Head of Product Management Excellence

The role of Head of Product Management Excellence serves to define set and implement industry standard product management excellence principles and practices aligned to the existing Smiths Detection Product Lifecycle and Commercial Lifecycle process frameworks (PLP and CLP).

The role will support the Smiths Detection strategy while instilling best practice within each portfolio. While Product Managers are accountable to increase the income market share profits and customer satisfaction of their product portfolio this role optimizes the product managers performance by driving the adoption and sustainment of both industry best practice and the Product Lifecycle and Commercial Lifecycle aligned to the business this role is as diverse as it is essential.

It requires the adoption of a hands-on approach and at the same time provides the framework that can assist with better strategic decisions while coordinating wide-ranging process improvement projects.

The role must work proactively with the Programme Excellence Centre (PEC) to maintain a programme of continuous improvement across the Product Lifecycle Process (PLP) framework and the interrelated Commercial Lifecycle Process (CLP) framework. The role holder is expected to champion Customer driven quality and exemplary resolution in everything we do.

Strategic Product Leadership

• Define and own the global product management vision and strategy across all portfolios.
• Translate the strategy into actionable roadmaps deliverables and KPIs.
• Clearly communicate product direction status and performance to stakeholders and customers.

Planning and Decision Making (Key Focus)

• Lead the global planning organisation and implementation of product management controls that balance rigour with agility.
• Standardise product management practices across portfolios embedding structure into how we manage the full product lifecycle.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators that enable effective evidence-based product decisions from concept through to retirement.
• Ensure our product strategies support commercial opportunities and align with future technology roadmaps.

Customer-Centric Improvements

• Actively contribute to improving customer satisfaction through close collaboration with Marketing and Sales.
• Use tools like Net Promoter Score (NPS) Customer Effort Score (CES) and customer feedback to evaluate and improve product performance and experience.
• Help translate customer insights into meaningful product enhancements and service offerings.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering Sales Service Marketing and Commercial teams to drive integrated product planning.
• Support lifecycle decisions with data from new product introduction through to end-of-life planning.
• Promote alignment between product strategy and business objectives through governance process improvements and robust communication.

Process Ownership and Continuous Improvement

• Drive global consistency in product management tools documentation and engagement approaches.
• Support ISO audits and internal quality initiatives with clear structured input.
• Capture lessons learned from post-launch performance and customer feedback to strengthen future product decisions.

Qualifications :

What You Will Bring

• An internationally recognised professional qualification in Product Management (essential).
• A degree or equivalent in Business Engineering Technology or a related field (desirable).
• Extensive experience in a senior product management role preferably across multiple complex product portfolios for a FTSE100 company. 
• Strong commercial understanding: ROI cost of goods gross margin pricing strategy and product-market fit.
• Expertise in new product development market research and lifecycle management.
• Ability to influence across global teams without direct line management.
• Exceptional communication facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Willingness to travel occasionally across Europe and internationally.

Additional Information :

We offer

Join us and well help build your career with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business both locally and globally. Youll experience an inclusive environment with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. Youll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin economic status disability age or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics where we celebrate support and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation including but not limited to interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our careers website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)