2,115 Product jobs in the United Kingdom

Product Strategy Director, Head of Strategy, Lead Strategist

This Digital Product Agency is looking for a Head of Product Strategy to join then to work alongside the management team on strategic pitches

We are looking for you to have –

• Strong business strategy skills, the able to talk to commercial stakeholders and understand business impact, quickly develop ROI analysis and business cases.
• Knows how to develop propositions from a business and product perspective. Customer Value Proposition into Product Vision Roadmap and Service design for the back office into Go-To-Market and product design.
• A toolbox of methodologies and techniques they can call on in the right situation.
• Be able to translate seamlessly between big-picture strategic thinking and hands-on delivery, including working with cross-functional teams on AI-enhanced products and services.

The right person for this role -

• Product Strategy experience – not Advertising, media and campaign or content strategy background.
• Worked in a sub-100 people consultancy / agency / start-up or ran their own agency for two years+, possibly sold their agency and ready for their next challenge.
• Can own a room and have gravitas to manage clients.
• Ability to bring a different perspective to the business than what we already have

Definitely not right for this role -

• Rigid approach and thinking.
• Advertising, media and campaign or content strategy background.
• Research driven approach.
• Background of being in-house at large corporate or consultancy.

Hybrid Working in London – 2-3 days a week

Product Strategy Director, Head of Strategy, Lead Strategist

This Digital Product Agency is looking for a Head of Product Strategy to join then to work alongside the management team on strategic pitches

We are looking for you to have –

• Strong business strategy skills, the able to talk to commercial stakeholders and understand business impact, quickly develop ROI analysis and business cases.
• Knows how to develop propositions from a business and product perspective. Customer Value Proposition into Product Vision Roadmap and Service design for the back office into Go-To-Market and product design.
• A toolbox of methodologies and techniques they can call on in the right situation.
• Be able to translate seamlessly between big-picture strategic thinking and hands-on delivery, including working with cross-functional teams on AI-enhanced products and services.

The right person for this role -

• Product Strategy experience – not Advertising, media and campaign or content strategy background.
• Worked in a sub-100 people consultancy / agency / start-up or ran their own agency for two years+, possibly sold their agency and ready for their next challenge.
• Can own a room and have gravitas to manage clients.
• Ability to bring a different perspective to the business than what we already have

Definitely not right for this role -

• Rigid approach and thinking.
• Advertising, media and campaign or content strategy background.
• Research driven approach.
• Background of being in-house at large corporate or consultancy.

Hybrid Working in London – 2-3 days a week

About the Role

Stax Recruitment is partnering with a fast-growing global SaaS client to appoint a VP of Product Strategy & Operations , a pivotal role at the heart of their product organization.

This isn’t a coordination role. This is a leadership position for someone who builds systems from ambiguity , creates structure at scale , and treats internal operations like a product —delivering clarity, accountability, and quality across a distributed product and engineering team.

You’ll drive how the product organization operates—defining end-to-end rhythms, optimizing cross-functional execution, and ensuring everything shipped aligns with product vision, business goals, and customer needs. Operating within a hub-and-spoke model, you’ll act as the connective tissue between strategy and execution—centralizing visibility and empowering pod-level autonomy.

If you’re a product leader with a bias toward action, who thrives on creating clarity in complex environments, and has the systems thinking to scale without bloat—this role was made for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Operationalize the Product Engine:
• Own and evolve the operating model from idea to release. Define the rituals, artifacts, and processes that enable speed without compromising craft.
• Productize Internal Workflows:
• Leverage the company’s internal platform to automate and streamline coordination, reviews, and roadmap execution. Treat internal ops like a customer-facing product.
• Drive Cross-Functional Clarity:
• Partner across Product, Engineering, Design, Customer Success, and GTM to ensure aligned priorities, sharp definitions, and transparent tracking of deliverables.
• Own Review & Release Discipline:
• Define clear stage gates across planning and delivery. Create strong inter-team “contracts” that balance autonomy with shared accountability.
• Simplify to Scale:
• Identify systemic friction points. Reduce complexity, eliminate unnecessary dependencies, and resolve blockers before they escalate.
• Make Data Actionable:
• Define and refine live dashboards for visibility into resource allocation, velocity, readiness, and roadmap alignment. Make operational health obvious, not opaque.
• Mentor & Scale a High-Impact Team:
• Lead and grow a small team of program managers, instilling a builder mindset and operational rigor while equipping them with modern, AI-native tools and approaches.

Candidate Profile

• Previous experience as Head of Product, CPO, or senior product operator in a high-growth tech environment
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable, lightweight operational systems that people adopt—not avoid
• Strategic systems thinker with a builder’s mindset ; views internal ops as a product with users and measurable value
• Highly attuned to cross-functional dynamics; strong influence across design, engineering, and GTM
• Ability to challenge, coach, and drive clarity —not just facilitate meetings
• Experienced in mentoring and scaling globally distributed program or product ops teams
• Comfortable working across global time zones; UK-based is strongly preferred to align with core collaboration windows
• Experience with or strong enthusiasm for AI-native workflows and how they can streamline operations

Why This Role

This is a rare opportunity to define the operating system of a modern, AI-forward product company—without resorting to heavyweight process or top-down management. You won’t be managing PMs directly, but you’ll shape their velocity, clarity, and execution quality.

If you thrive on turning chaos into systems, enjoy the nuances of scale without bloat, and believe that great product operations are a product —you’ll find this role both challenging and deeply rewarding.

About the Role

Stax Recruitment is partnering with a fast-growing global SaaS client to appoint a VP of Product Strategy & Operations , a pivotal role at the heart of their product organization.

This isn’t a coordination role. This is a leadership position for someone who builds systems from ambiguity , creates structure at scale , and treats internal operations like a product —delivering clarity, accountability, and quality across a distributed product and engineering team.

You’ll drive how the product organization operates—defining end-to-end rhythms, optimizing cross-functional execution, and ensuring everything shipped aligns with product vision, business goals, and customer needs. Operating within a hub-and-spoke model, you’ll act as the connective tissue between strategy and execution—centralizing visibility and empowering pod-level autonomy.

If you’re a product leader with a bias toward action, who thrives on creating clarity in complex environments, and has the systems thinking to scale without bloat—this role was made for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Operationalize the Product Engine:
• Own and evolve the operating model from idea to release. Define the rituals, artifacts, and processes that enable speed without compromising craft.
• Productize Internal Workflows:
• Leverage the company’s internal platform to automate and streamline coordination, reviews, and roadmap execution. Treat internal ops like a customer-facing product.
• Drive Cross-Functional Clarity:
• Partner across Product, Engineering, Design, Customer Success, and GTM to ensure aligned priorities, sharp definitions, and transparent tracking of deliverables.
• Own Review & Release Discipline:
• Define clear stage gates across planning and delivery. Create strong inter-team “contracts” that balance autonomy with shared accountability.
• Simplify to Scale:
• Identify systemic friction points. Reduce complexity, eliminate unnecessary dependencies, and resolve blockers before they escalate.
• Make Data Actionable:
• Define and refine live dashboards for visibility into resource allocation, velocity, readiness, and roadmap alignment. Make operational health obvious, not opaque.
• Mentor & Scale a High-Impact Team:
• Lead and grow a small team of program managers, instilling a builder mindset and operational rigor while equipping them with modern, AI-native tools and approaches.

Candidate Profile

• Previous experience as Head of Product, CPO, or senior product operator in a high-growth tech environment
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable, lightweight operational systems that people adopt—not avoid
• Strategic systems thinker with a builder’s mindset ; views internal ops as a product with users and measurable value
• Highly attuned to cross-functional dynamics; strong influence across design, engineering, and GTM
• Ability to challenge, coach, and drive clarity —not just facilitate meetings
• Experienced in mentoring and scaling globally distributed program or product ops teams
• Comfortable working across global time zones; UK-based is strongly preferred to align with core collaboration windows
• Experience with or strong enthusiasm for AI-native workflows and how they can streamline operations

Why This Role

This is a rare opportunity to define the operating system of a modern, AI-forward product company—without resorting to heavyweight process or top-down management. You won’t be managing PMs directly, but you’ll shape their velocity, clarity, and execution quality.

If you thrive on turning chaos into systems, enjoy the nuances of scale without bloat, and believe that great product operations are a product —you’ll find this role both challenging and deeply rewarding.

Your new company
Hays are delighted to be working closely with this exceptional manufacturing success story. One, that, over the last 15 years, has continued to go from strength to strength. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic and collaborative team, where you'll play a key role in the day-to-day leadership of the NPD (New Product Development) department.
Your new role

• Manage, mentor, and support the development of the NPD Team.
• Deputise for the Head of NPD as required, supporting leadership continuity across the department.
• Develop new recipes in collaboration with the Head of NPD, both internally and with flavour houses, in response to customer briefs.
• Translate market trends into commercially viable concepts, both for branded projects and proactive customer proposals.
• Adapt recipes to meet factory requirements and support the scale-up and optimisation of manufacturing processes.
• Manage multiple product development projects from concept through to launch, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to specification.
• Create and maintain detailed project timelines (critical paths) to drive accountability and transparency across departments.
• Coordinate and manage all product trials and first productions, ensuring successful handover to operations.
• Liaise effectively with internal teams, including operations, technical, supply chain, and commercial, throughout the development process.
• Lead and facilitate cross-functional meetings (e.g. Liquid Meetings) to align project stakeholders and track progress.
• Attend and contribute to customer and supplier meetings, responding to queries and supporting ongoing development projects.
• Present new product concepts and final developments to customers.
• Write and approve finished product specifications in accordance with customer and legal requirements.
• Review and approve product artworks, ensuring they are accurate and compliant.
• Support the supplier and raw material approval process where necessary.
• Conduct regular benchmarking and research into market trends, emerging ingredients, and evolving consumer preferences.
• Use insight to inform NPD pipeline planning and inspire new concept creation.

What you'll need to succeed

• 5+ years' experience in a development role
• Level 4 HACCP and Level 4 Food Safety within Manufacturing qualifications
• Strong attention to detail
• Experience of working with retailers and/or brands.
• Be able to prioritise where applicable and work to deadlines.

What you'll get in return

• 31 days annual leave including bank holidays.
• Additional leave with service milestones (up to 4 extra days).
• Healthcare cash plan.
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial wellbeing app with access to professional coaching.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Up to 10 days company sick pay annually.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)

Product Development Manager 

Consumer, Retail, Chemical, Pest Control 

Droitwich (Hybrid / Remote Working) 

Competitive Salary Plus Bonus and Benefits 

Are you ready to take your career to the next level with an exciting opportunity in product innovation? This company is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Product Development Manager to join their team. In this role, you'll have the chance to shape the future of products in key markets, including agriculture, retail, and pest control. If you're passionate about strategy, creativity, and delivering exceptional results, this could be the perfect role for you.

As a Product Development Manager you will:

• Define the product vision, strategy, and roadmap to align with business goals and market opportunities.
• Conduct in-depth market research to understand customer needs, trends, and competitor offerings.
• Manage the entire product development process, from concept to launch, ensuring a seamless journey.
• Collaborate across departments, including sales, regulatory, marketing, and supply chain, to deliver successful products.
• Track product performance, gather user feedback, and identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Drive innovation by identifying opportunities for new products and developing disruptive solutions.

 Within this role the Product Development Manager will bring:

• A proactive mindset with a strong sense of responsibility and excellent communication skills.
• Exceptional analytical abilities and a keen eye for detail.
• Creativity and curiosity to explore new possibilities and challenge the status quo.
• Experience in product development, market research, or a similar role ideally within consumer, retail and/or pest control environment. 
• The ability to work autonomously while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams.

 This role plays a vital part in the company's mission to deliver innovative solutions that meet market needs and exceed customer expectations. By driving the development of new products and ensuring compliance with industry standards, you'll contribute to the company's growth and long-term success.

Location:

This role is based out of their new facility in Droitwich but will offer hybrid/remote working subject to the individual, offering an excellent opportunity to work in a vibrant and supportive environment.

Interested?:

If you're ready to make a real impact as a Product Development Manager , don't wait! Apply today and take the first step towards an exciting new chapter in your career.

Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.
In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.

Product Development Manager 

Consumer, Retail, Chemical, Pest Control 

Droitwich (Hybrid / Remote Working) 

Competitive Salary Plus Bonus and Benefits 

Are you ready to take your career to the next level with an exciting opportunity in product innovation? This company is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Product Development Manager to join their team. In this role, you'll have the chance to shape the future of products in key markets, including agriculture, retail, and pest control. If you're passionate about strategy, creativity, and delivering exceptional results, this could be the perfect role for you.

As a Product Development Manager you will:

• Define the product vision, strategy, and roadmap to align with business goals and market opportunities.
• Conduct in-depth market research to understand customer needs, trends, and competitor offerings.
• Manage the entire product development process, from concept to launch, ensuring a seamless journey.
• Collaborate across departments, including sales, regulatory, marketing, and supply chain, to deliver successful products.
• Track product performance, gather user feedback, and identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Drive innovation by identifying opportunities for new products and developing disruptive solutions.

 Within this role the Product Development Manager will bring:

• A proactive mindset with a strong sense of responsibility and excellent communication skills.
• Exceptional analytical abilities and a keen eye for detail.
• Creativity and curiosity to explore new possibilities and challenge the status quo.
• Experience in product development, market research, or a similar role ideally within consumer, retail and/or pest control environment. 
• The ability to work autonomously while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams.

 This role plays a vital part in the company's mission to deliver innovative solutions that meet market needs and exceed customer expectations. By driving the development of new products and ensuring compliance with industry standards, you'll contribute to the company's growth and long-term success.

Location:

This role is based out of their new facility in Droitwich but will offer hybrid/remote working subject to the individual, offering an excellent opportunity to work in a vibrant and supportive environment.

Interested?:

If you're ready to make a real impact as a Product Development Manager , don't wait! Apply today and take the first step towards an exciting new chapter in your career.

Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.
In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.

Your new company
Hays are delighted to be working closely with this exceptional manufacturing success story. One, that, over the last 15 years, has continued to go from strength to strength. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic and collaborative team, where you'll play a key role in the day-to-day leadership of the NPD (New Product Development) department.
Your new role

• Manage, mentor, and support the development of the NPD Team.
• Deputise for the Head of NPD as required, supporting leadership continuity across the department.
• Develop new recipes in collaboration with the Head of NPD, both internally and with flavour houses, in response to customer briefs.
• Translate market trends into commercially viable concepts, both for branded projects and proactive customer proposals.
• Adapt recipes to meet factory requirements and support the scale-up and optimisation of manufacturing processes.
• Manage multiple product development projects from concept through to launch, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to specification.
• Create and maintain detailed project timelines (critical paths) to drive accountability and transparency across departments.
• Coordinate and manage all product trials and first productions, ensuring successful handover to operations.
• Liaise effectively with internal teams, including operations, technical, supply chain, and commercial, throughout the development process.
• Lead and facilitate cross-functional meetings (e.g. Liquid Meetings) to align project stakeholders and track progress.
• Attend and contribute to customer and supplier meetings, responding to queries and supporting ongoing development projects.
• Present new product concepts and final developments to customers.
• Write and approve finished product specifications in accordance with customer and legal requirements.
• Review and approve product artworks, ensuring they are accurate and compliant.
• Support the supplier and raw material approval process where necessary.
• Conduct regular benchmarking and research into market trends, emerging ingredients, and evolving consumer preferences.
• Use insight to inform NPD pipeline planning and inspire new concept creation.

What you'll need to succeed

• 5+ years' experience in a development role
• Level 4 HACCP and Level 4 Food Safety within Manufacturing qualifications
• Strong attention to detail
• Experience of working with retailers and/or brands.
• Be able to prioritise where applicable and work to deadlines.

What you'll get in return

• 31 days annual leave including bank holidays.
• Additional leave with service milestones (up to 4 extra days).
• Healthcare cash plan.
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial wellbeing app with access to professional coaching.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Up to 10 days company sick pay annually.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)

Beauty Works retails luxury hair solutions, including ready to wear clip-ins, semi-permanent professional extensions and exclusive collaborations. Our hair extensions, aftercare products and electrical stylers have earned recognition amongst the beauty press and up and down the red carpet. Beauty Works operates internationally to both to salon professional and directly to consumers and is owned by a Beauty Industry Group based in Salt Lake City and has the largest share of the hair extensions market in the world.

Job Summary

The Product Development Manager – Wet Line & Electricals is responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of Beauty Works’ wet line and electrical product ranges, from initial concept through to final launch. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving product innovation, managing supplier relationships, maintaining critical timelines, and ensuring all products meet our quality standards and brand expectations.The role requires someone who is proactive, detail-oriented professional with a strong background in the Hair & Beauty industry, particularly within wet line and electrical product development. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in sourcing, product testing, and quality assurance, along with a creative mindset and the ability to manage multiple projects across cross-functional teams.

Role Outline & responsibilities

• Support the Product and Creative Director specifically across wet line and electrical categories within the Beauty Works portfolio.
• Lead and manage the product development process from concept to launch, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality standards.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams—Marketing, eCommerce, Graphics, Finance and Sales—to align product launches with brand strategy and market demands.
• Conduct ongoing market research to track trends, consumer needs, and competitor activity, providing strategic input into product development.
• Build and manage the critical path for all projects, liaising with suppliers and internal teams to resolve issues and drive progress.
• Develop and maintain detailed product specifications and technical documentation; ensure updates are communicated clearly across relevant teams.
• Source and manage relationships with global suppliers for wet line and electrical products, negotiating favourable costs to achieve margin targets.
• Present product concepts, costings, and timelines to the Product & Creative Director and the Senior Management Team in the UK and US.
• Provide regular updates during product development meetings and contribute to strategic planning discussions for the UK and US markets.
• Coordinate directly with manufacturers and suppliers across time zones to ensure efficient production timelines and address any development issues promptly.
• Plan and execute testing protocols for both product performance and packaging across wet line and electrical ranges.
• Ensure timely arrival of all samples for internal review by Marketing, Sales, Graphics, and eCommerce teams.
• Document and communicate testing outcomes, ensuring compliance with quality expectations and storing records for future reference.
• Work in collaboration with the Quality Control team to perform periodic reviews of product consistency and maintain standards across all batches and suppliers.
• Ensure accurate sample archiving and maintain a well-organized product development workspace.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of products including development, SKU optimization, and performance analysis to inform rationalization and future strategy.

Key Skills

• 3-5 years of product management experience (preferred)
• Strong project management skills with exceptional organisational abilities
• Proven experience in supplier relationship management, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to think creatively and innovatively to drive product development
• Strong documentation skills, with attention to detail
• Experience in product lifecycle management
• Knowledge of manufacturing methods and procedures
• Familiarity with the company’s current product range and future concepts
• Experience with quality assurance processes
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, V-LookUp, Formulas, etc.), as well as NetSuite, PLM, PDM, and database management
• Willingness to travel internationally as required
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks effectively