At a Glance
- Tasks: Support product initiatives and collaborate with cross-functional teams in an Agile environment.
- Company: Join the British Council, a global leader in education and cultural connections.
- Benefits: Gain hands-on experience, develop core skills, and enjoy a hybrid working model.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid work in London with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career in product management while making a positive impact worldwide.
- Qualifications: University degree or equivalent experience; strong interest in digital products and user experience.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
The Junior Product Owner supports the delivery of English Online product initiatives by assisting Senior Product Owners, Delivery Leads and cross‑functional teams. The role provides hands‑on experience in Agile product development and offers a pathway to develop core product ownership skills. Reporting to the Head of Product, the role contributes to improving team documentation, communication, and delivery processes.
Location: London (hybrid) The Junior Product Owner sits within the English Online Product Team in London (hybrid working with 2‑3 days per week in our Stratford office) and provides structured support to key product functions. It offers exposure to Agile methodologies, digital learning products and cross‑functional collaboration, making it a valuable entry point into product management.
Responsibilities
- Support Senior Product Owners and Delivery Leads across English Online projects and workstreams.
- Support product workstreams across the English Online platform, contributing to a range of digital learning initiatives.
- Assist with backlog preparation, documentation and user story creation under supervision.
- Help maintain product artefacts such as roadmaps, release notes, and feature documentation.
- Help coordinate discovery activities by gathering user insights, analytics and stakeholder inputs.
- Contribute to project coordination by helping monitor tasks, dependencies, risks and timelines.
- Contribute to Agile ceremonies by preparing materials, capturing actions, and ensuring follow‑up.
- Collaborate with UX, content, engineering, data and operations on product design and delivery insights.
- Support internal communication of product updates to stakeholders across the organisation.
- Gather and organise user feedback, analytics and research inputs to support product discovery.
- Help track progress of development tasks and highlight issues or risks to Senior Product Owners.
- Participate in testing activities, such as reviewing prototypes or validating feature behaviour.
- Assist in improving product processes, documentation standards and knowledge‑sharing resources.
Requirements
- A university degree or equivalent experience demonstrating analytical or organisational capability.
- Basic understanding of digital product development.
- Strong interest in digital products, technology and user experience design.
- Ability to organise work effectively and manage multiple small tasks simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Drive to learn product management tools, Agile methods and digital delivery practices.
- Ability to work well with others and contribute positively to team culture.
- Attention to detail and ability to capture information accurately.
- Basic understanding of user needs and an interest in user‑centred thinking.
- Motivation to develop skills in product ownership within a supportive environment.
- Curiosity, enthusiasm and a proactive attitude towards learning.
Bonus Skills
- Internship, voluntary or previous work experience on product related projects.
- Familiarity with digital tools e.g., Jira, Confluence, Miro, Figma.
- Basic understanding of Agile, Scrum or iterative development principles.
- Interest in EdTech, online learning, digital content or language‑learning platforms.
- Exposure to user research, testing or analytics (academic or practical).
- Strong interest in AI‑enabled learning or new technologies.
- Experience supporting communication or documentation tasks in teams.
- Understanding of accessibility or inclusive design principles.
Essential
- Fluency in English.
- Unlimited right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship.
- Flexibility to work in a hybrid capacity in our London office (Stratford).
British Council Values
British Council values and behaviours are applicable across our organisation, in all roles and at all levels. They are important because they say what we stand for at the British Council and help us to deliver our strategy. We use them to guide our decision making, as well as guiding how we treat one another and the people we work with. These will be assessed in the selection process. Our values are: Open and Committed; Expert and Inclusive; Optimistic and Bold.
Junior Product Owner for English Online employer: British Council
The British Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation within the English Online Product Team in London. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will gain hands-on experience in Agile product development while contributing to meaningful digital learning initiatives that impact millions globally. Enjoy the benefits of hybrid working, a supportive environment, and the opportunity to develop your skills in a mission-driven organisation dedicated to building connections and trust across cultures.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Product Owner for English Online
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like British Council!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at British Council would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at British Council through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Product Owner for English Online
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Junior Product Owner for English Online, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Junior Product Owner for English Online position at British Council. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at British Council
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
