At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategy for Secondary English products, driving innovation and market success.
- Company: Join a leading educational publisher with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Hybrid working policy with opportunities for career growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on education while collaborating with creative minds.
- Qualifications: Experience in educational product development and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Product Manager will lead on strategy for Secondary English, drawing on research, in-depth customer knowledge and data to produce market-leading propositions (print and digital) in line with the product strategy for Secondary and the overarching ED-UK strategy. The Product Manager will be accountable for the commercial success of products and for driving profitable growth in relevant market segments. In addition, the Product Manager will maintain a deep and up-to-date customer understanding to anticipate future market trends and needs (short, medium and long term), identifying opportunities for creativity and innovation to support designated product strategy. They will champion products internally and ensure clear positioning and strong engagement across stakeholders, while managing budgets, timelines and performance to maximise success. The Product Manager will support ED-UK initiatives to increase revenue, market share and profitability and create new revenue streams.
Duties of the role will include:
- Maintain a good knowledge of the Secondary market, customer needs and competitive landscape
- Monitor the performance and development of designated brands/series/products, identifying challenges, opportunities, and required refinements, and managing improvements across the full product lifecycle in collaboration with sales and marketing
- Work with editorial and product delivery colleagues to determine best resourcing options and workflows on new projects
- Build and maintain strong relationships with authors, experts, freelancers and other suppliers
- Contribute to the creation of budgets and project costings for designated series/products supported by the Head of Portfolio
- Lead the creation of clear product positioning and impactful marketing messages
- Manage project timelines, budgets and resources to ensure delivery on time and within budget
- Create an atmosphere of enthusiasm and collaboration through setting up effective project teams and meeting structures, and through daily effective communication with managers of other departments
This is a 6-month fixed term contract, with the possibility of extension. We operate a hybrid working policy that requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office.
About You
To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:
- A strong background in educational product development
- A deep understanding of the needs of Secondary teachers and learners
- A good understanding of the UK’s Secondary English curriculum and qualifications
- A track‑record of delivering complex print and digital products that have driven share and profitable revenue growth
- Excellent presentation and proposal writing skills
- Excellent leadership, management, and influencing skills
- Understanding of learning trends and pedagogy
- A collaborative, creative and innovative mindset
- Experience of building effective relationships with partners, subject experts and authors
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. 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.
£47,000 - £50,000 dependent on skills and experience
Product Manager - English (Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford employer: Oxford University Press
At OUP, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises work/life balance with generous holiday allowances and flexible working arrangements. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through active networks and development opportunities, while our Oxford location provides a vibrant environment for collaboration and innovation in educational product development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Manager - English (Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford
✨Connect with Product Management Communities
Dive into online communities like Product School or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and ask questions. This can help you build relationships and visibility in the product management scene, plus you might hear about temp roles before they even get posted!
✨Attend Industry Meetups and Workshops
Check out local meetups or workshops specifically targeted at product management. These gatherings are prime spots to meet hiring managers and fellow practitioners. Plus, they often lead to connections that can help you land temporary roles.
✨Showcase Your Work with a Portfolio
Even if you're after a temporary gig, having a solid portfolio is key! Include case studies of past projects, highlighting your role and how you drove product success. Use platforms like Behance to display your work visually.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you spot a temp role like Product Manager - English (Fixed Term Contract) at Oxford University Press, go straight to their website to apply. Direct applications often have a better chance of standing out since they show commitment. It's worth the extra effort, trust us!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Manager - English (Fixed Term Contract) in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Sense:In product management, we want to see your understanding of user needs and business value. When you're crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight specific products you've worked on, the methodologies you used, and how those experiences shaped your product sense. If you have insights into user journey mapping, competitive analysis, or product lifecycle, make sure to feature them!
Highlight Relevant Experience:For a temporary role, employers often look for candidates who can hit the ground running. Make sure your written application showcases not just your past roles, but also specific outcomes you've driven. Don't shy away from using metrics—how did your contributions impact the product or team? We love when you quantify your achievements!
Be Ready to Adapt:Temporary positions can often lead to quick changes in direction. In your cover letter, convey your adaptability and eagerness to learn. Mention any experiences where you’ve had to pivot or adjust your approach to meet project goals. Talk about how you thrive in dynamic environments—it'll really resonate with us at Oxford University Press!
Link to Your Portfolio:If you've worked on product roadmaps, user stories, or any visualisations, link to your portfolio in your application. Even a personal project that demonstrates your skills as a product manager can show your proactive approach. It's a great way for us to see your work in action and understand your style. And remember, apply through our website to make it easier for us to find you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford University Press
✨Show Off Your Product Knowledge
Make sure we can discuss the product lifecycle with confidence! Be ready to showcase your understanding of key concepts in product management, such as roadmap planning and user research. We want to hear about any tools you're familiar with, like JIRA or Trello, as they’re popular in this space!
✨Agile Mindset is Key
As a temporary role, they'll want us to hit the ground running. Brush up on Agile methodologies and be prepared for scenario-based questions where you might need to demonstrate how you'd handle shifting priorities or tight deadlines. Show that you can think on your feet and adapt quickly!
✨Bring Your Portfolio of Projects
If you've got any product projects up your sleeve—be it case studies or live examples—bring them along! For a temporary position, they’re going to want to see tangible results from your previous work, so don't hold back on demonstrating how you've made an impact in past roles.
✨Communicate Clearly and Concisely
They’ll be looking to see how you articulate your ideas, so practice your pitch! Make sure we can summarise complex product requirements into clear, understandable language. Being able to express yourself well is vital in product management, especially in a temporary role where quick collaboration is essential!
