Head of product job description.
Hiring a head of product or progressing into strategic product leadership? This head of product job description outlines team oversight, vision-setting, cross-functional alignment, and senior-level ownership — including what skills are critical and the salary to expect at this level.
What does a head of product do?
The head of product leads the product function, managing teams, defining product strategy, and ensuring product development aligns with company objectives. They shape the roadmap and own delivery outcomes across multiple products or platforms.
Core responsibilities include hiring and mentoring product managers, setting vision, defining OKRs, working with design and engineering leadership, and presenting to stakeholders or execs. They often act as the link between commercial, technical, and customer teams.
In startups, they help establish the product culture. In mature organisations, they oversee portfolio management, governance, and support long-term strategic growth.
Key responsibilities of a head of product.
The head of product leads the strategy and delivery of the product function. Responsibilities include:
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Setting product vision and aligning it with business strategy
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Managing and mentoring product managers and owners
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Owning the product roadmap and release cadence
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Collaborating with design, engineering, and commercial leadership
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Defining goals, success metrics, and prioritisation frameworks
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Leading discovery, research, and validation processes
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Representing the product function at executive level
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Driving user-centricity and continuous improvement across teams
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Overseeing tooling, processes, and product operations
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Reporting on product performance and outcomes
This role blends leadership, delivery oversight, and long-term product direction.
Skills and requirements for a head of product.
Heads of product lead overall product strategy, team management, and commercial alignment. Employers typically look for:
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8–12 years of experience in product management, with significant team leadership responsibilities.
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Proven experience scaling products from concept to successful market adoption.
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Skilled in defining and prioritising product roadmaps aligned with business goals.
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Ability to manage, mentor, and grow cross-functional product teams.
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Strong stakeholder communication skills, including C-level executives and investors.
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Deep understanding of product analytics, KPIs, and customer insights.
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Experience collaborating closely with engineering, design, and marketing leadership.
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Confident in managing strategic planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.
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Familiarity with agile, lean, and continuous delivery methodologies.
Most head of product report to the chief product officer (CPO) or CEO and play a critical role in shaping product vision and strategy across the organisation.
Average salary for a head of product.
In the UK, the average salary for a head of product typically ranges from £90,000 to £130,000, reflecting strategic product leadership and roadmap delivery across teams.
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Mid-level heads tend to earn between £90,000 and £110,000
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Senior heads managing multiple product streams or scaling globally may earn between £111,000 and £130,000
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Equity and bonuses are common in high-growth product-led organisations
Top salaries are paid in SaaS, marketplaces, and VC-backed scale-ups.
Career progression for a head of product.
A head of product leads the strategic direction, roadmap, and performance of all product initiatives. This senior role sits at the intersection of customer value, technology, and business growth. A typical career path includes:
Product manager
Owns individual feature delivery, works with development, and engages users to shape the roadmap.
Senior product manager
Leads complex product areas, defines KPIs, and drives user adoption and satisfaction.
Group product manager / Product lead
Oversees a portfolio of products or squads. Aligns delivery with broader commercial goals.
Head of product
Sets vision, manages cross-functional teams, and partners with leadership to prioritise investment and innovation.
Chief product officer / VP of product
Owns the entire product organisation. Leads innovation, growth strategy, and product-market fit across the company.
salary guide
Our UK operations salary guide.
Heads of product lead product strategy, cross-team delivery, and growth planning. Compensation should reflect team scale, commercial ownership, and roadmap responsibility.
Use our UK operations salary guide to benchmark senior product roles, compare trends from 2024, and plan for hiring through to 2026.
FAQS
Head of product FAQs.
They own product vision, team structure, and roadmap alignment with commercial goals. This means hiring and mentoring PMs, influencing pricing strategy, and ensuring the product function is aligned to user needs and business outcomes.
The head of product must zoom in and out. They need to support day-to-day team health, while also shaping a 12–24 month product strategy. In the UK, this often includes balancing legacy platform debt with future growth bets.
Series B–D startups, scale-ups moving beyond founder-led product, and enterprise teams undergoing digital transformation. Fintech, healthtech, B2B SaaS, and climate tech are particularly active.
Experience leading teams, yes — but also owning metrics and making hard calls. Candidates who’ve sunset features, restructured teams, or changed prioritisation frameworks often stand out.
VP of product, CPO, or strategy roles. In product-led businesses, this role is often a stepping stone to C-suite ownership or company-wide roadmap leadership.
