Business Product Owner (Part Time, Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford

Business Product Owner (Part Time, Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford

Oxford Part-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Oxford University Press

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead exciting digital projects and enhance our core platform with new features.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking team at OUP, committed to innovation and inclusivity.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, 25 days holiday, and a generous pension contribution.
  • Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for professional growth and networking.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the education and publishing landscape while developing your skills.
  • Qualifications: Experience in product ownership or digital delivery, with Agile knowledge preferred.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

We are looking for an experienced Business Product Owner to join the Digital Product Management team to accelerate the team's delivery of strategic projects. The role will manage the delivery of new features and workflows to enhance the Division's core platform and content tools.

Duties of the role will include:

  • Manage the delivery of a set of new features to enhance the platform, coordinating development and ensuing process change with suppliers, the project team and internal stakeholders.
  • Build strong relationships with publishers, editors, and colleagues within central functions to ensure priorities are understood and delivery plans are aligned.
  • Represent customer and user needs so that the delivery team understands requirements and the customer context.
  • Monitor the delivery by suppliers and strategic partners, ensuring progress against agreed timescales is tracked and any changes are understood by stakeholders.
  • Collect and provide feedback on delivered features and changes, working in collaboration with Digital Product Managers, Product Designers and publishing colleagues.
  • Create and implement roll‑out plans for your feature set and associated process changes and present them to colleagues (Product Managers and other Business Product Owners) and stakeholders, to ensure changes are understood and supported.
  • Develop training materials and documentation to support the product features and tools being delivered.
  • Provide knowledge transfer and training to impacted teams for new features and tools.
  • Work proactively to identify ways in which processes can be improved.
  • Ensure engagement, alignment and buy‑in from the wider product and delivery teams through regular touch points such as quarterly planning, demos and Product communications.

This is a 12‑month fixed term contract. This is a part time position working 28 hours per week. We operate a hybrid working policy that requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office.

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have/be:

  • Proven success in a product owner role or a digital delivery role (product manager, project manager, business analyst, platform manager etc.), working with delivery teams.
  • Experience of working with Agile methodologies and tools.
  • Demonstrable experience of successfully embedding change.
  • Experience of planning and delivering continuous change and improvement in a digital product environment, including maintaining release plans.
  • Knowledge of how to define, test, and refine user journeys.
  • Skills in communication, networking and influencing within a matrix structure: to find a consensus and a way forward which balances needs.
  • Knowledge of the education and publishing landscape.
  • Basic level of technical understanding, including software architectures, standards, development methods and practices.
  • Comfortable with utilising and interpreting data.

We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind we offer 25 days’ holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35‑hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect to working patterns, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies. We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 12%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts. This role comes with the added benefit of a discretionary annual payment. We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.

Business Product Owner (Part Time, Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford employer: Oxford University Press

At OUP, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises work/life balance and employee well-being. With flexible working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we provide our employees with ample opportunities for growth and development within a collaborative environment. Our Oxford office fosters strong relationships across teams, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, making it a truly rewarding place to work.

Oxford University Press

Contact Details:

Oxford University Press Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Business Product Owner (Part Time, Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford

Get Involved in Product Communities

Join local or online product management groups like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Being part of these communities can help us find part-time gigs and network with industry pros who might know about openings at places like Oxford University Press.

Show Your Skills Through Side Projects

If you want to land that part-time role in product management, consider running a side project. This not only showcases your skills but also gives you real-world experience. You can highlight what you’ve built during interviews or on your LinkedIn profile, catching the eye of companies like Oxford University Press.

Attend Product Management Meetups

Look out for meetups and conferences focused on product management. These events are goldmines for networking and might even have job boards or speakers from companies like Oxford University Press who are looking for part-time talent.

Tailor Your Applications via Our Website

When you're ready to apply, make sure to use our website for submissions. Customise each application for the role at Oxford University Press, highlighting your relevant skills and experience in product management. This personal touch can set us apart from the crowd!

We think you need these skills to ace Business Product Owner (Part Time, Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford

Product Ownership
Agile Methodologies
Change Management
Digital Product Delivery
User Journey Definition
Communication Skills
Networking Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills:In product management development, we’re all about tackling problems head-on. Make sure your CV and cover letter highlight specific examples where you've identified a challenge, brainstormed solutions, and implemented changes. Use metrics to show the impact your decisions had, like user feedback or product uptake!

Highlight Your Collaborative Spirit:Product development is all about teamwork! Use your application to showcase your collaboration skills. Mention your experiences working with cross-functional teams, like designers or developers, and describe how you contributed to achieving a common goal. We're looking for how you can bring people together and work efficiently in a part-time role.

Show Your Passion for the Product:Let your enthusiasm shine through! In your cover letter, explain why you’re interested in working with Oxford University Press specifically. Share what excites you about their products, and describe any personal or professional experiences that make you a great fit for the role. Your passion can really set you apart from other candidates.

Keep It Clear and Concise:When applying for a part-time position, we want to see clarity in your application. Keep your CV to one page and make sure your cover letter isn’t more than a couple of paragraphs. We love efficient communication, so get to the point and make sure every word serves a purpose. And remember, apply through our website so your application lands directly in our hands!

How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford University Press

Show Off Your Product Sense

For product management roles, being able to articulate your understanding of a product's lifecycle is key. Make sure to prepare a couple of real-world examples where you identified user needs and translated them into features or improvements. We want to see your thought process and how you can balance technical aspects with user experience.

Brush Up on Agile Methodologies

Since product management often intersects with agile development, be prepared to discuss your experience with methodologies like Scrum or Kanban. We should definitely mention any specific tools you've used—like Jira or Trello—so you can show you're familiar with the frameworks that help in managing product backlogs effectively.

Articulate Your Part-Time Commitment

Since this is a part-time position, the interviewers will likely want to know how you plan to balance your availability with the demands of the role. Be ready to discuss your time management strategies and how you can contribute effectively without being full-time.

Have Your Portfolio Ready

If you have previous work or projects in product management, prepare a mini portfolio to showcase during the interview. This could include case studies, wireframes, or user journey maps that demonstrate your skills. It's a great way to visually communicate your thought process and past successes, making a memorable impression on the team at Oxford University Press.