At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development lifecycle for internal systems, ensuring clear prioritisation and delivery.
- Company: Join Macs Adventure, a growing adventure tour operator with a mission to inspire active travel.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days annual leave, flexible working, and discounts on trips.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse, inclusive culture that values your unique contributions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a role that bridges teams and drives innovation.
- Qualifications: 3+ years as a Product Owner with strong backlog management and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Are you a Product Owner who loves turning messy prioritisation into clearly defined, well-delivered outcomes – and who’d relish doing it for a business that helps over 40,000 people a year discover the world on foot and by bike? If so, we’d love to hear from you! This is a fantastic opportunity to own the full prioritisation and delivery lifecycle for the internal systems that keep Macs Adventure moving. You’ll be the vital bridge between our Operations, Sales and Customer Service teams and our development partner, making sure the right things get built, in the right order, to a high standard. You’ll also lead the user requirements and user stories for our back-office replatforming programme – a key part of our journey to become 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 150 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 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 #MacsMoment 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: As Product Owner you’ll own and govern the full prioritisation and development lifecycle for our internal back-office and operational systems. It’s a pivotal role that keeps Operations, Sales and Customer Service aligned with our development partner, making sure business needs are clearly defined, prioritised by value and delivered with quality. You’ll have real ownership from day one – shaping how we capture demand, run delivery and bring our back-office replatforming programme to life, with plenty of scope to define and improve the way we work.
- Own backlog management and prioritisation – capturing, triaging and prioritising requests from Operations, Sales and Customer Service, and maintaining a clear, well-groomed backlog that reflects business value and urgency.
- Oversee the end-to-end development cycle with our development partner, from brief through to deployment – managing scope, timelines, risks and dependencies.
- Coordinate UAT and testing with internal requestors, validating changes against acceptance criteria and acting as the final approval authority for go-live decisions.
- Lead the gathering, documentation and refinement of user requirements and user stories for the back-office replatforming programme.
- Keep Operations, Sales and Customer Service teams informed and aligned, building trust through consistent, transparent communication.
- Drive continuous improvement by championing agile and lean best practice, strengthening documentation, improving processes and embedding better ways of working across the Delivery Tribe.
What you’ll bring: 3+ years in a Product Owner or Delivery Manager role within a technology or operations environment. Proven experience owning a backlog end-to-end – including prioritisation, refinement, user story writing and acceptance criteria – within agile/scrum delivery frameworks. A talent for requirements gathering: translating business needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria and functional specifications. Confident stakeholder management across technical and non-technical audiences, with the ability to balance competing priorities and set clear expectations. Experience coordinating user acceptance testing (UAT), documenting defects and driving resolution with development partners. A track record of managing third-party or offshore development partners with accountability for quality and timelines. A good grasp of back-office systems and operational workflows, and how technical changes ripple through business processes. Excellent communication and documentation skills, with a natural ability to translate technical language for business audiences and vice versa. Organised and detail-oriented, comfortable managing multiple workstreams at once.
Not essential, it would be a bonus if you have: Exposure to back-office or internal system projects – CRM, ERP, booking systems or similar replatforming programmes. A genuine love of the outdoors, walking or cycling, and a passion for active travel.
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. If you love the sound of this opportunity please apply, we’d love to hear from you.
You could belong here: 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:
- 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: You are eligible for great discounts on Macs Adventure trips!
- 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.
Product Owner - UK Digital Experience · Skypark 5, Glasgow, G3 8JU · employer: Macs Adventure
At Macs Adventure, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture in the heart of Glasgow. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer generous benefits such as 33 days of annual leave, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for self-guided learning, all while empowering our team to make a positive impact on people's lives and the planet through active travel. Join us in our mission to create unforgettable experiences for our customers while enjoying a supportive environment that values creativity, collaboration, and personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Owner - UK Digital Experience · Skypark 5, Glasgow, G3 8JU ·
✨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 Macs Adventure!
✨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 Macs Adventure 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 Macs Adventure through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Owner - UK Digital Experience · Skypark 5, Glasgow, G3 8JU ·
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Owner - UK Digital Experience · Skypark 5, Glasgow, G3 8JU ·, 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 Owner - UK Digital Experience · Skypark 5, Glasgow, G3 8JU · position at Macs Adventure. 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 Macs Adventure
✨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.
