Head of Product Practice

Head of Product Practice
£90,000 - £100,000 plus private healthcare, company car or car allowance and more great benefits (Work Level 4) 
Manchester city centre - in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office once or twice per month (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://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 Practice to join our Digital, Technology and Data (DT&D) team and help us build, strengthen and continuously improve Product Management capability across our Co-op. In this role, you'll lead our Product Practice, supporting colleagues across the product community to deliver valuable products and services through great standards, strong coaching, effective development and evidence-based ways of working. You'll work across value streams to shape how Product operates today while helping us prepare for the future.

Why this role matters

This is a unique opportunity to influence Product Management at every level of the organisation, from Product Managers through to Directors. Rather than leading a product portfolio, you'll focus on growing the Product profession itself, helping our teams develop their skills, improve product maturity and create better outcomes for our colleagues, members and customers. You'll have the freedom to shape the future of the Product Practice, build strong communities, coach senior leaders and make a lasting impact on how Product works across our Co-op.

What you’ll do

•    Lead and continuously develop the Product Practice, setting clear standards, principles and ways of working across the product community
•    Partner with Heads of Product and Directors to support recruitment, workforce planning, succession planning and career development
•    Coach and mentor Product leaders, helping them build their capability and grow in their roles
•    Build and nurture a thriving Product community of practice that encourages learning, collaboration and knowledge sharing
•    Identify capability gaps and development needs, working with colleagues across DT&D and People teams to create effective learning opportunities
•    Support teams and value streams with varying levels of product maturity, providing guidance, coaching and practical solutions where needed
•    Influence and embed inclusive, evidence-based Product Management approaches across the organisation
•    Work closely with leaders across the Strategy, Performance and Assurance (SPA) function to ensure practices, capability models and standards remain aligned and future-ready

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:

•    Extensive experience working in senior product leadership environments, with a track record of developing product capability, standards and ways of working
•    Deep expertise in Product Management, with the credibility and commercial awareness to shape product practices and support strategic decision-making across an organisation
•    Strong experience of developing people through coaching, mentoring and career development within a product environment
•    Excellent facilitation skills, with the ability to lead communities of practice, workshops and collaborative discussions that drive learning and improvement
•    Proven ability to influence and align senior stakeholders, leading through expertise and relationships rather than formal authority
•    Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple teams, disciplines and levels of seniority

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