At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the strategy and performance of digital products, enhancing customer experiences.
- Company: Join Macs Adventure, a scaling adventure tour operator with a bold vision.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days annual leave, flexible working, and discounts on adventures.
- Other info: Dynamic culture focused on innovation and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the travel industry while growing your career.
- Qualifications: 8-10+ years in product management with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 38700 - 47300 £ per year.
Head of Software Product
Are you an experienced digital product leader who loves creating brilliant online experiences and making technology work better for customers and businesses?
Someone who knows how to set clear priorities, bring teams together and turn great ideas into measurable results?
If you thrive in a fast-paced, scaling environment, we'd love to hear from you.
As our Head of Software Product, you'll lead the strategy, roadmap and performance of Macs Adventure's digital products, from our customer-facing website and app to the data products and back-office systems that support our business.
You'll make sure we're investing in the right improvements to deliver better customer experiences and stronger commercial results.
Reporting to our Director of Technology & Digital, you'll lead and develop our product team, working closely with colleagues across Macs and our external development partners to turn our digital product strategy into reality as we grow towards becoming the world's leading active travel company.
About Macs Adventure
We’re a scaling adventure tour operator on a mission to be the leading global brand in self-guided, active travel.
Welcoming over 40,000 customers on walking and cycling trips to destinations around the world, we employ over 140 people across the UK, US and Germany who share our purpose to create #macsmoments by leading, advocating & enabling self-guided, active travel as a positive force for people and planet.
Our Culture
We’re an ambitious, forward-thinking business with a bold vision for the future, and our culture reflects these ambitions.
We’re an action-oriented, fast-paced organisation and we like to have fun along the way.
We’re looking for people who can grow with Macs and grow with us on our journey to become the world’s leading active travel company.
It’s not the easy route and we’re looking for people who enjoy challenges, love learning, want to make an impact and align with our core values:
- Love the journey: A Macs trip is all about the journey, not the destination.
We are all believers in Macs’ unique brand of self-guided, active travel and shout about it.
As more travellers convert to the Macs Way, we accept our business will grow and change.
We welcome new connections, and embrace to new opportunities.
Carpe diem!
- Take a different path: We’re not different for different’s sake; but we won’t succeed if we’re just the same as everyone else.
We devise creative solutions to problems, find new ways of doing things, and trust colleagues who are doing so too.
We are brave and feel empowered to take the initiative.
We ask ourselves: is what I’m doing authentically Macs?
- Tread thoughtfully: We are considerate, empathetic and try to put ourselves in our customers’, suppliers’ and each other’s shoes.
We support local, and find ways of having less negative impact on the planet.
We find ways of having positive impact on people and communities.
We are fair, and we do the right thing.
- Go the extra mile: We know that creating a perfect #Macs Moment involves going that bit further.
We imagine the best feedback we can get and set out to earn it.
We take ownership and accountability – it’s yours, not someone else’s, problem.
We step up and help our team mates when they need us.
What you’ll do;
Our digital products play a vital role in how customers discover, book and experience their Macs adventures, as well as how our teams work behind the scenes.
From our website and app to our data products and internal systems, we want to make sure we're investing in the right things, solving the right problems and continuously improving how our platforms perform.
As Head of Software Product, you'll bring together customer needs, business priorities and technical possibilities to shape what we deliver and why.
You'll lead our product team, work closely with colleagues across Macs and our external development partners, and make sure we turn great ideas into improvements that deliver measurable results.
Here’s where you'll make an impact
- Own our product strategy and roadmap – setting a clear product vision and prioritised roadmap across our website, app, data products and back-office systems.
You'll turn our wider business strategy into product priorities, making sure investment decisions balance customer value, commercial impact and technical feasibility.
- Lead product delivery from start to finish – overseeing the full product lifecycle, from understanding problems and exploring solutions through to launch, ongoing improvements and retirement.
You'll balance competing priorities, manage dependencies and resources, and ensure we deliver against agreed plans and budgets.
- Improve the performance of our digital platforms – driving continuous improvements across our website, app, data and internal systems to make them more reliable, scalable and effective.
You'll use customer insight, data and experimentation to identify opportunities, working closely with Engineering to manage technical constraints, architecture and technical debt.
- Deliver measurable customer and commercial results – using product improvements to increase online conversion, improve customer experience and retention, and support revenue growth.
You'll build clear business cases for product investment and use data and customer feedback to measure the impact of what we deliver.
- Lead and develop our product team – building a high-performing team of product specialists, developing their skills and raising standards across product discovery, prioritisation and delivery.
You'll create a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Work across the business and with our development partners – collaborating with Engineering, Design, Data, Marketing, Operations, Customer Service and Commercial teams to deliver shared priorities.
You'll manage relationships with external development partners and suppliers, ensuring delivery meets business needs, whilst keeping senior stakeholders informed of progress, priorities and risks.
- Bring clarity to priorities, resources and delivery – establishing clear ways of prioritising work and managing product investment across the portfolio.
You'll oversee product backlogs, sprint planning and reviews, whilst proactively managing budgets, resources, risks and dependencies to keep delivery on track.
- What you’ll bring;
- Experienced product leader – 8–10+ years in product management, including experience leading and scaling product teams.
- Proven product strategy experience – a track record of owning end-to-end product strategy and roadmaps across customer-facing, data and back-office products.
- Strong product lifecycle management – experience across product vision, roadmapping, prioritisation, delivery and managing dependencies and resources.
- Experience working with external partners – comfortable managing a mix of in-house teams and external development partners or agencies.
- Strong technical collaboration – experience partnering with engineering teams in agile development environments.
- Experienced people leader – a track record of leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, including Product Managers, Product Owners and Business Analysts.
- Strong commercial awareness – able to connect product investment decisions to measurable business outcomes.
- Data-driven approach – confident using data, analytics and experimentation to inform product decisions.
- Excellent stakeholder management – able to influence senior leaders, build strong relationships and align priorities across the business.
- Not essential, it would be a bonus if you have;
- Experience in ecommerce, travel or consumer digital platforms
The knowledge and skills we’ve listed represent “the perfect candidate”. No one’s perfect and we know the ‘confidence gap’ can stop brilliant people applying.
To deliver adventures for more than 40,000 customers we need to build a company that’s reflective of their diversity.
We’re building an inclusive workplace that promotes and values difference, where everyone, from any background, can do their best work and be proud to belong.
- What we’ll offer
- As well as your salary;
- ANNUAL LEAVE: We want you to be able to take holidays that matter to you, so 8 public holidays are included in your annual leave allowance of 33 days, which increases to 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• BIRTHDAY BOOSTER: An extra day off on your birthday!
- PENSION: We offer a contributory pension scheme.
- DISCOUNTS: Enjoy generous discounts on Macs Adventure trips — you'll get to experience the same self-guided adventures we create for our customers, at a price that makes it easy to say yes.
It's a perk built around what we love doing most: getting outside and exploring!
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: We provide you and your spouse/partner/children with annual worldwide travel insurance.
- FLEXIBLE WORKING: A flexible work culture - you’ll be able to work from home as well as coming into our hub office in Glasgow 3 days per week to collaborate with colleagues.
- GETTING TOGETHER: Regular team, management and leadership meetings and retreats.
- CULTURE: An innovative, fast growth, international and solution focused culture, where we work hard to embed our values across the business.
- L&D: We support your self-guided learning journey to make the most of your strengths.
- WELLBEING. We'll support you in looking after your health and wellbeing so you can do your best work.
- TRAVEL: Occasional international travel may be required.
- IMPACT: The opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and the planet.
Head of Software Product (UK) in Glasgow employer: Macs Adventure Ltd
Macs Adventure Ltd offers a dynamic work environment where employees can thrive in a fast-paced, scaling atmosphere. The company emphasizes collaboration across teams and provides opportunities for professional growth, particularly in digital product leadership. With a focus on creating exceptional online experiences, Macs Adventure Ltd is committed to investing in improvements that enhance customer satisfaction and drive commercial success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Software Product (UK) in Glasgow
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Macs Adventure Ltd or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Macs Adventure Ltd.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Macs Adventure Ltd.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Macs Adventure Ltd that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Product (UK) in Glasgow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Macs Adventure Ltd.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Macs Adventure Ltd and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macs Adventure Ltd
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Macs Adventure Ltd uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.