Product Director

Vacancy Name
Product Director

Vacancy ID
VN3103

Location
UK - Abingdon

Created Date
7/30/2026 1:53 PM

Description
PURPOSE
• To be the recognised product lead for Achilles site management, access and control proposition - called Achilles Site Control
• Define and manage the product roadmap and supporting services - in alignment with the agreed business and product strategy, and to meet customer and market needs.
• Work with the relevant business teams to i) retain and grow existing customer accounts, ii) supporting winning new business, iii) explore and launch to new markets / geographies
• Work with other teams to ensure successful consolidation/migration of clients from legacy platforms to the latest version

Key Responsibilities
TEAM MANAGEMENT
• Direct product owners/analysts to deliver to product objectives in alignment with the agreed product strategy.
• Take direct responsibility for design and delivery of key product initiatives.
• Establish and manage a strategy for product design, delivery, and enhancement in which key stakeholders are confident product requirements are aligned to market and business needs.
• Develop culture of constructive and challenging collaboration in which individuals are responsible and aligned to goal orientated product design and delivery.
• Oversee processes to ensure alignment of product roadmap across all key stakeholder groups - both external and internal customers (eg sales, customer success, operations, marketing).
• Maintain a culture of clear measurable objective setting and management of activities against those objectives in dynamic, ever changing environment.
• Provide clear reporting to senior leadership regarding objectives, KPIs to measure success, and progress against agreed goals.

PRODUCT STRATEGY & ROADMAP
• Build an intimate understanding, at both a regional and global level, what our value proposition is for Achilles customer base and how it needs to evolve
• Proactively develop a compelling product roadmap with clearly defined products and associated features to deliver on the customer value proposition: defining NPD, improvements, and roll-outs
• Be an ambassador for the company, able to deliver high impact presentations/ demonstrations to all customer organisation and persona types with confidence and credibility.
• Drive the development of market insights, closely observing industry trends, documenting the market needs and requirements from in-depth industry knowledge and market research
• Understand the needs of Achilles customers across multiple sectors and geographies
• Assist in product-related business planning, including activities such as pricing, channel strategies, buy/build/partner decisions, new product business cases

PRODUCT DELIVERY
• Work with the business to ensure the product is being efficiently and effectively delivered
• Work with the Design and Architecture team to create detailed product requirements, process flows and user stories from the market requirements
• Participate in product testing and user acceptance to ensure product developments will deliver on customer expectation and the Achilles business plan
• Manage product lifecycle and when appropriate manage product retirement

REVENUE GENERATION
• Monitoring the product revenue and profitability and drive campaigns and product improvements to increase revenue and profitability
• Own the go to market strategy, working with Marketing and Sales teams to develop effective communication, training and product launch strategy
• Analyse the competition, and creating resources/tools for sales teams to support growth and displacement of incumbants.
• Work with Marketing to create compelling customer materials and sales collateral
• Support the Sales and Commercial teams by acting as subject matter expert to support customer engagement activities

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Taking personal responsibility for skills development, particularly to enhance Product Management capabilities
• Actively participate in the performance management process, and taking responsibility for delivering agreed objectives

Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
Fluent English and Spanish speaker essential

Person Specification
STRATEGIC JUDGEMENT
• Articulates the link between what they do as an individual and the broader organisational purpose
• Seeks to understand competitor activities and the implications for Achilles
• Draws on a wide range of organisational and management information to inform decision-making
• Performs SWOT or PESTLE analyses to understand the opportunities and threats for the organisation

DECISION MAKING
• Consults to an appropriately broad degree, without letting this get in the way of coming to a timely conclusion
• Fully explains the rationale behind decisions so that others understand and buy in to them
• Draws conclusions supported by reasoned arguments and reliable information
• Makes and/or implements difficult or unpopular decisions when necessary

CREATIVE CAPACITY
• Shares creative or innovative ideas with relevant people across the organisation
• Demonstrates entrepreneurialism; acts quickly to capitalise on opportunities to tap into new and emerging markets or to drive business growth and improvement
• Identifies and pursues opportunities for Achilles to partner with external experts and/or other organisations to drive new developments

INFLUENCING
• Switches to a different strategy or style and flexes own approach when the preferred tactic is not working
• Takes a planned approach, thinks through their strategy, contingencies and likely objections in advance
• Tailors messages and their own personal approach to the needs, interests and views of others
• Aligns their personal agenda with the other parties; works towards win-win outcomes

MANAGING CHANGE
• Responds constructively and quickly to shifting goalposts or changing requirements
• Copes effectively with rapid change or increased demands
• Reprioritises own work or the work of the team in response to external pressures
• Is flexible in their approach; adapts their working style to suit the needs of the situation

CUSTOMER FOCUS
• Formally gathers and analyses customer feedback and satisfaction levels and uses this information to improve future performance
• Develops communication plans and strategies which ensure customers and stakeholders are fully consulted and informed
• Shares customer feedback and intelligence with others to help identify potential problems before they occur
• Monitors solutions put in place to improve service delivery levels to ensure they have the desired impact

EXPERIENCE
• Previous experience in a product management role
• A successful track record of managing a software or data product
• Experience in customer facing roles
• Experience with supply chains and supplier management software or services is highly desirable