At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a dynamic Product team to drive impactful product strategies.
- Company: Thriving tech scale-up with a vibrant culture and ambitious growth plans.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health programme, free parking, and casual dress code.
- Other info: Join a pet-friendly office with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by shaping products that change lives in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in product leadership and strong communication skills.
Our client is a successful tech scale-up, a cash-generative SME currently at c.£12m turnover and c.80 staff, looking to double in size in the next five years under the guidance of its experienced, highly charismatic and driven owner, supported by a first-class senior leadership team. Further to promotion, we’re looking to strengthen the company’s growing Product team by appointing a new Head of Product to work closely with the Chief Product Officer.
As Head of Product, you will lead and develop a team of Product Owners, being responsible for driving quality and turning strategy into meaningful, measurable impact, ensuring squads – organised around clear customer outcomes – are focused on the highest-value challenges, operating with clarity, autonomy and strong product thinking within an existing North Star and OKR framework. Strengthening how the business defines and prioritises opportunities, you will ensure it is consistently building products that genuinely help people change their lives, with key responsibilities including:
- Product Impact & Focus:
- Ensure each squad has clear problem ownership and measurable outcomes
- Hold Product Owners accountable for defining high-value opportunities grounded in user insight and commercial impact
- Maintain clarity of priorities so teams can focus on what matters most
- Surface trade-offs and misalignment early to support strong decisions
- Push teams to focus on outcomes, not just shipping features
- Leadership & Development:
- Line-manage and develop Product Owners across multiple squads
- Raise the bar on product thinking, problem framing and decision quality
- Coach the team to think in terms of impact, experimentation and learning, not just feature output
- Support progression from strong execution to stronger strategic product capability
- Strategy in Practice:
- Translate CPO-level strategy into clear quarterly objectives and problem spaces
- Ensure roadmaps reflect both business priorities and real user value
- Maintain alignment as priorities evolve in a fast-moving environment
- Provide clear visibility of progress, risks and impact to senior leadership
- Product Operating Model:
- Embed and strengthen the company Product Operating Model as it continues to scale
- Clarify decision rights and ownership across squads
- Improve consistency in discovery, prioritisation and measurement
- Partner closely with Engineering, Delivery, Design, Data, QA, Marketing and Customer Experience to ensure strong cross-functional collaboration
- Partner with Technical Director and Principal Engineer colleagues where product priorities intersect with technical strategy or complex build decisions
As Head of Product, you’ll need:
- Significant experience in Product leadership as Head of Product, Product Manager, Senior Product Manager, Product Director or equivalent
- Experience leading multiple product teams in fast-moving digital environments
- Strong track record of improving product quality and outcome focus
- Commercial awareness: you understand how product decisions drive growth, retention and long-term value
- Excellent communication skills: you’ll be able to align senior stakeholders while empowering teams
- A calm, pragmatic leadership style with high ownership and no ego
- Interest or experience in health technology is a bonus (but not essential)
Rewards and Benefits:
- Basic salary between £80,000 and £90,000 plus benefits including pension and health/wellbeing programme
- Maximum pay/rewards, dependent on possessing all outlined experience, skills, knowledge and qualifications
- Full-time, permanent role, office-based in Gateshead
- Free parking
- On-site health facilities, staff events and discounts, training/development and more
- Casual dress
- Pet friendly
Please note: we review applications on receipt and aim to respond to shortlisted candidates within 5 working days. You must have permanent eligibility to work in the UK - no visa opportunities available.
Head of Product in Gateshead employer: Catalyst
As a leading international technology manufacturer based in County Durham, our company is committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. We offer competitive benefits, a strong focus on employee development, and the opportunity to lead high-impact projects in a collaborative setting. Join us to be part of a culture that values accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-site collaboration, ensuring your contributions are recognised and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Product in Gateshead
✨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 Catalyst!
✨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 Catalyst 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 Catalyst through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Product in Gateshead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Head of Product, 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 Head of Product position at Catalyst. 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 Catalyst
✨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.
