At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead an agile team to enhance structured finance workflows and deliver impactful solutions.
- Company: Join Fitch Ratings, a top credit ratings agency shaping global capital markets for over 100 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, comprehensive healthcare, retirement planning, and generous parental leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a collaborative culture that values diversity and innovation.
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years in product ownership and Agile experience required.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth and community involvement.
The predicted salary is between 78000 - 108000 £ per year.
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Director, Structured Finance Product Owner / Agile Product Lead – Manchester, Manchester
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Client:
Fitch Ratings
Location:
Manchester, United Kingdom
Job Category:
Other
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EU work permit required:
Yes
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Job Reference:
3686eaba9cdf
Job Views:
7
Posted:
13.08.2025
Expiry Date:
27.09.2025
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Job Description:
At Fitch, we have an open culture where employees are able to exchange ideas and perspectives, throughout the organization, irrespective of their seniority. Your voice will be heard allowing you to have a real impact. We embrace diversity and appreciate authenticity encouraging an environment where employees can be their true selves. Our inclusive and progressive approach helps us to keep a balanced perspective. Fitch is also committed to supporting its employees by advancing conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion. Fitch’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have been established by employees who have joined together as a workplace community based on similar backgrounds or life experiences. Fitch’s ERGs are available to connect employees with others within the organization to offer professional and personal support.
With our expertise, we are not only creating data and information, but also producing timely insights from every angle to influence decision making in this ever changing and highly competitive market. We have a relentless hunger to innovate and unlock the power of human insights and to drive value for our customers. There has never been a better time to make an impact and we invite you to join us on this journey.
Fitch Ratings is currently seeking a Director- Structured Finance Product Owner / Agile Product Lead based out of our Manchester office.
About the Team:
Ratings Workflow Solutions (RWS), part of the Ratings COO organization, is a cross-functional, agile team responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing applications and workflows used by our Ratings staff. Our goal is to streamline processes, mitigate risks, and advance standardization and automation across Fitch’s ratings platforms and workflows. The team partners closely with analytical, business, and technology staff to ensure our systems support the needs of the Ratings organization and enable our staff to work effectively.
How You’ll Make an Impact:
We’re looking for an experienced and dynamic Product Owner to lead an agile delivery team supporting Fitch’s Structured Finance credit analysts and their internal workflows. In this role, you’ll lead the squad, work closely with different groups to understand their needs, solve problems, and ensure we’re building solutions that advance our business objectives. You’ll work alongside analytical groups and technology teams to align priorities and deliver key outcomes. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills are important, and you should enjoy working with colleagues who have different levels of experience with Agile. A collaborative, customer-first mindset is essential.
- Define overall strategy and direction of the applications covered based on understanding of organizational goals and analytical groups’ needs.
- Own the backlog, feature prioritization, roadmap,and the MVP in support of business objectives.
- Communicate and align with stakeholdersto prioritize features and ensure a shared vision of sprint goals and backlogs.
- Lead the Agile squadto define and align sprint goals, ensuring \”ready\” user stories and supporting the squad to deliver on sprint commitments. Supports squad in identifying dependencies and other execution risks.
- Work closely with the squadto provide timely feedback and answers to their questions; ultimately accept or reject the product increments of the sprint.
- Oversee the overall squad’s quarterly delivery, ensuring that the squad meets their goals and deliver business value.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and drive initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ratings business.
- Enhance and automate processes to improve data quality, standardize workflows, and integrate key systems.
- Analyze and break down complex workflows and system processesfor both current (As-Is) and future (To-Be) states in support of automation and standardization.
- Oversee and guide user training, rollout, and change management processes.
You May be a Good Fit if:
- Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of product ownership experience
- Agile practitioner capabilities & experience working with or in Agile teams.
- Proven track record of delivering workflow and data-driven solutions with a customer-first mindset.
- See the business as a customer and translate requirements into technical solutions.
- Ability to create and maintain a backlog and roadmap, and to prioritize that backlog based on business value and technical feasibility.
- Track record of delivering results in a high-demand, matrixed organization.
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, demonstrating an ability to work well with teams and stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Jira, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
What Would Make You Stand Out:
- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
- Demonstrated ability to oversee complex projects and excel in a high-demand, matrixed organization
- Prior experience in debt capital markets, financial services or consulting
Why Choose Fitch:
- Hybrid Work Environment: 3 days a week in office required based on your line of business and location
- A Culture of Learning & Mobility: Dedicated trainings, leadership development and mentorship programs designed to ensure that your time at Fitch will be a continuous learning opportunity
- Investing in Your Future: Retirement planning and tuition reimbursement programs that empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals
- Promoting Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive healthcare offerings that enable physical, mental, financial, social, and occupational wellbeing
- Supportive Parenting Policies: Family-friendly policies, including a generous global parental leave plan, designed to help you balance career and family life effectively
- Inclusive Work Environment: A collaborative workplacewhere all voices are valued, withEmployee Resource Groups that unite and empower our colleagues around the globe
- Dedication to Giving Back: Paid volunteer days, matched funding for donations and ample opportunities to volunteer in your community
As one of the world’s top three credit ratings agencies, Fitch Ratings plays a critical role in global capital markets by providing credit analysis, ratings, research, and commentary to financial market participants. For over 100 years, Fitch Ratings has been creating value for global markets through its rigorous analysis and deep expertise, which have resulted in a variety of market leading tools, methodologies, indices, research, and analytical products. Fitch Ratings is part of Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries, which also includes Fitch Solutions. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst.
Explore a career at Fitch Ratings and you’ll join a collaborative network of curious minds. Here, our differences are our strengths – in life as well as our work. Together we work with integrity and objectivity to provide clarity to the world’s financial markets. We pride ourselves on our ability to harness the ideas, expertise, and professionalism of our global workforce, which is integral to our continued success. The accessibility and depth of experience of our industry leading analysts, combined with our broad sector credentials, allow us to help market participants make important credit decisions with confidence.
Fitch is committed to providing global securities markets with objective, timely, independent and forward-looking credit opinions. To protect Fitch’s credibility and reputation, our employees must take every precaution to avoid conflicts of interests or any appearance of a conflict of interest.Should you be successful in the recruitment process at Fitch Ratings you will be asked to declare any securities holdings and other potential conflicts prior to commencing employment. If you, or your immediate family, have any holdings that may conflict with your work responsibilities, you may be asked to divest yourself of them before beginning work.
Fitch is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law.
FOR NEW YORK ROLES ONLY: Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $130,000 and $170,000 per year. Actual salaries will be determined on an individualized basis and may vary based on factors including but not limited to education, training, experience, past performance, and other job-related factors. Base pay is one part of Fitch’s total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, discretionary bonuses, long-term incentives, and other benefits sponsored by Fitch.
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Director, Structured Finance Product Owner / Agile Product Lead - Manchester employer: Fitch Ratings
Contact Detail:
Fitch Ratings Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Structured Finance Product Owner / Agile Product Lead - Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Agile methodologies if you haven't already. Since the role requires leading an Agile delivery team, understanding the principles and practices of Agile will help you demonstrate your capability to manage workflows effectively.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the structured finance and product ownership fields. Attend industry events or webinars where you can connect with current Fitch employees or others in similar roles to gain insights and potentially get referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing past experiences where you've successfully led teams or projects. Prepare specific examples that highlight your ability to communicate effectively and align diverse stakeholders towards common goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Fitch Ratings' culture and values, particularly their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs during interviews, as cultural fit is crucial for them.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Structured Finance Product Owner / Agile Product Lead - Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Director, Structured Finance Product Owner / Agile Product Lead position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in product ownership and Agile methodologies. Emphasise your leadership skills and any experience in financial services or consulting that aligns with the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the company. Mention specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead Agile teams and deliver customer-focused solutions.
Highlight Soft Skills: In your application, emphasise your interpersonal and organisational skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully collaborated with diverse teams and influenced stakeholders at various levels.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fitch Ratings
✨Understand the Agile Methodology
Since the role requires experience with Agile teams, make sure to brush up on Agile principles and practices. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied Agile methodologies in your previous roles and how they can benefit Fitch's structured finance workflows.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
As a Director, you'll need strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, resolved conflicts, and driven projects to success. Highlight your experience in managing cross-functional teams and aligning them towards common goals.
✨Demonstrate Customer-First Mindset
Fitch values a customer-first approach. Be ready to share specific instances where you prioritised customer needs in your product development process. Discuss how you gather feedback and incorporate it into your solutions.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Given the technical nature of the role, expect questions about tools like Jira, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarise yourself with how these tools can be used to manage backlogs and track project progress, and be ready to discuss your proficiency with them.