At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a high-performing Game Studio product team while driving innovative game initiatives.
- Company: Join tombola, a leading gaming company with a focus on fun and responsible play.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the gaming industry while nurturing talent and creativity.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in product management and a passion for coaching teams.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a strong emphasis on player insight and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Lead Product Manager to lead our Game Studio product team, owning the strategy, delivery and performance of tombola’s game portfolio. This is a senior leadership role with real scope. You’ll build and nurture a high-performing team of Product Managers and Game Producers, while also remaining hands-on — personally leading our most complex, high-impact product initiatives. You’ll be accountable for shaping and delivering the Game Studio roadmap, ensuring it balances innovation, commercial impact and responsible play, while staying aligned to tombola’s long-term vision.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead, coach and grow the Game Studio product team.
- Coach, mentor and develop a team of Product Managers and Game Producers, supporting both skill development and long-term career growth.
- Own performance management, including regular 1:1s, PDPs and reviews.
- Embed a strong culture of data-led decision making and player insight, coaching the team on experimentation, hypothesis testing and outcome analysis.
- Prioritise team capacity and workload based on capability, development goals and commercial impact.
- Champion continuous improvement and innovation, keeping the team up to date with emerging trends, frameworks and technologies.
Own strategy, roadmap and delivery
- Personally lead the discovery and delivery of the most critical, high-impact and innovative Game Studio initiatives.
- Translate business objectives into clear, actionable product plans and delivery initiatives.
- Own and evolve the Game Studio delivery roadmap, ensuring the right balance between iterative improvements and bolder innovation.
- Lead cross-functional prioritisation, managing trade-offs and aligning resources based on player insight, commercial value and strategic fit.
- Maintain a deep, hands-on understanding of delivery progress and risk, stepping in to unblock issues and keep initiatives on track.
Drive cross-functional alignment
- Work closely with engineering teams (engine, client and platform), as well as wider tombola and UKI/Flutter stakeholders.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships to ensure smooth delivery across multiple teams and partners.
- Act as a consistent voice for the player, ensuring product decisions align with player needs, business strategy and responsible play commitments.
What we’re looking for
- Extensive experience as a Product Manager within a technology-led business, with a strong track record of leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Proven ability to coach, mentor and grow Product Managers and Producers.
- Strong strategic and commercial mindset, with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working in complex product environments; online gambling or gaming experience is highly desirable, but not essential.
- Comfortable operating under pressure, managing multiple initiatives and prioritising effectively.
You’ll thrive here if you…
- Are passionate about leadership, coaching and developing others.
- Balance innovation with commercial focus and regulatory responsibility.
- Enjoy being hands-on with complex product challenges, not just setting direction.
- Are an engaging, approachable leader with a down-to-earth style.
- Take full ownership of outcomes, from team performance to product impact.
Why tombola
At tombola, product teams have real ownership and influence. You’ll play a key role in shaping our games, growing our people and ensuring everything we build is fun, safe and responsibly first culture.
Lead Product Manager - Game Studio - Sunderland... · Sunderland, UK · employer: Tombola
Contact Detail:
Tombola Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Manager - Game Studio - Sunderland... · Sunderland, UK ·
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the gaming industry, especially those at tombola. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for gaming! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, share your thoughts on current trends or your favourite games. It shows you're not just looking for a job, but you genuinely care about the industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into tombola's game portfolio. Know their products inside out and think about how you can contribute to their roadmap. This will help you stand out as a candidate who’s ready to hit the ground running.
✨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 you’re serious about joining the team at tombola.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Manager - Game Studio - Sunderland... · Sunderland, UK ·
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Lead Product Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in coaching and developing teams, as well as any relevant product management achievements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about leading product teams in the gaming industry. Share specific examples of how you've driven innovation and managed complex projects, and don’t forget to mention your approach to responsible play.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since data-led decision making is key for us, make sure to include examples of how you've used data to inform product strategies. Discuss any experience you have with experimentation and outcome analysis to demonstrate your analytical mindset.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and you’ll be one step closer to joining our awesome team at tombola!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tombola
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into tombola's game portfolio. Familiarise yourself with their current games, understand their unique selling points, and think about how you can contribute to their strategy. This will show your genuine interest and help you discuss how you can lead and innovate within their Game Studio.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in coaching and developing teams. Think about specific instances where you've successfully mentored Product Managers or Game Producers. Be ready to discuss how you foster a culture of data-led decision making and continuous improvement, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Be prepared to talk about how you translate business objectives into actionable product plans. Bring examples of how you've balanced innovation with commercial impact in previous roles. This will illustrate your strategic mindset and ability to manage complex product environments effectively.
✨Engage with Cross-Functional Collaboration
Highlight your experience working with engineering teams and other stakeholders. Discuss how you've built strong relationships to ensure smooth delivery across multiple teams. Emphasising your ability to act as a voice for the player while aligning product decisions with business strategy will resonate well with the interviewers.
