About us

Purpose of the Head of Product

To lead the transformation and ongoing performance of Lantra’s Product Development function, creating an outward-facing, collaborative and accountable team that develops and manages high-quality awards, qualifications and accredited programmes across their full lifecycle. The role is accountable for ensuring the portfolio is relevant to industry, shaped with customers and subject matter experts, educationally and technically robust, commercially viable, easy to deliver and compliant with regulatory requirements.

Working closely with the Head of Commercial and colleagues across Lantra, the post holder will translate market need and organisational strategy into clear portfolio priorities, modern product management practices, effective governance and measurable product outcomes. They will lead cultural and operational change, introduce digital-first ways of working and strengthen ownership, insight, innovation and continuous improvement across the portfolio.

The Head of Product will collaborate with and involve clients and industry organisations throughout the development of qualifications to ensure a best-in-class product development experience.

Overview

Job Title: Head of Product Development

Reporting to: Commercial Director

Line Management: team of 13 FTE with 4 direct reports including product development specialists

Salary: Competitive salary plus benefits

Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours/week, but with hours commensurate with fulfilling the responsibilities of the role

Location: Coventry, Warwickshire with opportunity for Hybrid Working.

Main Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Portfolio Management

Product strategy and priorities

• A clear product strategy and prioritised roadmap aligned to organisational objectives, market need and commercial opportunity
• Portfolio investment and development decisions supported by evidence, insight and strategic fit

Portfolio and lifecycle management

• Clear ownership of products from concept through launch, review, improvement and retirement
• Portfolio performance monitored using customer, commercial, quality, learner and delivery measures
• Underperforming or outdated products improved, repositioned or withdrawn through timely decisions

Market insight and opportunity

• Horizon scanning, competitor analysis and customer insight identify emerging needs and portfolio opportunities
• Robust business cases define customer value, delivery requirements, costs, risks and expected return

Customer-led product development and delivery

Co-design and industry engagement

• Employers, customers, centres, industry bodies and subject matter experts involved meaningfully from the outset
• Products demonstrate industry relevance, technical credibility and clear customer benefit

Development and implementation 

• High-quality qualifications, awards, assessments and supporting resources delivered to agreed scope, quality and timescale
• Customer journeys, assessment readiness, implementation needs and delivery risks considered from the start
• Cross-functional launch plans ensure colleagues and customers are ready to deliver successfully

Product positioning and communication 

• Clear propositions explain what each product is, who it is for and why it matters
• Product, Commercial and Marketing activity aligned through effective go-to-market planning and consistent messaging

Quality, regulation and governance

Qualification and assessment integrity

• Qualification structures, learning outcomes and assessment methodologies are valid, reliable and appropriate
• Products and assessments remain compliant with Ofqual and other applicable regulatory or accreditation requirements

Governance and risk

• Proportionate product governance, approval and change controls are documented and consistently applied
• Product, regulatory and implementation risks identified, owned and managed
• Quality assurance, peer review and version control reduce errors, duplication and rework

Transformation, systems and continuous improvement

Operating model transformation

• The transformation vision is converted into a practical operating model with clear processes, ownership, measures and ways of working
• Success shifts from completion of development activity to product performance, customer outcomes and long-term relevance

Digital-first product management

• A single source of truth supports product information, documentation, version control and lifecycle management
• Technology, automation and AI used appropriately to improve quality, responsiveness, scalability and efficiency

Continuous improvement

• Formal feedback loops, performance reviews and market insight drive ongoing product improvement
• The function responds quickly to customer, industry and regulatory change without compromising quality

Leadership, culture and performance

Team leadership

• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing product team with clear objectives, accountability and development plans
• Create an open, customer-focused culture that welcomes challenge, collaborates across Lantra and takes ownership of outcomes

Performance and resources

• Meaningful measures track product quality, relevance, delivery, timeliness, stakeholder engagement and portfolio performance
• Budgets, capacity and specialist expertise are planned and deployed effectively
• Longer-term capability gaps identified once the new operating model is established

External and internal leadership

• Act as Lantra’s senior product lead and represent the organisation credibly with regulators, customers, partners and industry forums
• Build effective relationships across Product, Commercial, Marketing, Quality, Policy, Operations and External Engagement

Person Specification

Knowledge / Skills Required

•  Strong knowledge of the UK qualifications, assessment and awarding landscape
•  Sound understanding of Ofqual Conditions and relevant regulatory frameworks
•  Strong understanding of qualification and assessment design principles, quality assurance and governance
•  Strategic product and portfolio leadership, including lifecycle management and prioritisation
•  Commercial acumen and ability to evaluate opportunities, performance, costs and customer value
•  Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation and communication skills
•  Ability to lead cultural, process and operating model change
•  Strong analytical judgement, using data, insight and feedback to make decisions
•  Effective programme and project leadership with a clear focus on outcomes
•  Confident people leadership, performance management and capability development

Desirable

•  Knowledge of land-based, environmental, agriculture or nature-based sectors
•  Understanding of digital product lifecycle or content management systems
•  Knowledge of agile product development methods and tools
•  Practical understanding of automation and AI applications in product development
•  Understanding of public funding, skills policy and workforce development trends

Experience

•  Senior leadership experience in an awarding organisation, professional body, EPAO, regulator, education provider or comparable product environment
•  Proven success leading the development, launch, review and improvement of qualifications, awards, assessments or accredited programmes
•  Experience managing a product portfolio and balancing regulatory, educational, customer and commercial objectives
•  Track record of leading significant change, improving ways of working and bringing teams with them
•  Experience of meaningful co-design with employers, customers, delivery partners, subject matter experts and industry stakeholders
•  Experience establishing governance, measures and accountability for product outcomes
•  Experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary or specialist teams
•  Evidence of effective cross-functional working to achieve successful product delivery and implementation

Desirable

•  Experience of product transformation or introducing modern product management practices
•  Experience delivering digital-first process or systems change
•  Experience of commercial planning, forecasting or development of business cases
•  Experience representing an organisation with regulators, Boards, executive teams or industry forums
•  Experience within a charitable or purpose-led organisation

Qualifications

•  Degree-level qualification or equivalent senior professional experience

Desirable

 • Professional qualification in education, assessment, product management, curriculum development, change leadership or a related discipline
•  Recognised leadership, programme or project management qualification

Behaviours

  • Customer First, Starts with industry, customer and learner need. Takes ownership for resolving issues and improving the delivery experience
  • Output Driven, Focuses on successful product outcomes, not simply completion of activity. Sets clear priorities, measures progress and follows through on commitments
  • Collaborative, Invites constructive challenge and shares information openly. Builds genuine partnerships across Lantra and with external stakeholders
  • Camaraderie, Creates an approachable and supportive team environment. Recognises contribution and helps colleagues succeed
  • Leadership, Challenges existing thinking while bringing people with them. Builds trust through clear decisions, consistent communication and accountability. Acts as a visible role model for Lantra’s values and expected behaviours
  • Personal Effectiveness, Plans ahead, adapts quickly and balances pace with quality. Uses sound judgement, remains resilient and acts proactively