Head of Product Development & Head of Products | Accountancy | London | 80K
Our client who is a leading organisation in the Accountancy sector is looking to recruit a Head of Products.
Job Purpose
You will be responsible for product innovation and supporting a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process that provides the capability for the organisation to manage its products from the point where the product idea is generated all the way to the products’end of life and its retirement from the products portfolio.
Responsible for setting up and running the new department which will manage innovation, product development and the product portfolio within the organisation; this is a challenging and exciting opportunity for a motivated and experienced individual to contribute to the successful delivery of the product development plan in line with the organisations strategy.
The initial challenges of the role will be to bring all product development under a central remit, manage the size of the portfolio downwards and continue the work started by the team in embedding the product development principles and product lifecycle management processes throughout the organisation.
Reporting to the Executive Director for Learning and Products you will lead and direct the product development (including innovation) and portfolio management teams. You will have two direct reports whose responsibilities will be the day to day management of the teams that will deliver the product strategy.
Principal Accountabilities
• Provide leadership in the innovation and development of new products ensuring that scarce resources are allocated to products which have the greatest likelihood of aligning strategy and bringing greatest benefit to the organisation
• Ensure the product portfolio is balanced and aligns to strategy
• Ensure that products developed have the biggest benefits for the organisation and its customers
• Own and uphold the product principles process and develop and implement a product plan in line with the strategy
• Embed the new department within the organisation
Key Activities
• Determine, monitor and report the KPIs for the Department
• Ensure that the Product Lifecycle Management process is followed throughout the organisation
• Responsible for the Product Portfolio Group, support the reporting of its activities and oversee the communication and implementation of its recommendations
• Develop and oversee the policies surrounding the three product platforms e.g. policies that relate to local delivery
• Support the Executive Team in defining the portfolio and assigning of ownership of products within the platforms to business owners
• Own the process determining what is included in the process and what is excluded
• Align the allocation of resources ensuring that products pass seamlessly throughout all stages of development
• Lead and manage the Product Development and Portfolio Management teams above
• Prepare the departmental business plans and manage the budget
• In the short term:
o Develop a plan to move all National Office and Head Office product development activities into the Department
o Build relationships with National Offices and Head Office teams to assist in the move towards centralised product development
o Ensure the embedding of the process throughout the organisation
• Ensure systems are in place to record and monitor the portfolio and stage in the lifecycle of existing products
Person Specification
• a postgraduate or professional qualification holder with relevant work experience, ideally in a strategic or product development role
• keen interest in and knowledge of the field of product development
• proven track record of delivery of innovations and enhancements from policy setting to service and product development and delivery
• proven record of management in a relevant senior role
• strong interpersonal skills especially in influencing and persuading others
• strong teambuilding capability and a participative and open management and leadership approach
• experience of effective matrix, collaborative or partnership working
• results-orientated approach supported by excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage several tasks at once and meet strict deadlines
• excellent communications skills - both oral and written and presentational skills
• highly motivated, proactive and enthusiastic
• willingness and ability to travel (both domestically and overseas)
If you would like to be considered for this vacancy please e-mail your CV to consultants@humtons.com
