Based in Buckinghamshire, Hypnos has been handcrafting luxury pocket spring mattresses and beds for over 120 years. The company maintains a philosophy focused on eco-conscious and sustainable design to provide comfort with integrity and a great night’s sleep.
The company is recruiting for a Head of Product to join the Hypnos team. The successful applicant will be a member of the senior management team and responsible for defining, developing, and managing the company's product strategy and roadmap. They will oversee the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and concept, business case to launch, to end-of-life replacement and transition - a custodian ensuring products align with business goals and customer needs, as well as the company's ethics and wellbeing for people and planet commitment, taking the product team and wider company on the journey.
This role requires a blend of leadership, strategic thinking, and product management expertise.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership: Managing and mentoring a team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working closely with production, finance, marketing, sales, and other teams to ensure seamless product development and execution.
A Hub Function: The Head of Product will act as a hub point between teams for product and project delivery, including Marketing, Production, Purchasing & Suppliers, Quality, Sustainability, Finance, Sales, strategic partners, and the main Board.
Product Strategy and Vision: Defining and communicating the overall product vision, strategy, and roadmap, ensuring it aligns with the company's overall objectives.
Product Development Lifecycle: Overseeing all aspects of the product development process, from market research gathering in liaison with the Marketing team to design, development, testing, and launch, and the exit of ranges.
Market Analysis and Research: Conducting market research, competitive analysis, and user research to identify opportunities, understand customer needs, and inform product decisions.
Product Performance Monitoring: Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and user feedback to assess product performance and identify areas for improvement.
Stakeholder Management: Managing relationships with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, to ensure alignment and support for product initiatives.
Budget and Resource Allocation: Managing the product budget and allocating resources effectively to support product development efforts.
Innovation and Growth: Driving product innovation and identifying new opportunities for growth and expansion, attending key trade and material shows.
Skills:
Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and execute product strategies that align with business goals.
Leadership and Management: Proven ability to lead and motivate a team. Foster a culture of testing, data-driven decision making, and accountability for metrics and results
Product Management Expertise: Deep understanding of the product development lifecycle, portfolio management and best practices.
Communication and Collaboration: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders. You create structure out of ambiguity and have a pragmatic “can-do” and “make it happen” attitude in a collaborative way
Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions, using data and intel to communicate and lead business choices and strategy.
Problem-Solving: Ability to identify and solve complex product-related problems.
Market Awareness: Understanding of market trends, competitive landscape, and customer needs.
Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with relevant technologies and platforms, we can train on our product set and environment, as long as a basic understanding of consumer durables is in place.
The ideal candidate for this role must have:
* Proven ability to lead and motivate a team
* Deep understanding of the product development lifecycle, portfolio management, and best practices
* Experience with market research, competitive analysis, and user research
* Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions
* Familiarity with relevant technologies and platforms, with a good understanding of consumer durables
* 7 years or more of experience in product management
* Must be located within commutable distance to Princes Risborough, England, United Kingdom
Preferred skills:
* Experience managing relationships with key stakeholders, including senior leadership
* Experience managing the product budget and allocating resources effectively
* Experience driving product innovation and identifying new opportunities for growth
* Experience attending key trade and material shows