At Manchester United our aim is to Win the United Way – and the quality of our behind-the scenes team sets us apart from the competition.
Our people are as committed to the success of the company as the players are to winning trophies. We offer a unique and exciting working environment, excellent training, with recognition and rewards for the part each individual plays. Sounding good so far?
The Purpose:
This is a unique opportunity to help shape how Manchester United fans and customers around the world experience our digital products. You will be helping to define and deliver experiences that leave our fans feeling inspired, working across multiple platforms that sit within our digital ecosystem.
The Digital Product Manager will play an important role in defining Manchester United’s digital product portfolio. In this role you will be responsible for product planning and overseeing development and implementation of new features and product enhancements across a range of channels, including web, mobile, and backend components and platforms. This will involve managing new and existing product enhancements through the product lifecycle; helping to define the product vision, gathering and prioritising requirements, and working closely with technology supplier(s), partners, and key stakeholders to deliver and maintain solutions that meet the needs of both the business and our fans.
Reporting into the Head of Digital Product Management, this position requires a level of strategic thinking, but with the ability to shift into the details to make informed decisions. The ideal candidate should be technically minded, as the role will often require the individual to get involved in helping to define and configure services alongside 3rd Party technical suppliers.
The Role:
- Work with business stakeholders to understand needs and create solutions that facilitate objectives.
- Understand the value of the fan experience, whilst balancing this with commercial opportunities and technical feasibility when developing requirements for features & products.
- Create specifications that outline product and feature objectives, along with detailed requirements and user stories that can be understood and acted upon by engineering and design teams.
- Lead a cross-functional team in an agile environment to successfully bring full-stack app and web consumer facing products and features to market.
- Consider backend systems that support our web and mobile applications, including scalability, performance, and security, and collaborate with backend development teams to align system improvements with product needs.
- Work closely with the UX team to ensure the fan experience is considered as a priority.
- Use quantitative and qualitative insight, and monitor/engage with user feedback channels to help inform decisions. Make decisions based on data driven evidence that provides a clear rationale why features should, and should not, be prioritised.
- Substantially contribute to the development of the product roadmap by prioritising features, driving meaningful initiatives through the software development lifecycle.
- Own and maintain relationships with suppliers and vendors with an authoritative voice.
- Ability to understand and communicate complex technical concepts and/or information to stakeholders and suppliers.
- Ability to understand the key technology and architectural capabilities and constraints of our platforms to facilitate decision-making.
- Ensure that best practice product development practices and processes are followed and suggest ways in which the process can be improved, and proactively champion these to the wider team.
- Evaluate key performance indicators of our product(s) and suggest optimisation strategies to affect them positively.
- Participate in the evaluation of new technologies and opportunities for integration in our platform.
- Conduct competitive analysis and identify areas for product differentiation and enhancement.
- Build positive relationships and trust with other parts of the business through communication and collaboration, and radiate visibility of the roadmap, features, and rationale to a wide audience.
The Person:
- Extensive experience working as a product manager in a software, media, or online business environment.
- High familiarity with Agile methodologies and ceremonies.
- Experience working with offshore development teams is highly desirable.
- Proven track record of managing all aspects of a successful product throughout its lifecycle.
- Full stack direct-to-consumer product development experience on app and web is a must, but some B2B product management experience is also of interest.
- Fantastic verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively across all levels in the organisation.
- Proven ability to develop product strategies and effectively communicate these to executive management.
- Good project management skills; process oriented, organised, and detailed.
- Great problem-solving skills, including assessing situations, evaluating options, and providing qualified recommendations.
- Ability to multitask and manage priorities based on opportunity, risk, and impact to business.
- Flexible and pragmatic working styles to adapt to various personalities in cross-functional teams.
- Strong teamwork and fantastic leadership skills with an authoritative voice.
- A drive for product innovation and excellence.
- Passionate about creating innovative new consumer experiences.
- Solid technical background with understanding and/or hands-on experience in app software development, web technologies, and backend supporting systems.
- Proven ability to use data, analytics, research, and testing methodologies to drive business decisions.
- Familiarity with online marketing techniques and a strong commercial understanding is desired.
If you would like to join the team and be part of our mission, to win the United way, please submit your application by 28th November 2023
Manchester United endeavour to respond to all job application, however, please consider that we receive a high volume of applications and this may not always possible.
We recognise the importance of safeguarding children and adults at risk at Manchester United, as part of this commitment this post is required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the appropriate level, as well as full reference history.
Manchester United is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to background, ethnicity, race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or other legally protected characteristics.
Manchester United Football Club are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, supporting the armed forces community to transition into careers outside of the armed forces.
Manchester United is committed to working with and providing reasonable adjustments for applicants and employees. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application and perform at your best, please do not hesitate to contact us to make a request; we are here to help.
It is unlawful to employ a person in a UK-based job who does not have permission to live and work in the UK. You should make yourself aware of how immigration laws apply to you before applying for any of our roles. Your personal data will be processed on MU’s behalf by Morson.