At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a groundbreaking product from concept to launch.
- Company: Join StarRez, a global leader in student housing software.
- Benefits: Remote work, supportive team culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Diverse workforce committed to creating an inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in product roles with strong collaboration skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
About StarRez
StarRez is the global leader in student housing software, providing innovative solutions for on and off-campus housing management, resident wellness and experience, and revenue generation. Trusted by 1,400+ clients across 25+ countries, StarRez supports more than 4 million beds annually with its user-friendly, all-in-one platform, delivering seamless experiences for students and administrators. With offices in the United States, Australia, the UK, and India, StarRez blends the robust capabilities of a global organization with the personalized care and service of a trusted partner.
About College Pads
College Pads is transforming the way students navigate the transition from on-campus to off-campus life. Our platform enables universities to support their students by streamlining the process of finding and securing off-campus housing. By working closely with higher education institutions, we offer a trusted tool for students to connect with property managers and rental listings, helping to foster a foundation for wellbeing and success. As of January 2025, College Pads is part of StarRez.
The Role
StarRez is seeking a Product Owner to join the College Pads rebuild team in the UK, helping lead a 0→1 product build through to market launch. This is not a typical PO role. You’ll be working on a greenfield product with ambitious timelines, high visibility, and real impact, partnering closely with a US-based Product Manager and cross-functional teams in the UK and India. You’ll play a critical role in translating product vision into execution, driving day-to-day delivery, ensuring the team ships high-quality product at speed and owning the backlog. You’ll operate in a fast-moving, AI-first environment, helping the team move quickly, stay aligned, and iterate toward product-market fit and launch readiness.
Role Details
- Work Location: Remote (UK)
- Travel: 5% (The percentage of travel is an estimation and may vary based on business needs.)
- Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Senior Director, Product Engineering.
What You’ll Do
- Own delivery from zero to one: Translate product vision into clear, actionable work, owning day-to-day execution, sprint planning, backlog, and launch readiness.
- Turn strategy into shipped product: Partner closely with the US-based Product Manager to break down priorities into deliverable increments that drive real progress toward launch.
- Prioritise ruthlessly: Make clear decisions about what matters most, balancing customer value, business impact, speed, scope, and risk.
- Drive outcomes, not just output: Ensure the team is focused on delivering features that impact acquisition, conversion, engagement, and business outcomes, not just completing tickets.
- Keep the team moving fast: Remove blockers, clarify requirements, and maintain momentum in a high-urgency environment.
- Work iteratively: Ship in small increments, gather feedback quickly, and continuously refine based on real usage.
- Partner with Engineering & Design: Align on scope, trade-offs, and sequencing to balance speed, quality, and impact and launch goals.
- Operate AI-first: Use AI tools to improve overall team efficiency, accelerate backlog creation and refinement, and streamline documentation.
- Maintain clarity in ambiguity: Bring structure to evolving priorities, ensuring the team always knows what matters most and why, and what can wait.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience as a Product Owner, Product Analyst, or similar role.
- Strong experience in B2B2C or B2C products.
- Experience working on 0→1 or rebuild products in high ambiguity and fast iteration.
- Strong backlog management and prioritisation skills.
- Proven ability to drive delivery and make sound trade-off decisions in fast-paced, cross-functional teams.
- Experience translating high-level product direction into clear, actionable requirements.
- Strong collaboration with Engineering, Design, and Product stakeholders.
- Clear communicator who can align teams and surface trade-offs effectively.
- Comfortable working with a distributed team.
- A mindset focused on outcomes, customer value, and business impact, not just output.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in property technology or ILS-style products.
- Experience in lead-based, conversion focused environments.
- Background in scale-ups or high-growth environments.
- Familiarity with agile delivery in fast-moving teams.
- Experience using AI tools to improve product delivery workflows.
Reasons to join our Team:
- Opportunity to be a part of a well-established, high-performance company that has been in business for over 30+ years.
- A supportive team environment with emphasis on learning and development opportunities.
- Our Promise: You will learn, grow, and be appreciated for your impact and contributions.
- Z-Factor: Our most celebrated value, you will work with a team of caring, high-performing, and passionate people who have fun supporting our vision, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Even if you don't have all of the Preferred Qualifications listed above, but feel you have what it takes to succeed in the role, we would love to hear from you!
We are proud of our diverse workforce and are dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all employees. People from various ethnicities, ages, genders, and abilities are encouraged to apply.
StarRez is an equal opportunity employer.
Product Owner, College Pads employer: StarRez
StarRez is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment where innovation thrives. As part of the College Pads team in the UK, you'll have the unique opportunity to lead a greenfield product build, collaborating with passionate colleagues across the globe while benefiting from a strong emphasis on personal growth and development. With a commitment to diversity and a culture that values your contributions, StarRez ensures that every employee feels appreciated and empowered to make a real impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Owner, College Pads
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at StarRez or College Pads. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just help you land that Product Owner role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the product landscape. Dive deep into what College Pads is doing and how it fits into the bigger picture of student housing. Show us you’re not just a fit for the role, but also passionate about our mission!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven product delivery in the past. We want to hear about your successes and how you tackled challenges—make it engaging and memorable!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at StarRez and making an impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Owner, College Pads
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about transforming student housing and making a real impact.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in product ownership or similar roles. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive delivery and manage backlogs effectively.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for the Product Owner role at College Pads.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at StarRez
✨Understand the Product Vision
Before your interview, dive deep into College Pads and StarRez's product vision. Familiarise yourself with their mission to transform student housing. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Backlog Management Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've managed backlogs in previous roles. Highlight your prioritisation techniques and how you've balanced customer value with business impact. This is crucial for a Product Owner, especially in a fast-paced environment.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Experience
Since this role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, share stories that showcase your collaboration skills. Talk about how you've partnered with engineering and design teams to drive product delivery and overcome challenges together.
✨Demonstrate an AI-First Mindset
Given the emphasis on operating in an AI-first environment, be ready to discuss any experience you have with AI tools. Explain how you've used technology to improve workflows or enhance team efficiency, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
