Interim Head of Product Management

Interim Head of Product Management

Join to apply for the Interim Head of Product Management role at Comic Relief

This role will be a 10 month position to provide leadership of Comic Relief’s Product Management Team at a time of critical delivery on key projects across the organisation’s technology stack in support of Comic Relief’s strategic priorities.

The successful candidate will focus on supporting the delivery of complex, high-impact technology projects in collaboration with cross‑functional teams, particularly within Fundraising, Funding, Technology and Data. You will provide strategic leadership, drive delivery excellence, and ensure technology projects realise their intended benefits, with a focus on improved data capabilities, realisation of CRM benefits and improved operational effectiveness.

This role will work closely with stakeholders from across the organisation, including Data, Technology, Fundraising and Funding. Strong stakeholder skills are essential for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide the Product Management team with leadership support across key technology projects, ensuring strategic alignment, integration across workstreams, and timely delivery of outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with senior leaders in the Fundraising, Funding, Technology and Data teams, and other key stakeholders to design, plan, and key technology projects.
• Oversee the successful delivery of the following key technology projects:
  • CRM Benefits Realisation: Ensure benefits of CRM investment are realised through an improved supporter journey strategy with clear segmentation, data capture tactics, personalised content, and tailored conversion funnels to drive giving and retention.
  • CRM Benefits Realisation: Ensure CRM is fully embedded into the organisation such that it becomes the primary tool for managing relationships and interactions with donors, supporters, and other stakeholders, fundraising operations have been streamlined and the system provides the information and reports needed to support fundraising planning and activities.
  • End-to-End Income Recognition: Lead on the documentation, improvement and implementation of streamlined, accurate income data capture and recognition across Comic Relief’s platforms and systems, including CRM.
  • Data Impact Transformation: Ensure Comic Relief’s Grant Management System (Salesforce) is able to provide data to support impact measurement. Work in partnership with the Head of Data and Insights and Funding Team to ensure the development and implementation of a data strategy for insights, impact measurement and storytelling.
  • Website: Provide support on this cross‑organisational project to update and improve Comic Relief’s website with roadmap for future development.
• Develop and implement strategies to embed new ways of working and ensure sustained realisation of project benefits.
• Partner with the Programme Management Office (PMO) to ensure strong project governance, monitor risks and issues, and report progress to Comic Relief’s Programme Board.

Product Management Team

• Develop a successful Product team, aligned with the organisational priorities, focused on creating a culture of continuous improvement, learning through experimentation and user‑centred product design.
• Be the subject matter expert in product management and create an environment which expands the team’s understanding of best practice, techniques and methodologies.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation and work with them to define and deliver against the digital product roadmap to support overall organisational aims, including chairing Comic Relief’s regular Data, Technology and Fundraising (DTF) forums.

People Management

• Proactively undertake business planning, prioritise activities and set clear and realistic objectives based on capacity, expertise and aspirations.
• Provide balanced, constructive feedback, undertake effective performance management to embed accountability and proactively support the professional development and growth of staff.
• Maintain regular two‑way communication and dialogue with staff, ensuring information is cascaded and escalated as needed.
• Model an enabling, inclusive and empowering leadership style that builds a values‑based culture throughout the charity.

Person Specification – Essential Criteria

• Proven experience of developing and executing technology strategies.
• Proven experience in prioritisation and changing requirements.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to lead matrixed teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, able to influence at all levels.
• Strong technical understanding, with an ability to communicate with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Experience working with Salesforce CRM, Marketing Cloud and Grant Management Platforms.
• Outstanding solid product management skills – the ability to engage, motivate and deliver organisational change to create a user‑centric and evidence‑driven product management function.
• Able to apply systems thinking across organisational needs to simplify CRM operations.
• Strategic thinker with a hands‑on, delivery‑focused approach.
• Previous experience in the charity or non‑profit sector.
• Knowledge of impact measurement.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Contract

Job Function

Product Management

Industries

Fundraising and Philanthropic Fundraising Services