Lead Product Manager

As a Lead Product Manager, you will define and execute the product strategy for a portfolio of internal and customer-facing products, aligning with business objectives and customer needs. You will set the product vision, define roadmaps and priorities, and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to translate these into actionable requirements. Your focus will be on driving an evidence-based approach to create and improve products that are desirable, feasible, viable, and sustainable throughout their lifecycle. You will lead the development of robust product management practices, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer needs. This role requires strong leadership and collaboration skills to guide multi-disciplinary teams effectively.

Key accountabilities:

• Product Lifecycle Management: Oversee the entire product lifecycle from research to in-life performance management, ensuring internal and external customer needs are central to decision-making.

• Strategy and Roadmap Development: Create business cases and product strategies aligned with strategic goals, market insights, and customer needs. Develop and own product roadmaps and backlogs that prioritise business objectives.

For full job description, please see role profile attached.

Skills, qualifications, and experience

You will have a proven track record of achievements in strategic product management and strategy development, which could have been gained in one or more business sectors (B2B and B2C). You should be highly commercially aware, outcomes driven and innovative, whilst being motivated by UCAS’ vision and values. This role requires working in close collaboration with a wide range of colleagues across the business and with external audiences.

You will demonstrate the following:

• A thorough understanding of strategic product lifecycle management and good practice.

• A passion for understanding customers’ needs and motivations and a proven ability to deliver high quality products that realise these.

• Demonstrable experience of taking products from idea through to development, to successful market adoption, and demonstrable experience of optimising existing products to improve reach and revenue.

• A strong understanding of user-centred design and digital optimisation practices.

• Strong team-player, with the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and demonstrate empathy to build collaborative and collegiate working relationships.

• Excellent communication skills and stakeholder management, with proven ability to influence very senior stakeholders and articulate and promote customer and business benefits. Active listening and influencing skills are required.

For full job description, please see role profile attached.

Pacakge

Salary - up to £65,000

• Purpose-driven work in a charity-led organisation connecting people to education and opportunity

• Internal training, mentoring, and access to industry-recognised certifications through our development academies

• Hybrid working model built on trust and flexibility, with a 35-hour week and flexible contracts

• 30 days annual leave, 3 concessionary days over Christmas, bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional leave

• Everyday wellbeing support through Perkbox, offering discounts and wellness tools

• Onsite facilities including a subsidised gym, café, and free parking at our Cheltenham office

• Inclusive culture supported by employee networks, wellbeing champions, and Mental Health First Aiders

• Recognition and reward through our quarterly employee scheme and an ex-gratia bonus for going above and beyond

If you have any questions and would like to find out more about the role before applying please email the Talent Acquisition team via careers@ucas.ac.uk and one of us will be in touch.

How to apply

Please visit our website by clicking on the Apply Now button to see vacancies and to download and complete our application form.