Strategic Product Manager at Novus - Strategy & Consulting, Ellesmere Port/Remote, £Contract Rate

This is a hybrid role requiring two days a week in the office.

About the Company:
Novus is a boutique consulting firm specialising in digital transformation and strategy for the home-buying industry. Our expertise includes supporting companies in leveraging digital technology, challenging the status quo, and building high-performing businesses. Our clients are at the forefront of innovation, utilising your expertise to influence major developments within the UK Home Buying Journey.

You will be working on an exciting product, alongside highly skilled engineers to build and deliver an industry-groundbreaking platform.

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Product Manager to spearhead the vision, strategy, and go-to-market approach for our innovative digital platform within the property market in the UK.

This high-impact, outward-facing role requires a dynamic individual who excels at engaging with key stakeholders, understanding market needs, and aligning product direction with our broader business objectives. You will be instrumental in driving the strategic roadmap, enhancing market positioning, and identifying growth opportunities, all while collaborating with internal teams to ensure successful delivery and widespread adoption of our platform.

Additionally, the role involves coaching and mentoring an internal Product Owner, with the goal of upskilling them to a Product Manager level. You will take responsibility for knowledge transfer, fostering their professional growth, and enabling the internal team to thrive in delivering long-term product success.

This position offers a unique opportunity to take a leading role in transforming the Property Transaction process and leading a talented team of engineers.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Strategy and Vision

• Develop and communicate the product vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with business goals.
• Define product objectives, key results, and performance metrics to measure success.
• Identify and prioritise market opportunities, customer pain points, and emerging trends to drive product innovation.

2. Market and Customer Engagement

• Act as the voice of the market by engaging with customers, partners, industry bodies, and other stakeholders to gather insights and feedback.
• Conduct market research, competitor analysis, and customer interviews to ensure the product meets the needs of different user groups (e.g., PropTech vendors, law firms, lenders).
• Build and maintain relationships with key ecosystem partners and industry influencers to enhance the product’s market presence.

3. Go-to-Market Strategy

• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and customer success teams to develop and execute go-to-market strategies, including product positioning, messaging, and launch plans.
• Support the creation of sales enablement materials, case studies, and thought leadership content to drive adoption and engagement.
• Drive demand generation initiatives by attending and presenting at industry events, webinars, and conferences.

4. Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with the Managing Director, Programme Director, and other senior leaders to ensure product alignment with business priorities.
• Serve as a key point of contact for partners and external stakeholders, representing the product in discussions regarding capabilities, integrations, and future plans.
• Collaborate with Product Owners, Engineering, and UX teams to translate strategic requirements into actionable user stories and product specifications.

5. Product Roadmap and Development Oversight

• Own the product roadmap, ensuring it is transparent, well-communicated, and adjusted as necessary based on stakeholder feedback and market shifts.
• Make strategic decisions on feature prioritisation and resource allocation, balancing immediate needs with long-term vision.
• Monitor and evaluate product performance, using data-driven insights to inform continuous improvement.

6. Innovation and Ecosystem Development

• Lead the development of a collaborative innovation environment for testing new solutions and integrations.
• Foster partnerships with PropTech startups, established technology providers, and other ecosystem players to expand the platform’s capabilities.
• Identify potential integration partners and work on strategic initiatives to expand the platform’s value proposition.

7. Coaching and Mentoring

• Coach and train an internal Product Owner, bringing them up to a Product Management level.
• Take ownership of knowledge transfer and support the professional development of the internal team.
• Help embed best practices in product management within the organisation.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• Market Understanding: Strong knowledge of the UK property market, digital transformation, and trends in PropTech.
• Strategic Mindset: Demonstrated experience in developing and executing product strategies and go-to-market plans.
• Stakeholder Management: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a track record of working with diverse stakeholders, including customers, partners, and cross-functional teams.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse market data, customer feedback, and performance metrics to make informed product decisions.
• Collaboration Skills: Proven ability to work closely with Product Owners, UX designers, and engineering teams to translate strategic requirements into deliverable product features.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A self-starter with a passion for driving change and solving complex problems in the property transaction ecosystem.

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven track record of successfully launching and managing digital products.
• Good understanding of Product Management tools and methodologies
• Experience working in agile development environments.
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills, with a meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts and solutions in user-friendly language to non-technical stakeholders.
• A degree in Business, Marketing, Computer Science or a related field, would be beneficial.

Contract Details:

• Initial 3-month contract with a high likelihood of extension.
• Day rate: £300 - £500, depending on experience.
• Hybrid 2/3 days in the office per week (North West based)

Job Types: Fixed term contract, Freelance
Contract length: 3 months

Pay: £300.00-£500.00 per day

Benefits:

• Flexitime
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• Can you work 2 to 3 days per week in the office?

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ellesmere Port CH65 9HQ