Head of Product Management

This role leads the Product Advisory function and sets the standard for product management maturity across the organisation. The Head of Product Management Advisory will provide senior product leadership, coaching and advisory support across platforms, working closely with Heads of Business Agility and senior leaders to strengthen customer-centric, modern product practice in support of Product Excellence and Platform Operating Model Transformation.

Purpose of role

• Lead the Product Advisory capability and deploy coaching support across the organisation to improve product management maturity at scale.
• Partner with Heads of Business Agility and platform leaders to balance Product Management Maturity with Agility and Delivery Maturity.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, constructively challenging behaviours, decisions and operating norms where needed to improve customer outcomes and product performance.
• Embed modern product practices that strengthen discovery, strategy, prioritisation, outcome focus and value delivery in a regulated environment.

Key accountabilities

• Define and advance the product management maturity approach, standards and interventions required across the organisation.
• Lead senior coaching and advisory engagements with platform, business and technology leaders.
• Shape and embed product practices that improve customer centricity, product thinking, evidence-based decision making and cross-functional ways of working.
• Set the standard for the craft of product management, including discovery, product strategy, roadmap thinking, prioritisation, value definition, experimentation and outcome measurement.
• Ensure strong understanding of the distinct but connected roles of Product Managers and Product Owners and help organisations bring them together effectively around shared outcomes.
• Guide leaders and teams in applying customer lifecycle and product lifecycle thinking, from problem discovery and proposition shaping through to launch, adoption, iteration, scaling and retirement.
• Ensure product management maturity is developed in a way that complements agility and delivery maturity rather than competing with it.
• Build credibility with senior stakeholders through practical expertise, influence and measurable improvement.
• Develop the Product Management Coaches, providing direction, quality control and consistency of approach.
• Promote the voice of the customer in leadership decisions, product strategy, prioritisation and governance.
• Support the delivery of Product Excellence transformation through targeted advisory, coaching and organisational change.
• Define and support the key productivity outcomes to demonstrate business benefits supporting product management maturity.

Experience and profile

• Deep product leadership experience, with a strong track record of building great products and helping organisations do the same.
• Experience working within and advising organisations at different stages of maturity, including both large enterprises and high-growth companies.
• Strong background in digital strategy, product operating models, product discovery and customer-led product development.
• Experience coaching senior product leaders, executives and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in complex, regulated environments where customer outcomes, quality and control must all be balanced.
• Strong understanding of agility and how modern product practice should connect with delivery, governance and operating model choices.
• Experience influencing CxO stakeholders moving maturing product operation model and product management practices.

Capabilities

• Executive influence and credibility.
• Deep expertise in the craft of product management, including discovery, strategy, prioritisation, roadmap development, experimentation and value measurement.
• Strong understanding of product operating models and the relationship between Product Managers, Product Owners, technology and delivery teams.
• Ability to coach leaders and teams across customer lifecycles and product lifecycles, connecting customer need, proposition, delivery, adoption and performance improvement.
• Coaching, mentoring and change leadership.
• Customer-centric thinking and advocacy.
• Ability to challenge constructively and shift senior behaviours.
• Strong judgement in balancing pace, quality, risk and customer value.

How to Apply

Ready to embark on this exciting journey? Click the 'Apply Now' button and submit your resume along with a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you would be the perfect fit for our team. We can't wait to meet you!

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone’s chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you. We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.