Product Manager, Product Information Management

John Lewis Partnership; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A major UK employer is seeking an experienced Product Manager to lead product strategy and develop innovative solutions within a hybrid working model. This role involves managing a product backlog, engaging with stakeholders, and utilizing data to drive decisions. The ideal candidate will have solid experience in Agile methodologies and a keen ability to adapt to changing demands. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £75,000 depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a Product team using Agile methodologies such as SCRUM or Kanban.
• Ability to solve complex problems and take new perspectives on existing solutions.
• Proven ability to respond effectively to changing demands.

Responsibilities

• Create a vision for the product outcome and drive innovation.
• Manage a clear and transparent Product Backlog.
• Build effective communication of the product roadmap.

Skills

Agile development methodology

Problem-solving

Data-oriented decisions

Job description

About the role

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Product Manager to join the Commercial function of the Partnership. The successful candidate will undertake the unique responsibility of establishing a new operating model in this newly created role within the function. This Product aligns to a key capability within the Commercial footprint and as such, you will be responsible for managing high volumes of incoming business wide demand as well as delivering value that you have identified. You will represent the voice of the customer, Partner and business stakeholders and develop deep empathy within a complex and rapidly changing environment. You will be expected to own, prioritise and manage the Product, ensuring it champions the customer and represents Partners and business goals. Your decisions will be visible through the content and order of a clear and transparent Product Backlog and roadmap, designed to best achieve the goals and mission of your Product. You will be an excellent communicator and able to work collaboratively with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, providing regular and timely communication about the plan, releases and ensuring the successful delivery of value during each iteration. Developing rapport and trust with business owners, key stakeholders and a highly technical Development team will be key to your success.

• Salary up to £75,000 depending on experience
• Contract type This position is a Permanent contract
• Working pattern / flexible working The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The Product team aims for around 1-2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad‑hoc basis to attend key meetings.
• Location This role is based at our London Head Office campus in Pimlico. Please note, any cost incurred as a result of travel to the office is the responsibility of the successful candidate. There is no travel allowance for this role.

Key responsibilities

• Create an inspiring vision for the Product outcome and drive innovation using industry, customer and business insights that supports the broader strategy and vision for Product development.
• Set clear and stretching objectives and key results (OKRs) to track the desired Product outcomes.
• Build, own and manage a Product Backlog that is visible, transparent, and clear to all and shows what the Development team will work on next, providing clarity on the value it will deliver and alignment to the overall objectives and key results (OKRs).
• Write requirements and ensure that the Development team has an adequate quantity and quality of stories ready for each Sprint.
• Lead in the creation of functional and nonfunctional requirements in collaboration with Product Leads and Development teams.
• Deliver effective and timely communication of your Product roadmap.
• Effectively manage, engage and work collaboratively with stakeholders, ensuring they are aligned behind the products goals and kept up to date with progress.
• Work collaboratively with a range of technical and non‑technical business stakeholders and thus must show high emotional IQ and be excellent at stakeholder management.
• Use insight, data and analytics to identify opportunities to continually improve and iterate the Product.
• Prove out value of new products and features by designing and running experiments (e.g. A/B, MVT, fake door, etc.) in collaboration with our Data/Experimentation teams.
• Continuously manage the effectiveness of the Product and ensure a balance of tech and design debt alongside customer and commercial value.
• Manage scope and track progress of releases, ensuring features are handed over to end users effectively and impact of development effort is understood.
• Participate and contribute to the Product Management community of practice, looking for ways to continually improve both as an individual and a collective.
• Act as a role model for the Product Management discipline and take responsibility for mentoring and support all members of the team, embedding the JLP Product Framework across the directorate.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Experience leading others within a Product team using an Agile development methodology (such as SCRUM or Kanban).
• Able to solve complex problems and take a new perspective on existing solutions.
• Proven ability to respond to and prioritise changing demands effectively.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities, stakeholders and timelines.
• Making data oriented decisions.

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Experience of defining and delivering Minimum Viable Products, running A/B tests.

The partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never knowingly undervalued in price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food‑lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and, in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can thrive. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre‑employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third‑party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.