Lead Product Manager

Ucas; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

35-hour week

30 days annual leave

Concessionary days over Christmas

Perkbox wellbeing discounts

Onsite gym, café and free parking at 

Employee networks and Mental Health AI

Ex-gratia bonus

Job summary

UCAS in Cheltenham is seeking a Lead Product Manager to define and execute the strategy for internal and customer‑facing products, aligning with business needs.

You will set vision, roadmaps, and priorities, and partner with multi‑disciplinary teams to turn ideas into deliverable requirements and measurable outcomes.

This role requires strong leadership, stakeholder management, and the ability to influence senior colleagues to deliver value and sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of achievements in strategic product management and strategy development across B2B/B2C.
• Highly commercially aware, outcomes driven and innovative, aligned with UCAS’s vision and values.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the entire product lifecycle from research to in-life performance management.
• Create business cases and product strategies aligned with strategic goals; develop and own roadmaps and backlogs.

Skills

Strategic product lifecycle management

Customer needs analysis

Leadership of cross-functional teams

Stakeholder management

Excellent communication

Job description

About the role

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.

Package

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

Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they tick every box. At UCAS we recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to delivering a fair and equitable recruitment process where applicants have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still apply.

If you have any questions and would like to find out more about the role before applying please email the Talent Acquisition team via [e-mail] and one of us will be in touch.