At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the growth of a modern payroll product and shape its roadmap.
- Company: Dynamic payroll software business with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, healthcare scheme, 25 days holiday, and annual trips.
- Other info: Join a close-knit team in a relaxed office environment with fun perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a growing company and take ownership of product direction.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management within software; strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our client is a payroll-focused software business entering an exciting new phase of growth. Having established themselves as a leader within the umbrella payroll space, they are now formally expanding into the wider payroll market with a new product that launched last year and is already live with paying customers.
The product has moved beyond proof of concept and is being used to run payroll for thousands of employees across around 100 businesses. With ambitious plans to scale this platform significantly, they are now looking for a Product Manager to take ownership of its next stage of growth.
This is a hands-on, office-based role in Cheadle Hulme, working closely with senior stakeholders, customers and a distributed engineering function to shape a genuinely modern payroll product.
The role
This position will suit a mid to senior level Product Manager who is ready to step up, take ownership and have real influence over product direction. You will work closely with the Product Director and senior leadership, playing a key role in defining strategy while remaining hands-on with delivery.
You will be embedded within a small, close-knit UK team, while also working day-to-day with a larger engineering team based in India. This is not an outsourced setup, but an integrated subsidiary that works UK hours and collaborates closely with the product function.
What you will be doing
- Owning and shaping the product roadmap as the platform scales through its growth phase
- Working closely with software engineers, designers and QA to deliver high-quality features
- Collaborating with Sales, Marketing and Executive teams to define value propositions and target markets
- Speaking directly with existing and prospective customers to understand payroll challenges and identify opportunities
- Translating business and user needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria and prioritised backlog items
- Ensuring the product remains compliant with relevant UK payroll legislation
- Challenging assumptions and contributing to product strategy, not just executing against it
- Planning and executing work within sprint cycles, supporting teams through delivery and removing blockers
- Reviewing completed work against agreed criteria and signing off features
- Feature and backlog management
- Maintaining a clearly prioritised backlog aligned to product vision and commercial goals
- Continuously refining priorities based on customer feedback, market trends and business direction
- Providing well-defined requirements to support efficient and accurate delivery
What they are looking for
- Solid experience working in a product role within a software business
- Ideally someone who has held a couple of product roles and is ready to take on more ownership
- Comfortable working in a regulated environment, with payroll experience a strong advantage but not essential
- Confident communicator, able to engage with users, engineers and senior stakeholders
- Strong attention to detail, particularly around user stories, UAT and sprint delivery
- Experience working with cross-functional and distributed teams across time zones
- Self-starter mindset, comfortable operating with minimal handholding
- Organised, adaptable and comfortable in a fast-paced, growing business
- Strong mathematical skills
Location and working pattern
- Based in Cheadle Hulme
- Fully office-based, five days per week
- Flexible working hours, with start times between 8–10am and finish times between 4–6pm
Salary and benefits
- £50,000 to £60,000 salary depending on experience
- Medi-cash scheme, allowing claims back for dental and other healthcare costs
- 25 days holiday plus your birthday off
- Annual company trip, with previous destinations including Barcelona, Amsterdam and UK-based locations
- Quarterly social events and regular team get-togethers around Manchester
- Relaxed, social office environment with pool table, darts and Friday drinks
- On-site gym within the building
- Performance-related bonus potential tied to stretch targets
Culture and environment
This is a collaborative, office-led culture with a strong emphasis on teamwork and shared ownership. The business values input and challenge, and is looking for someone who will bring ideas, question direction where appropriate and genuinely care about building a great product.
If you are a Product Manager looking to take real ownership of a growing payroll platform and want to be part of a close-knit, ambitious team, this is a strong opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Product Manager in Sheffield employer: Inara
Join a dynamic payroll software company in Cheadle Hulme, where you will have the opportunity to take ownership of a growing product and make a meaningful impact. With a collaborative work culture that values teamwork and innovation, employees enjoy flexible working hours, generous holiday allowances, and regular social events, all within a relaxed office environment. The company is committed to employee growth, offering performance-related bonuses and a supportive atmosphere for sharing ideas and challenging the status quo.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Manager in Sheffield
✨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 Inara!
✨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 Inara 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 Inara through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Manager in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Manager, 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 Manager position at Inara. 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 Inara
✨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.
