Chief Product Officer (CPO)

Zen Educate; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A rapidly expanding startup seeks a key leadership role overseeing product management for impactful solutions in education. The role requires extensive experience, offering competitive compensation, team collaboration, and the opportunity to significantly influence product development and positive social impact.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ownership in the company

25+ days holiday (increasing with tenure)

Life and health insurance

Electric car and cycle schemes

Central London office with amenities

A fun, dedicated team solving meaningful problems

Qualifications

• 10+ years relevant experience in product management.
• Experience aligning product vision with business strategy.
• Proven track record in creating high-quality user experiences.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute Zen’s product vision, balancing customer and business needs.
• Develop and lead a high-performing product delivery team.
• Collaborate with the CEO to define and review product objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Agile Practices

Job description

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Location: London (Oval)

Type: Full-time

Our Mission: We are creating a world where teachers and schools are no longer wasting time with expensive agencies because Zen allows them to reliably connect and get back to what really matters … our children! UK schools spend over £2bn per year on covering short-term absences with supply teachers. The current model relies exclusively on agencies that charge high commissions and are inefficient (paper and phone-based). We are consolidating this fragmented marketplace onto a digital platform, akin to Uber for supply teachers. We aim to eliminate waste and positively impact teachers and schools. Backed by high-profile investors and led by veterans of London's tech scene, we recently raised a $37mil Series B funding round, the largest in European EdTech this year. This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference and be part of a rapidly expanding startup in the UK and US markets.

Looking to make a difference? Join Zen in a key leadership role overseeing over 30 individuals across Product, Engineering, and Design. You will be central to building and managing our product function, ensuring we develop impactful solutions for schools and teachers. As a young company, your role will significantly influence our growth and product development. You will be vital in transforming supply and recruitment experiences and generating savings for the education system. This is a great opportunity for someone eager to contribute meaningfully with responsibility and autonomy over our product’s future.

What we are looking for:

• Top performer eager to be part of a motivated, high-performing team
• Growth mindset—dedicated to professional improvement
• Passion for building impactful products and companies with a positive social impact
• Strong bias to action
• Excellent interpersonal skills for working with customers and teams

What you’ll be doing:

• Own and execute Zen’s product vision, balancing customer and business needs, aligning with company goals
• Identify customer problems, ensuring a customer-centric, data-driven approach
• Collaborate with the CEO and executives to define and review product objectives
• Develop and lead a high-performing product delivery team through effective collaboration and agile practices
• Hire, train, and manage product managers, engineers, and designers
• Shape the product roadmap based on understanding customer needs and priorities
• Address complex business problems and deliver user-friendly products
• Represent the voice of the customer, embedding research practices within teams
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, data, and security standards
• Manage third-party tools and vendors

Ideal experience:

• 10+ years relevant experience
• Experience aligning product vision with business strategy
• Leadership experience, including managing teams
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Proven track record in creating high-quality user experiences and designs

What’s in it for you?

• Impactful work
• Competitive salary
• Ownership in the company
• 25+ days holiday (increasing with tenure)
• Life and health insurance
• Electric car and cycle schemes
• Central London office with amenities
• A fun, dedicated team solving meaningful problems