Group Product Lead

Apply on JLP Jobs - the official careers website for John Lewis Partnership, John Lewis & Partners, and Waitrose & Partners.

About the role

As a Group Product Lead, you will be the intersection between business, technology, and user experience to deliver valuable products for our customers, aligned with the JLP Product Framework. You will oversee digital product development within the Insurance Value Stream, understanding strategic and tactical challenges across business and technology, always putting the customer first. Partnering with Commercial Leads, you will identify key requirements, foster innovation, and drive transformation to meet customer and business needs effectively.

The primary focus is the digital ecosystem for the Insurance Value Stream. You will lead the Digital Product and Product Design team to create intuitive, engaging, and connected experiences across all digital products. Your strategic thinking and leadership will facilitate cross-functional collaboration to implement innovative design strategies.

Your role involves shaping product strategy for the Insurance Value Stream, translating it into prioritized, actionable work for development teams, and ensuring excellent customer experiences across multiple digital touchpoints.

• Salary range - £75,000.00 - £123,000.00
• Contract type - Permanent
• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, allowing a mix of office and home-based work, with the team aiming to be in the office once a week for collaboration.

Key responsibilities

• Set and oversee the long-term digital plan for your Value Stream, ensuring high-quality design and consistency across all digital products.
• Operate as a senior leader within the Value Stream Leadership Team, defining strategy and end-to-end value.
• Manage budgets and be accountable for ROI within your digital scope.
• Translate strategic guidance into a clear plan with objectives and key results (OKRs) supporting customer and commercial goals.
• Establish a shared vision based on market research and stakeholder insights.
• Align product strategy with the product roadmap and overall Value Stream strategy, focusing on incremental improvements and maximized value.
• Promote human-centered design and build relationships with stakeholders, establishing design standards and best practices.
• Drive innovation and transformation, evaluating market and industry developments, and promoting value-adding initiatives including experimentation.
• Develop and manage the digital product plan, understanding dependencies, and tracking release timelines.
• Maintain a clear understanding of target customer profiles, needs, pains, and gains, and articulate the value proposition of your products.
• Stay informed on market and technology trends, becoming a subject matter expert.
• Oversee the entire digital product lifecycle, including market fit, go-to-market strategy, and performance monitoring.
• Leverage qualitative and quantitative insights to inform product development continually.
• Communicate strategy and plans internally and externally to ensure alignment and understanding among stakeholders and third-party suppliers.
• Understand ROI and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) from a digital perspective.
• Partner with Engineering, Architecture, and Delivery & Operations Leads to define technical strategy focused on incremental releases and MVP guidance.
• Lead, coach, develop, and recruit a skilled team of Product Managers and Designers, embedding the JLP product framework.
• Cultivate an environment of innovation and establish a Product community of practice, seeking growth opportunities.
• Engage in external networks and events to enhance the Partnership's product and design reputation and attract talent.

Essential skills/experience you'll need

• Proven ability in Product Leadership with strategic planning over 3-5 years in an Insurance environment.
• Experience in Product Design.
• Deep understanding of the market landscape, technology trends, and competitive analysis.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams across multiple locations.
• Strong knowledge of user-centered design, UX frameworks, usability testing, and design standards.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, capable of presenting concepts effectively.
• Ability to understand complex concepts and their commercial impact.
• Skill in managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Proven leadership in guiding and developing teams.

The partnership

We're the largest employee-owned business in the UK, home to John Lewis and Waitrose. We're committed to building a happier world, focusing on retail excellence, innovation, and diversification. As Partners, we share ownership and success, contributing to our collective and individual growth.

We foster an inclusive environment that values differences, encourages authenticity, and supports personal and collective development.

As Partners, we make a difference and own our success.

Important points to note:

Some roles may require pre-employment vetting, including DBS checks, which will be communicated during recruitment. We recommend applying early, as vacancies may close early due to high demand. We support flexible working arrangements, such as flexible hours, job sharing, or shorter contracts; discuss options with the hiring manager during your interview.