At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy and execution at a top home services brand.
- Company: Join Checkatrade, the UK's leading platform for finding tradespeople.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, health support, and flexible holiday options.
- Other info: Be part of a fast-growing company with a mission to power great work.
- Why this job: Shape the future of trades and consumer experiences with AI integration.
- Qualifications: Senior product leadership experience in marketplace dynamics and AI features.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Checkatrade, our north star is Powering Great Work — transforming the landscape for trades, consumers, and the next generation of skilled workers. As our next VP Product, you’ll have the mandate to shape what that mission looks like in practice. This is a rare chance to own product strategy and execution at one of the UK’s most recognised home services brands — reporting directly to the CEO, working at the intersection of consumer experience, trade‑side tooling, marketplace dynamics, and AI.
The foundations are strong. The opportunity ahead is enormous.
What you’ll actually spend your time on:
- Setting and owning the multi‑year product vision and roadmap — translating Checkatrade’s growth ambitions into a clear, prioritised strategy that the whole business can get behind.
- Leading, coaching and growing all Product Managers across the business — building a culture of ownership, curiosity, and pace, and creating the conditions for PMs to do their best work.
- Driving rigorous prioritisation and planning — balancing short‑term commercial impact with long‑term platform investment, and keeping the organisation moving at pace.
- Leading the integration of AI and machine learning across the product — from search and matching to personalisation and automation — identifying where these tools can genuinely unlock step‑change improvements in experience and efficiency.
- Partnering closely with Marketing, Engineering, Design, Data, and Commercial teams to make sure product decisions are grounded in real user needs and real business outcomes.
- Representing the product function in board and investor conversations — communicating roadmap, progress, and trade‑offs with clarity and confidence.
You'll do well here if you bring:
- A solid background in senior product leadership — you’ve owned product direction end‑to‑end and built high‑performing PM teams from the ground up.
- Proven experience in a two‑sided marketplace or platform business — you understand supply and demand dynamics, network effects, and what it actually takes to grow a marketplace.
- Demonstrable experience building and shipping AI‑powered product features — from concept through to production, with a clear view on where the technology adds genuine value versus noise.
- Strong commercial acumen and the ability to connect product decisions to revenue, retention, and growth — combined with exceptional communication skills that work equally well with a cross‑functional team or a board room.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary + annual bonus
- Employee Share Programme
- Health, well‑being and learning support
- Gym membership, Smart Tech Scheme and Cycle Scheme
- Birthday/Special day leave
- Buy & sell holiday scheme
- 1 week’s paid charity leave and much more!
Interview Process:
- Screening call with Laura Scott, Talent Acquisition
- 30‑minute interview with Mathieu Proust, Chief Operating Officer
- Final stage interview with Jambu Palanippan (CEO), Ashley Bartley (Chief People Officer), Mathieu Proust (Chief Operating Officer), and Gorden Pretorius (Chief Technology Officer)
Need sponsorship to work in the UK? We can support Skilled Worker visa applications for this role. If this sounds like the place where you can do your best work, we’d love to hear from you, even if you don’t tick every box.
About us: We’re Checkatrade – the UK’s leading platform for finding a tradesperson. With more than 50,000 trades listed and over 6 million reviews, we help homeowners get jobs done right and help tradespeople grow their business. We’re growing fast, with big plans to become the go‑to brand for home improvements. If you care about great work, take pride in the details, and want to make an impact, you’ll fit right in.
VP Product employer: Checkatrade
At Checkatrade, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. As the VP Product, you'll not only lead innovative product strategies but also benefit from a competitive salary, comprehensive health support, and unique perks like a buy & sell holiday scheme and paid charity leave. Join us in shaping the future of home services while enjoying ample opportunities for personal and professional growth in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP Product
✨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 Checkatrade!
✨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 Checkatrade 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 Checkatrade through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace VP Product
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like VP 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 VP Product position at Checkatrade. 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 Checkatrade
✨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.