage, launching the first MVP with built-in rewards and coupons to drive adoption of Allride’s recurring plans.
- Designed and implemented a high-conversion referral program that rewarded both referrers and invitees, driving 12% of new user acquisition through organic growth loops.
- Developed and launched Allride for Work, a B2B mobility benefit solution that enabled companies to offer sustainable commute plans to employees, driving corporate adoption and unlocking a new recurring revenue stream.
- Aligned product initiatives with sustainable mobility goals, contributing to rapid growth and early media coverage.
Vijay Shivarudraiah
Head of Digital Product
Last position:
Head of Digital Product at Allride GmbH
- Defined and executed the end-to-end vision for Allride’s core mobility product, launching a fully functional mobile app on iOS and Android in under 3 months.
- Led product from 0 to 1 crafting roadmap, aligning teams, and driving execution to meet user needs and business objectives.
- Defined and executed the end-to-end vision for Allride’s core mobility product, launching a fully functional mobile app on iOS and Android in under 3 months.
- Led product from 0 to 1 crafting roadmap, aligning teams, and driving execution to meet user needs and business objectives.
- Built a tiered S/M/L/XL subscription model based on mobility usage, launching the first MVP with built-in rewards and coupons to drive adoption of Allride’s recurring plans.
- Designed and implemented a high-conversion referral program that rewarded both referrers and invitees, driving 12% of new user acquisition through organic growth loops.
- Developed and launched Allride for Work, a B2B mobility benefit solution that enabled companies to offer sustainable commute plans to employees, driving corporate adoption and unlocking a new recurring revenue stream.
- Aligned product initiatives with sustainable mobility goals, contributing to rapid growth and early media coverage.
- Built a tiered S/M/L/XL subscription model based on mobility usage, launching the first MVP with built-in rewards and coupons to drive adoption of Allride’s recurring plans.
- Designed and implemented a high-conversion referral program that rewarded both referrers and invitees, driving 12% of new user acquisition through organic growth loops.
- Developed and launched Allride for Work, a B2B mobility benefit solution that enabled companies to offer sustainable commute plans to employees, driving corporate adoption and unlocking a new recurring revenue stream.
- Aligned product initiatives with sustainable mobility goals, contributing to rapid growth and early media coverage.
Tovah Simon
Head of Product
Last position:
Head of Product at Upstream
- Architected a business strategy and aligned product strategy increasing organizational clarity, focusing on investor and marketing communication.
- Established Product Market Fit process to refine target customers and use cases.
- Developed business monetization strategies and roadmap aimed at achieving platform profitability within 2-years.
- Assessed operational cost and drafted cost-saving measures doubling runway.
Tovah Simon
Head of Product
Last position:
Head of Product at Upstream
- Architected a business strategy and aligned product strategy increasing organizational clarity, focusing on investor and marketing communication.
- Established Product Market Fit process to refine target customers and use cases.
- Architected a business strategy and aligned product strategy increasing organizational clarity, focusing on investor and marketing communication.
- Established Product Market Fit process to refine target customers and use cases.
- Developed business monetization strategies and roadmap aimed at achieving platform profitability within 2-years.
- Assessed operational cost and drafted cost-saving measures doubling runway.
- Developed business monetization strategies and roadmap aimed at achieving platform profitability within 2-years.
- Assessed operational cost and drafted cost-saving measures doubling runway.
Andreas Kerzmann
Chief Product Officer
Last position:
Chief Product Officer at doctorly
- Responsible for the first customer launch in 2021 and for continuously growing the customer base
- Built and led a high-performing product team (3 PMs, 3 UX designers)
- Set up cross-functional teams in agile product development using SCRUM
- Formulated and translated overarching product strategies, analyzed market trends, and defined product requirements and design
- Transformed product development toward business value and user centricity by professionalizing processes and prioritization methods
- Established targeted communication with stakeholders inside and outside the company
- Supported regulatory approval with the KBV and gematik
Andreas Kerzmann
Chief Product Officer
Last position:
Chief Product Officer at doctorly
- Responsible for the first customer launch in 2021 and for continuously growing the customer base
- Built and led a high-performing product team (3 PMs, 3 UX designers)
- Set up cross-functional teams in agile product development using SCRUM
- Responsible for the first customer launch in 2021 and for continuously growing the customer base
- Built and led a high-performing product team (3 PMs, 3 UX designers)
- Set up cross-functional teams in agile product development using SCRUM
- Formulated and translated overarching product strategies, analyzed market trends, and defined product requirements and design
- Transformed product development toward business value and user centricity by professionalizing processes and prioritization methods
- Established targeted communication with stakeholders inside and outside the company
- Supported regulatory approval with the KBV and gematik
- Formulated and translated overarching product strategies, analyzed market trends, and defined product requirements and design
- Transformed product development toward business value and user centricity by professionalizing processes and prioritization methods
- Established targeted communication with stakeholders inside and outside the company
- Supported regulatory approval with the KBV and gematik
Lana Khimka
Product-Led Transformation Consultant
Last position:
Product-Led Transformation Consultant at Morressier
- Morressier is an AI-powered research publishing platform focused on data integrity
- Rebuilt team structure, processes, and decision cadence to improve product velocity and operational focus
- Introduced OKRs and goal-driven execution, strengthening alignment and accountability across product, engineering, and leadership
- Strengthened product performance and contributed to Morressier’s successful acquisition by Molecular Connections
Lana Khimka
Product-Led Transformation Consultant
Last position:
Product-Led Transformation Consultant at Morressier
- Morressier is an AI-powered research publishing platform focused on data integrity
- Rebuilt team structure, processes, and decision cadence to improve product velocity and operational focus
- Morressier is an AI-powered research publishing platform focused on data integrity
- Rebuilt team structure, processes, and decision cadence to improve product velocity and operational focus
- Introduced OKRs and goal-driven execution, strengthening alignment and accountability across product, engineering, and leadership
- Strengthened product performance and contributed to Morressier’s successful acquisition by Molecular Connections
- Introduced OKRs and goal-driven execution, strengthening alignment and accountability across product, engineering, and leadership
- Strengthened product performance and contributed to Morressier’s successful acquisition by Molecular Connections
Jean Debressy
Director of Product
Last position:
Director of Product at Delivery Hero
- Structure and lead 5 product squads to support marketing (measurement, creatives, automation, data) in the martech domain
Jean Debressy
Director of Product
Last position:
Director of Product at Delivery Hero
- Structure and lead 5 product squads to support marketing (measurement, creatives, automation, data) in the martech domain
- Structure and lead 5 product squads to support marketing (measurement, creatives, automation, data) in the martech domain
Perry Adair
Chief Product Officer
Last position:
Chief Product Officer at Commsignia
- Leading product and AI transformation for mobility scaleup
- Business strategy, team leadership, venture building
Perry Adair
Chief Product Officer
Last position:
Chief Product Officer at Commsignia
- Leading product and AI transformation for mobility scaleup
- Business strategy, team leadership, venture building
- Leading product and AI transformation for mobility scaleup
- Business strategy, team leadership, venture building
Amulya Chirala
Sr. Director of Product
Last position:
Sr. Director of Product at Zepz
- As part of the Senior Leadership Team, contributed heavily to the product rubric, organisation design and the interview process to ensure we were hiring well, actively performance managing, and providing appropriate career progression.
- Hired and mentored PMs to deliver shared platforms for pay-in and pay-out platforms in ~18 months, processing 100+% of the total group volume with success rates that are 2-12 percentage points higher (based on the corridors) than legacy stacks.
- Added routing functionality on payments to save over $9M/y with no additional user friction. Then worked with vendors to identify another 600K/month between savings or additional revenue via surcharges for expensive cards.
- Supported product due diligence on acquisition targets ranging in size from 2M to 30M annual revenue.
- Scaled the Sendwave product offering from 7 markets in Q3 2020 to over 30 receive markets in 2023 to support volume growth from ~3Bn to ~8Bn annually.
- Built the v1, and then supported scaling of volume forecasting to get to 98%+ forecasting accuracy for major markets (in a volatile FX and macro environment) and consequently lower funding-related outages and better allocation of working capital.
Amulya Chirala
Sr. Director of Product
Last position:
Sr. Director of Product at Zepz
- As part of the Senior Leadership Team, contributed heavily to the product rubric, organisation design and the interview process to ensure we were hiring well, actively performance managing, and providing appropriate career progression.
- As part of the Senior Leadership Team, contributed heavily to the product rubric, organisation design and the interview process to ensure we were hiring well, actively performance managing, and providing appropriate career progression.
- Hired and mentored PMs to deliver shared platforms for pay-in and pay-out platforms in ~18 months, processing 100+% of the total group volume with success rates that are 2-12 percentage points higher (based on the corridors) than legacy stacks.
- Added routing functionality on payments to save over $9M/y with no additional user friction. Then worked with vendors to identify another 600K/month between savings or additional revenue via surcharges for expensive cards.
- Supported product due diligence on acquisition targets ranging in size from 2M to 30M annual revenue.
- Scaled the Sendwave product offering from 7 markets in Q3 2020 to over 30 receive markets in 2023 to support volume growth from ~3Bn to ~8Bn annually.
- Built the v1, and then supported scaling of volume forecasting to get to 98%+ forecasting accuracy for major markets (in a volatile FX and macro environment) and consequently lower funding-related outages and better allocation of working capital.
- Hired and mentored PMs to deliver shared platforms for pay-in and pay-out platforms in ~18 months, processing 100+% of the total group volume with success rates that are 2-12 percentage points higher (based on the corridors) than legacy stacks.
- Added routing functionality on payments to save over $9M/y with no additional user friction. Then worked with vendors to identify another 600K/month between savings or additional revenue via surcharges for expensive cards.
- Supported product due diligence on acquisition targets ranging in size from 2M to 30M annual revenue.
- Scaled the Sendwave product offering from 7 markets in Q3 2020 to over 30 receive markets in 2023 to support volume growth from ~3Bn to ~8Bn annually.
- Built the v1, and then supported scaling of volume forecasting to get to 98%+ forecasting accuracy for major markets (in a volatile FX and macro environment) and consequently lower funding-related outages and better allocation of working capital.
Fabio Baldo
Director of Product
Last position:
Director of Product at STERLITE TECHNOLOGIES
- Set up 5 years strategy to reach $1B revenue by 2025 by leading cross-functional team with X-matrix methodology
- Implemented channel program for Enterprise market segment (target revenue by 2025: $100MN)
- Optimized indoor cable manufacturing lead time, reducing it from 7 weeks to 2 weeks
- Led workstream to transform product portfolio Data Center and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) (projected increased revenue > $40M)
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Product Directors statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
20 years
Position duration
2.8 years
Positions per freelancer
9
Top business areas
Product Development, Strategy, Operations
Top industries
Information Technology, Professional Services, Retail
Certification focus areas
Project Management, Business Intelligence, Finance
Bachelor's degree or higher
100%
Master's degree or higher
83%
Doctorate
17%
Certifications per freelancer
0
Most common languages
English, German, French
Speak two or more languages
92%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for Product Directors & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need clarity? Check out our simple overview of FRATCH
A Product Director sets direction, decides priorities, and keeps product work aligned with business goals. They do not just manage a roadmap; they connect strategy, user needs, and execution. In practice, they help teams choose what to build, what to stop, and how to measure progress.
Hire a Product Director when the challenge is broader than one product area or one squad. This role is better for cross-team alignment, portfolio decisions, and leadership across several product streams. A Product Manager usually owns a narrower scope and works closer to day-to-day delivery.
Look for product strategy, prioritization, stakeholder management, and strong communication. A good candidate can use customer insight and data without losing sight of commercial goals. Experience with discovery, roadmap planning, and launch governance matters more than polished slides.
Often, yes. In many companies, Head of Product and Product Director describe very similar work, especially when the person leads product direction across teams. The exact title matters less than the actual scope, authority, and track record.
A freelance Product Director is a good fit when you need senior leadership quickly, for a transition period, or for a specific challenge. That includes restructuring the roadmap, preparing a launch, or stabilizing a product organization. It is also useful when you want to test the need before hiring permanently.
Both can work, but the best setup depends on the team. A Product Director can often lead remotely if communication is strong and the company already works that way. On-site time in Berlin helps when leadership workshops, stakeholder alignment, or early team trust are especially important.
Ask for examples of decisions they changed, priorities they sharpened, or teams they aligned. A strong Product Director can explain the problem, the trade-off, and the result in plain language. You should also look for evidence that they improved product focus, not just activity.
This role is common in SaaS, marketplaces, platform products, and larger digital teams that need stronger product governance. In Berlin, it often fits companies with mixed technical and commercial teams, or those expanding beyond a single market. The best candidate understands how product choices affect growth, retention, and operational focus.
The average hourly rate for Product Directors in Berlin is 128 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,022 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Product Directors in Berlin, 100% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 83% hold at least a Master's degree, and 17% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Product Directors in Berlin have 20 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.8 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Product Directors in Berlin are English (100%), German (75%), and French (33%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Product Directors in Berlin are Information Technology (92%), Professional Services (67%), and Retail (50%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Product Directors in Berlin are Product Development (100%), Strategy (92%), and Operations (58%).
FRATCH Product Directors main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Request a Free Demo
Get in touch with the FRATCH team and we will get back to you within 4 hours.
Would you rather directly get in touch?
We always have the time for a call or email!
