At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of innovative school management tools that make a real difference.
- Company: Join Arbor, a mission-driven company transforming education for over 9,000 schools.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days holiday, wellness support, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make an impact in education while collaborating with passionate teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and a passion for user-centric design.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and a supportive work culture.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: UK remote
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000
About us
At Arbor, we are on a mission to transform the way schools work for the better. We believe in a future of work in schools where being challenged doesn’t mean being burnt out and overworked. Where data guides progress without overwhelming staff. And where everyone working in a school is reminded why they got into education every day.
Our School Management Tools are already making a difference in over 9,000 schools and trusts. Giving time and power back to staff, turning data into clear, actionable insights, and supporting happier working days.
At the heart of our brand is a recognition that the challenges schools face today aren’t just about efficiency, outputs and productivity - but about creating happier working lives for the people who drive education every day: the staff. We want to make schools more joyful places to work, as well as learn.
About the role
Arbor MIS is a product that helps over 9000 schools across the UK to manage everything from attendance and assessment, to clubs and trips and timetabling. We are looking to expand the capabilities that we offer, and build new modules that support the day to day working of schools, and that interlink with the current functionality that Arbor offers.
We are looking for a data driven and detail oriented Product Manager to join our Arbor MIS product team. This role will own the discovery and delivery of a new module that sits within our core MIS, and go onto support our core MIS functionality more broadly. We expect you to also build a deep understanding of user needs and the market landscape. This role will have responsibility for positioning and launching the new product, so if you are a clear communicator and enjoy working collaboratively, this is the role for you.
Core responsibilities
- Own and maintain product roadmap aligned with company goals
- Define problems and hypotheses based on customer needs and feedback, ensuring alignment with the product strategy.
- Set out clear stages for work, with shippable increments and value.
- Collaborate with engineering and design during discovery to identify assumptions, risks, and testing strategies.
- Support the team’s Engineering Manager with planning and coordination of the delivery of product development, through iterative sprint cycles and regular team ceremonies
- Use data-driven iteration and testing to measure impact and inform adjustments.
- Maintain contextual awareness of the business, education sector, and user needs, and effectively communicate this to the team.
- Foster collaboration, communication, and a culture of shared learning within the team and across teams.
- Champion a user-centric approach using feedback, metrics, and research to inform product decisions.
- Document all work stages and contribute to team knowledge.
- Proactively communicate with stakeholders on milestones, progress, and changes.
- Work with our go to market committee and other departments to successfully launch functionality.
- Continuously seek improvement opportunities and share learnings.
About you
We are looking for a clear communicator who can take complex requirements and turn them into a prioritised roadmap and backlog for their engineering team. Beyond that, we would love to see:
- Experience working in a product role, with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and marketing.
- Continuous discovery practice
- A test early and frequently approach
- Passion for building user-centric products that make a difference.
- Experience in the education sector is a plus.
- Experience using AI to make your product practice more efficient is also a plus
- Enjoy working in a fast paced environment and manage multiple lines of communication.
What we offer
The chance to work alongside a team of hard-working, passionate people in a role where you will see the impact of your work every day. We also offer:
- A dedicated wellbeing team who champion initiatives such as mindfulness, lunch n learns, manager training, mental health first aid training and much more!
- 32 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays). This is made up of 25 days annual leave plus 7 extra company wide days given over Easter, Summer & Christmas
- Life Assurance paid out at 3x annual salary
- Comprehensive wellness benefit provided by AIG Smart Health, which provides a 24/7 virtual GP service, Mental health support, Counselling, and personalised Health Checks
- Private Dental Insurance with Bupa
- Salary sacrifice Pension provided by Scottish Widows
- Enhanced maternity and adoption leave (20 weeks full pay) and paternity (6 weeks full pay) pay
- 5 free return to work maternity coaching sessions, helping you adapt to this new exciting time of life!
- Access to services such as Calm and Bippit (financial wellbeing coaching)
- All of our roles champion flexible working and we are happy to discuss what this means to you!
- Social committees that plan team, office and company wide events to bring people together and celebrate success
- Dedicated professional development training budget (CPD courses, upskilling resources, professional memberships etc)
- Volunteer with a charity of your choice for a day each year
Interview process
Phone screen, 1st stage, 2nd stage
We are committed to a fair and comfortable recruitment process, so if you require any reasonable adjustments during your application or interview process, please reach out to a member of the team at careers@arbor-education.com.
Our commitment is also backed by our partnership with Neurodiversity Consultancy, Lexxic who provide us with training, support and advice.
Arbor Education is an equal opportunities organisation. Our goal is for Arbor to be a workplace which represents, celebrates and supports people from all backgrounds, and which gives them the tools they need to thrive - whatever their ambitions may be so we support and promote diversity and equality, and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
Refer a friend
Know someone else who would be good for this role? You can refer a friend, family member or colleague, if they are offered a role with Arbor, we will say thank you with a voucher valued up to £200! Simply email: careers@arbor-education.com
Please note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
Product Manager in London employer: Arbor Education
Contact Detail:
Arbor Education Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the education sector or product management roles. Use LinkedIn to connect and engage with them. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Arbor's products and think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to making schools happier places to work.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for user-centric products! During interviews, share examples of how you've used data and feedback to drive product decisions. This will resonate well with Arbor's focus on user needs.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the Arbor team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for education and product management.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Product Manager role. Highlight your experience with cross-functional teams and any relevant projects that showcase your skills in user-centric product development.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since this role is all about being data-driven, include examples of how you've used data to inform decisions in past projects. We love seeing how you can turn insights into action!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arbor Education
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Arbor's School Management Tools. Understand how they work, their impact on schools, and the challenges they address. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their mission to create happier working lives in education.
✨Showcase Your Data-Driven Mindset
As a Product Manager, being data-driven is key. Prepare examples of how you've used data to inform product decisions in the past. Be ready to discuss specific metrics you've tracked and how they influenced your product roadmap.
✨Communicate Clearly and Collaboratively
Arbor values clear communication and collaboration. Practice explaining complex ideas simply and be prepared to discuss how you've worked with cross-functional teams. Highlight any experiences where you facilitated collaboration between engineering, design, and marketing.
✨Emphasise User-Centric Design
Demonstrate your passion for user-centric products by sharing examples of how you've gathered user feedback and iterated on products based on that input. Discuss any experience you have in the education sector or using AI to enhance product efficiency, as this will resonate well with Arbor's goals.