At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy and drive digital transformation for a key retail client.
- Company: VML, a top creative company known for innovative brand experiences.
- Benefits: Career development, hybrid work model, and a culture that values empathy and innovation.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team that champions creativity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on exciting projects with leading global brands.
- Qualifications: Experience in e-commerce and digital transformation, strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and award-winning human-first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's.
We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Lead Product Manager to drive product strategy, discovery, design, delivery and adoption for one of our key retail clients’ Ecommerce transformation programmes. As Lead Product Manager, you will be working within the client’s Product team with accountability for translating business and customer needs into a clear product strategy and measurable outcomes.
You will lead cross-functional teams through discovery, design, development, launch and continuous improvement, while building alignment across senior stakeholders, programme and delivery teams. This is a strategic leadership role, not solely a backlog-management position. You will be embedded within the client’s Product team, alongside agency colleagues and client staff.
What you’ll be doing:
- Own the product Vision: Define, communicate, and drive the product strategy and roadmap for your product scope, ensuring alignment with programme direction and wider business objectives.
- Lead Cross-Functional Delivery: Lead multidisciplinary squads across Product, UX/UI, Delivery and Optimisation, making pragmatic trade-offs to balance rapid delivery with long-term objectives.
- Drive Customer-Centric Discovery: Champion user research, journey mapping, and problem validation, ensuring that every platform feature solves genuine customer problems and enhances the digital shopping experience.
- Stakeholder Alignment & Strategy: Act as a strategic product voice for senior executives and business leaders, translating complex technical and commercial trade-offs into clear, actionable roadmaps.
- Champion Modern Product Practices: Embed Agile, Lean, and continuous discovery methodologies into the team’s DNA, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability, and customer empathy.
- Deliver Measurable Commercial Value: Focus relentlessly on strategic outcomes, connecting product decisions directly to revenue growth, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
What we want from you:
- E-commerce & Digital Transformation Expertise: Extensive experience as a Lead/Senior Product Manager within Retail e-commerce, with a proven track record of driving large-scale digital transformation projects.
- Platform migration: Demonstrable experience in managing the complex transition from legacy systems to modern architectures.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: A deep understanding of how to seamlessly integrate Engineering and UX/UI disciplines, motivating teams without necessarily having direct line-management authority.
- Strategic & Commercial Acumen: The ability to pivot effortlessly between high-level commercial strategy and detailed technical execution, making confident decisions in complex, ambiguous enterprise environments.
- Agile Mastery: Strong practical knowledge of modern product management frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, outcome-based planning) and proficiency with tools like Jira and Confluence.
- Omnichannel Retail Insight: A strong grasp of the modern retail ecosystem, understanding how a cutting-edge online customer experience integrates with wider physical and digital touchpoints.
You: Self-starter, decisive, able to deal with ambiguity and to influence wider stakeholders within a large programme of work.
If you have some of this, even better:
- A recognised Product Management or Agile Product Owner certification is desirable.
What we can offer you:
Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are. Our culture thrives on our core values, designed for impact-driven individuals: Heart, Brains and Courage.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
Lead Product Manager - Contract employer: United States Digital Space LLC
As an AI Program Manager at our innovative AI work platform, you'll be part of a dynamic team that values transparency and ownership, empowering you to make a real impact on how organizations operate. With competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth through dedicated learning and development initiatives, you'll thrive in a collaborative global culture that spans major cities worldwide. Join us to shape the future of AI adoption and drive efficiency across teams while working in an environment that celebrates ambition and creativity.
Contact Details:
United States Digital Space LLC Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Manager - Contract
✨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 Lead Product Manager - Contract at United States Digital Space LLC, 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 Lead Product Manager - Contract
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 United States Digital Space LLC!
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 United States Digital Space LLC
✨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!
