Head of Product

Head of Product
£100,000 to £116,000 (depending on experience) plus great benefits including an annual incentive scheme, private healthcare, and a company car or car allowance (Work Level 4)
Manchester city centre (hybrid – spending at least one day a week working from the office)

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.

As part of this, we’re looking for two Heads of Product to join us in Manchester to help make everyday experiences better for our food store customers and colleagues.

One role will focus on improving the digital experience for our customers, while the other will focus on making life easier for our store colleagues. From self-service tills and digital displays to ordering systems, stock management tools, and colleague platforms, you’ll shape products that are used every day across our food stores.

You’ll lead a portfolio of products, platforms, and services, setting the vision, strategies, and roadmaps that deliver meaningful outcomes for our customers, colleagues, and business. Working closely with our Food Director and other senior partners, you’ll make sure investment decisions and product priorities align with our wider business goals.

To help you make the biggest impact, you’ll spend time in our stores across the UK, getting close to the experiences of the people who use our technology products every day. By understanding the challenges and opportunities our customers and colleagues face, you’ll be able to shape solutions that solve real problems.

Why these roles matter

Technology plays an important role in helping us deliver the best possible experiences across our food stores. As a Head of Product, you’ll shape the tools, platforms, and services that support millions of customer interactions and help thousands of colleagues thrive in their roles. Whether you’re improving the customer journey or making store operations simpler and more efficient, your work will have a big impact on how people experience Co-op.

By balancing customer and colleague needs with commercial priorities, you’ll help us to run a more efficient, cost-effective food business, creating technology products and services that genuinely make a difference.

What you’ll do

•    Lead a portfolio of technology products, platforms, and services, making sure they deliver meaningful improvements for either our food customers or colleagues
•    Create, own, and evolve the annual product roadmap and associated investment plans
•    Maximise long-term value by balancing investment decisions, operational costs, risks, and business benefits
•    Partner closely with our Food Director and senior colleagues to make sure product decisions align with strategic priorities
•    Translate business strategy and architectural principles into clear, outcome-focussed product roadmaps
•    Lead, develop, and shape high-performing teams, making sure they have the capability and capacity needed to thrive
•    Develop a deep understanding of customer and colleague needs through regular visits to Co-op food store locations across the UK
•    Use insight, data, and feedback to inform decisions and continuously improve the value delivered by your product portfolio

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:

•    Experience working as a Head of Product within a large, complex organisation
•    Experience leading technology product portfolios in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
•    Experience partnering with senior leaders and executive-level colleagues to influence strategy and decision-making
•    A strong commercial mindset, with the ability to understand how product decisions impact business performance
•    Good leadership skills, with the ability to develop teams and create environments where people can thrive
•    Good communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and challenge people inclusively
•    A passion for understanding user needs and turning insights into impactful product solutions

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)
•    A company car or £6,000 car allowance
•    Private healthcare
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
•    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

We’re open to flexible working arrangements, including condensed hours, shorter working days, or a 4-day week. You’ll also benefit from hybrid working, with occasional travel to our Manchester office for team days, meetings, and events.

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing