Head of Product - FRTS & Franchise

Head of Product – FRTS & Franchise
£105,000 - £121,000 plus private healthcare, company car or car allowance and more great benefits (Work Level 4)
Manchester and Scunthorpe - in this hybrid role, you'll regularly work from both our Manchester and Scunthorpe offices, typically spending around 1 day a week in Scunthorpe and 1-2 days a week in Manchester, alongside home working (find out more about our hybrid working policy at jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).
We’re open to applications from people who may require flexible working arrangements. There’ll be an opportunity to discuss your flexible working requirements during the interview process, and at offer stage.

We’re reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.

We're looking for a Head of Product - FRTS & Franchise to join our Digital, Technology & Data team and help us shape the future of some of Co-op's most important retail and partnership capabilities. You'll lead the vision, strategy and delivery of our FRTS and Franchise product portfolio, working with senior business leaders to create roadmaps, prioritise investment and deliver technology solutions that support growth, operational excellence and long-term value. You'll lead multidisciplinary teams and work across product, architecture, engineering, delivery and service functions to drive meaningful outcomes for colleagues, partners, customers and members.

Why this role matters

This is an opportunity to lead some of the most significant transformation programmes in our business. You'll play a key role in modernising franchise technology, shaping the future of our FRTS capabilities and leading technology preparation activities to support future merger and acquisition opportunities, subject to relevant approvals. Working alongside senior leaders across Co-op and our partner organisations, you'll influence major investment decisions, define future technology capabilities and help deliver the platforms and services that will support our growth for years to come. The scale, visibility and strategic impact of this role make it a unique opportunity for an experienced product leader to shape the future of our business.

What you’ll do

•    Set the vision, strategy and roadmap for our FRTS and Franchise product portfolio, aligning priorities with business goals and long-term growth plans
•    Lead large-scale transformation initiatives, including franchise modernisation and technology programmes that support future business growth
•    Work with senior stakeholders to define business outcomes, shape investment decisions and build compelling cases for change
•    Partner with architecture, engineering, delivery and service teams to deliver sustainable, scalable and secure technology solutions
•    Oversee the performance, resilience and continuous improvement of products and services across the portfolio
•    Balance customer, business, operational and technology needs when making strategic prioritisation decisions
•    Lead and develop Product Managers while providing direction across multidisciplinary teams
•    Build strong relationships with internal and external partners, influencing at senior leadership level to drive successful outcomes

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Significant experience leading product or technology portfolios within a retail environment, ideally in grocery, franchise or partner-led retail models
•    Proven experience delivering large-scale technology transformation programmes that have created measurable commercial or operational value
•    A strong track record of shaping strategy, securing investment and translating business objectives into successful product roadmaps and outcomes
•    Experience leading cross-functional teams across product, engineering, architecture, delivery and service disciplines
•    Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, build trusted relationships and bring others with you through change.
•    Strong commercial and financial awareness, including ownership of significant investment budgets and technology spend
•    The ability to balance strategic thinking with delivery focus, creating new capabilities while ensuring high-quality operational performance

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At Co-op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    A company car or £6,000 car allowance 
•    Private healthcare 
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion