At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of B2B gaming services into innovative automation-led products.
- Company: Join Keywords Studios, a leader in digital product innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive contract with potential for permanent role and impactful work.
- Other info: Collaborate across time zones with diverse teams for creative solutions.
- Why this job: Shape the future of gaming technology and drive significant productivity gains.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in global digital transformations and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Core Objective: Define where and how KWS should build automation-led QA products for B2B gaming customers. Help the business move from services-led delivery to a productised / SaaS-style offering.
Key Characteristics:
- CTPO-level profile (senior, credible, board-facing).
- Strong Product Management fundamentals.
- Deep QA / testing / automation background.
- Ideally from a gaming or interactive entertainment environment.
- Clear understanding of B2B customers (selling into studios, publishers, enterprise clients).
Stakeholder Exposure:
- Presenting directly to: Board EQT (PE sponsor).
- Working closely with: CEO, Group Transformation Officer, CDO (particularly on pitches).
Delivery Reality: High political complexity internally. Business does not yet know where to build (tech, geography, ownership). Contractor required initially to:
- Stay neutral.
- Cut through politics.
- Shape strategy without long-term internal bias.
Contract Structure: 6-month contract, strong likelihood of extension / contract-to-perm. Budget exists but sits within 2026 planning.
Geography & Operating Model Challenges: Distributed engineering teams in Melbourne, Australia; Montreal, Canada; UK. Key friction points include Melbourne team resistant to late-night calls (e.g. 9pm local) while Montreal + UK teams operate on more traditional overlap hours. One of the Product Leader’s challenges will be to link Australian and Montreal engineers and establish workable collaboration models without forcing unsustainable hours.
Commercial & Cultural Considerations: Selling technology-led services into creative organisations both internally (within Keywords studios) and externally (B2B customers). Requires someone comfortable operating between engineers, creative teams, and senior commercial stakeholders. Must translate technical automation value into commercial and creative outcomes.
Strategic Context: Keywords Studios is transitioning from a traditional B2B service provider to an AI-first Digital Products leader. The AuQA initiative (Mighty TestBot & TestBuddy) is the spearhead of this transformation. This role is tasked with delivering a 20% productivity uplift across our 13,000-strong specialist base, moving the needle from 'selling hours' to 'selling outcomes.'
The Mandate:
- Operational Excellence: Realize a $13M-$14M productivity impact by integrating Autonomous QA tools into the Globalize division’s core workflow.
- Commercial Evolution: Pivot the business from Time & Materials (T&M) to Outcome-Based Pricing (e.g., cost per automated test suite, cost per bug-free build).
- Global Orchestration: Manage the 'Golden Triangle' of stakeholders: Melbourne (Engineering), Montreal (Pilot Ops), and UK/US (Strategic Clients).
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
- Productivity Target: Evidence of a 20% reduction in manual effort for automated tasks within 12 months.
- Commercial Conversion: Secure at least three 'Platinum' client partnerships for the AuQA productized offering.
- Roadmap Velocity: Successful transition of 'Mighty' tools from internal prototypes to market-ready SaaS-lite products.
Candidate Requirements:
- Zero Learning Curve: Must have led similar global digital transformations in B2B service or gaming sectors.
- Communication Mastery: Ability to navigate the 'unsociable hours' required to sync Australia and Canada from a UK base without losing strategic focus.
- Financial Literacy: Deep understanding of how digital efficiency impacts the P&L and the ability to articulate 'Value-Based Pricing' to skeptical clients and internal sales teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Product Evolution & Market Fit: Transform internal engineering outputs into a client-ready product suite. Partner with 'Platinum' clients to co-develop features that solve real-world AAA development bottlenecks.
- The 20% Productivity Mandate: Define, track, and deliver a robust roadmap specifically designed to extract 20% efficiency gains across the Globalize division.
- Strategic GTM & Pricing: Design and test 'Outcomes-Based' pricing models that protect margins while providing a competitive edge in a consolidating market.
- Global Technical Orchestration: Act as the strategic bridge between our Melbourne-based Engineering team and the Montreal-based Pilot operations.
- Budgetary Stewardship: Manage the initiative against the allocated digital investment budget, prioritizing features that drive the highest ROI and client stickiness.
Candidate Profile:
- Strategic Resilience: Capable of managing a complex global stakeholder map across multiple time zones (AU/CA/UK).
- B2B Product Visionary: Experience in shifting traditional service organizations toward digital product models.
- Outcome-Obsessed: You don’t just deliver features; you deliver measurable productivity and business value.
- Technically Credible: Sufficiently versed in AI/ML and Agentic workflows to challenge engineering timelines and evaluate third-party 'Buy' opportunities.
My Assessment of the Selection Process: Since you've confirmed we are moving to Outcome-Based Pricing, this candidate must be a 'Commercial Product Manager,' not just a 'Technical Product Manager.' They need to be able to talk to a CFO about ROI just as fluently as they talk to a Developer about API integration.
Cpo/Ctpo in London employer: Mentmore
Join a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation and collaboration, where your role as a Commercial Finance Manager will directly impact the company's growth trajectory. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will benefit from a dynamic work culture that encourages curiosity and operational excellence, alongside opportunities for professional advancement in a multi-entity environment. Located in the UK, this role offers the unique advantage of being part of a diverse portfolio of businesses, all while contributing to a transformative finance function that prioritises strategic decision-making and financial governance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cpo/Ctpo 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 Mentmore!
✨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 Mentmore 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 Mentmore through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Cpo/Ctpo in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Cpo/Ctpo, 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 Cpo/Ctpo position at Mentmore. 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 Mentmore
✨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.
