At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of AI-powered products across creative and health networks.
- Company: Join Havas, a global leader in creativity and healthcare communications.
- Benefits: Enjoy a permanent role with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on creativity and strategic thinking.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI in creative and health sectors while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and a passion for AI and technology.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
This role is working across both Havas Creative and Havas Health networks, so somebody who has had a foot in both camps before would be wonderful for us.
Who We Are
Havas Creative and Havas Lynx (part of the Health Network) bring together creativity, intelligence, strategy, data and technology to help brands build desire and drive growth and positive impact. Havas Creative Network operates at the intersection of creativity, data, culture and technology, built around our Village model and united by a single ambition: growth, powered by desire. Our global network spans 23,000+ people across 72 Villages, with an operating model that connects intelligence, creativity and technology. Havas Lynx is a leading healthcare communications agency with a full-service global offering and almost 500 multidisciplinary specialists. For 40 years, we’ve brought together fresh perspectives, creative thinking and a progressive approach to partner with our clients, healthcare professionals and patients in finding solutions for the modern-day healthcare landscape.
This role sits across both networks, helping us build the next generation of AI-powered intelligence products, tools and capabilities for Creative and Health.
The role
We are looking for a Product Director to lead the development and evolution of a portfolio of AI-powered intelligence products and tools across Havas Creative Network and Havas Lynx. This is a highly autonomous, entrepreneurial role for someone who knows how to take an idea from opportunity and product vision through discovery, prototyping, build, testing and readiness for launch. You will own the product development roadmap across both networks, identify what we should build next, and manage products through different stages of development and maturity. You will work closely with senior Intelligence, Strategy and Innovation leadership across Havas Creative Network and Havas Health Network, alongside agentic engineers, product designers, strategists and subject-matter experts to bring products to life. Our products sit at the intersection of strategic thinking, proprietary intelligence, AI and technology. You will own the product development workstream end-to-end, from identifying user needs and defining the opportunity through to product requirements, rapid prototyping, development, testing and iteration. You will also support proposition development and commercialisation, helping turn strong ideas and IP into scalable products that create value for our teams and clients.
What we’re looking for
- Strong experience in product management or product development, ideally within technology, AI, digital or innovation-led businesses.
- A track record of taking products from idea and opportunity through discovery, prototyping, development, testing and launch.
- The ability to rapidly prototype product concepts and user experiences, using tools such as Figma/Figma AI or equivalent.
- Strong commercial and strategic thinking, with the ability to identify where proprietary thinking, intelligence or technology can become a valuable product.
- Experience owning product roadmaps, prioritisation, requirements and delivery plans.
- Excellent project management skills, with the ability to build and own clear timelines, manage dependencies and keep multidisciplinary teams moving.
- Strong understanding of AI-powered products, agentic technologies and emerging technologies, without needing to be a technical engineer.
- The ability to translate complex strategic, scientific or technical thinking into clear product requirements, user needs and development priorities.
- A strong understanding of user experience and intuitive product design.
- Strong collaboration skills, with experience working across product, design, engineering, strategy and specialist teams.
- An understanding of, or genuine interest in, the creative, communications and health environments, and how products can support strategists, creatives, specialists, clients and new business.
- A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset, with the confidence to identify opportunities, make decisions and move things forward without constant direction.
- The ability to balance long-term product vision with the practical detail required to get products built and working.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to work with senior leadership and teams across global markets.
- Genuine curiosity about strategy, intelligence, creativity, health, AI and technology, and how they can come together to create new ways of working.
Responsibilities
- Product Strategy & Roadmap: Own the product roadmap across the portfolio of AI-powered intelligence products and tools spanning Havas Creative Network and Havas Lynx. Work with senior Intelligence, Strategy and Innovation leadership across both networks to shape product vision, priorities and future opportunities. Identify opportunities to turn proprietary intelligence, strategic thinking, specialist expertise and emerging technology into scalable products and tools. Assess and prioritise opportunities with support from the wider teams. Develop and maintain clear product plans, milestones and development timelines. Balance shared product opportunities across the two networks with specific Creative or Health use cases where appropriate.
- Product Discovery, Prototyping & UX/UI: Rapidly prototype product concepts, wireframes and user journeys using tools such as Figma/Figma AI to demonstrate how products should function, look and feel before significant technical development begins. Lead product discovery, including workshops, user research and design sprints, to identify genuine user needs, interrogate ideas and validate concepts early. Turn discovery into clear user journeys, product requirements and MVP definitions. Champion strong UX and UI principles, including accessibility, ensuring products are intuitive, useful and engaging rather than simply technically sophisticated. Test prototypes with users across Creative, Health, markets and relevant client teams, translating feedback into tangible product improvements. Bridge product vision, design and engineering, ensuring the intent and user experience of the product is maintained through technical development.
- Product Development & Delivery: Own the product development journey from validated opportunity and requirements through build, testing, launch and iteration. Develop clear product requirements and briefs in partnership with strategists, subject-matter experts, designers and engineers. Work closely with AI/agentic engineers and product designers to translate requirements and prototypes into effective working products. Define MVP scope and make clear prioritisation decisions around what is needed now, next and later. Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage dependencies and ensure products progress against agreed timelines. Lead product testing with strategists, specialist teams, markets and clients, gathering feedback and translating it into improvements. Inherit and improve existing products at different stages of maturity, ensuring they continue to evolve around user needs and opportunities. Bring structure, pace and accountability to the product development workstream.
- Product Proposition & Commercialisation: Work with Intelligence, Strategy and Innovation leadership across both networks to shape product propositions and packaging. Support the development of commercial models, propositions and go-to-market approaches. Identify opportunities to extend products across clients, markets, agencies and network applications. Help define the value proposition and use cases for different audiences, from internal teams to global clients. Work with community, learning and capacity-building teams to support roll-out, adoption and scale across both networks. Help establish feedback loops between adoption, client demand and the future product roadmap.
- Innovation & Future Products: Stay close to developments in AI, agentic technology, product innovation and emerging user behaviours to identify opportunities for both networks. Bring an entrepreneurial mindset to identifying what we should build next, for whom and why. Help turn early ideas into testable propositions and prototypes before committing significant development resource. Establish a culture of experimentation, rapid prototyping, testing and continuous product improvement. Contribute to the evolution of product development capability across Havas Creative Network and Havas Health Network.
Contract Type: Permanent
Here at Havas across the group we pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and other factors that have no bearing on an individual’s ability to perform their job.
Product Director in London employer: Havas Group
Havas Media Network is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in Manchester that prioritises collaboration, innovation, and personal growth. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity and support, employees are empowered to develop their skills while working on prestigious accounts within a dynamic team of digital experts. The company fosters a commitment to meaningful outcomes, ensuring that every team member contributes to impactful results for clients and enjoys a fulfilling career journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Director in London
✨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 Havas Group!
✨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 Havas Group 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 Havas Group through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Director, 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 Product Director position at Havas Group. 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 Havas Group
✨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.
