At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product operations and drive automation for high-performing teams across Europe.
- Company: Join Ford Credit, a leader in transforming product delivery with innovative technology.
- Benefits: Full-time role with opportunities for growth and collaboration across regions.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving innovation and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Shape the future of product operations and leverage AI to enhance efficiency.
- Qualifications: Experience in product operations and strong skills in modern tooling and automation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Ford Credit is looking for a Head of Product Operations to lead the operational excellence of our European Product function. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role focused on building the systems, processes, and AI-enabled capabilities that empower high-performing product teams. As a technical leader and individual contributor, you will shape the product operating model across Europe, driving automation, standardisation, and cross-regional alignment with our North American teams to enable scalable, efficient product delivery.
About Product Operations at Ford Credit
Product Operations is a strategic enablement function that accelerates product delivery, improves product maturity, and removes operational friction across our European portfolio. You will own and continuously evolve the infrastructure, tooling, and operating model that supports our product teams, treating internal workflows as a product in their own right.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Tooling & Automation
- Own and optimise the Product technology ecosystem, including Jira, Airtable, Confluence, Miro, and emerging platforms.
- Design, configure, and automate workflows that improve collaboration, governance, and delivery consistency.
- Standardise tools and processes across European product teams while aligning with global Product Operations practices.
- Product Operating Model & Ways of Working
- Define and continuously improve the operating model for product planning, prioritisation, estimation, and execution.
- Drive adoption of consistent product management practices that increase transparency, efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Partner with Product, Engineering, Design, and Delivery teams to remove operational bottlenecks and improve execution.
- AI-Enabled Product Operations
- Lead the adoption of Generative AI across the Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC).
- Introduce AI-powered workflows, prompt engineering, and automation to streamline activities such as documentation, user story creation, research synthesis, and reporting.
- Evaluate and implement emerging AI capabilities that improve team productivity and decision-making.
- Governance & Compliance
- Partner with Legal, Risk, and Compliance teams to embed European regulatory requirements into product workflows and tooling.
- Design automated governance processes that reduce manual effort while ensuring compliance by design.
Qualifications
- Proven experience in Product Operations, Product Management Operations, or a similar strategic enablement role.
- Deep expertise with modern product management tooling and workflow automation.
- Experience designing scalable operating models and improving cross-functional ways of working.
- Strong understanding of AI applications within product development and operational excellence.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across regional and global teams.
- A continuous improvement mindset with a passion for building efficient, scalable product organisations.
Why Join Us
Join Ford Credit at a pivotal moment as we transform the way we build and deliver products across Europe. You'll have the opportunity to shape our Product Operations function, lead the adoption of AI-enabled ways of working, and influence how high-performing product teams operate at scale. Working with colleagues across Europe and North America, you'll play a key role in driving innovation, operational excellence, and the future of digital product delivery.
Please note that we currently run background checks as part of our recruitment process pending a successful interview.
Interested in this opportunity? We would love to tell you more. Stay connected with us and apply.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Product Operations
✨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 Ford Motor!
✨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 Ford Motor 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 Ford Motor through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Product Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Head of Product Operations, 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 Operations position at Ford Motor. 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 Ford Motor
✨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.