Role Overview
As the interim leader of Awards Product Development, you will uphold and advance the global reputation of both LIONS and Money20/20 Awards. You will ensure our awards remain the industry’s gold standard by combining strategic foresight with operational excellence, keeping categories, criteria and processes ahead of market shifts.
Key Accountabilities
* Awards Product Strategy – Own and execute a 12‑month awards roadmap, adapting categories and criteria to reflect industry shifts.
* Team Leadership – Manage and develop a high‑performing team, maintain operational continuity, and foster growth through clear performance metrics and skill‑building opportunities.
* Category Development – Lead 3–5 category reforms or launches, validated by market research and stakeholder insights.
* Market Research – Coordinate and conduct surveys, interviews and focus groups with customers, agencies and industry professionals to identify opportunities and pain points.
* Market Intelligence – Analyse qualitative and quantitative data to identify award‑development opportunities, providing regular reporting on emerging industry trends.
* Data‑Driven Decisions – Validate all category changes through data such as entry patterns, jury feedback and competitor benchmarking.
* Product Delivery – Oversee end‑to‑end awards product delivery, from concept design to product and platform development and post‑event analysis, ensuring deadlines are met.
* Platform Excellence – Optimise entry systems to enhance user experience.
* Insight Reporting – Deliver quarterly roadmap updates and bi‑monthly “What’s Next” briefings to key stakeholders.
This list is not exhaustive; other activities may also be required.
Essential Qualifications
* Proven experience leading end‑to‑end product management, preferably in awards or similar programmes, ensuring seamless delivery and continuous improvement.
* Expertise designing award frameworks and programmes that set industry standards and drive measurable growth.
* Demonstrated ability to lead teams, recognise growth potential, coach and support skill development.
* Strong analytical skills to transform strategic vision into actionable product roadmaps using entrant feedback, participation analytics, customer research, sector trends and rigorous testing.
* Experience collaborating with Development, Data, Marketing and Content teams to ensure alignment on product requirements and customer needs.
* Outstanding data‑interpretation skills, translating complex insights into clear strategies.
* Adaptable and results‑focused, able to assess effectiveness, refine approaches and report on progress.
* Exceptional presentation and facilitation skills, confidently representing the brand as an engaging ambassador.
Preferred Qualifications
* Understanding of the branded communications and fintech landscapes, with a proactive drive to deepen knowledge of relevant sectors and trends.
* Experience working with award submission platforms.
Additional Information
This role is offered as a maternity cover contract.
Location: based in the UK. Candidates must have the right to work and live in the UK.
The role requires in‑person collaboration three days a week or more, while flexible support allows working from home or remotely for up to four weeks a year.
Benefits
* Great community: welcoming culture with in‑person and online social events, charity days and active diversity & inclusion networks.
* Broader impact: up to four days a year to volunteer, with charity match funding available.
* Career opportunity: bespoke training, learning, mentoring platforms and on‑demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning; internal job moves encouraged.
* Time off: 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from anywhere for up to four weeks a year.
* Flexible personal benefits: choice of a range of benefits plus company‑funded private medical cover.
* ShareMatch scheme enabling employees to become Informa shareholders with free matching shares.
* Wellbeing support: EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more.
* Recognition: global awards and kudos programmes.
* International collaboration: opportunity to work with teams around the world.
Equal Opportunities
We are a formal Equal Opportunities Employer. We base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses protected by law. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to inclusive experiences and environments. If you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations during the hiring process or in this role, please inform the appropriate Talent Acquisition Partner once they have reached out.
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