Digital product owner

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses

University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification, then start on a graduate training scheme with an employer. Most subjects are acceptable, for example:

• project management
• business management
• business analytics
• marketing

Entry requirements:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

• Digital Product Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Project Manager Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These can take between 2 and 4 years to complete.

After finishing your apprenticeship, you'll need to get experience working in digital delivery teams before getting a job as a product owner.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Work

You could start out in a junior or assistant role. Employers will set their own requirements, though an understanding of some of the following might be helpful:

• product marketing
• customer experience
• user research
• business change management
• agile project management methods like Scrum, Kanban and Lean

OtherRoutes

If you do not have work experience, there are some things you can do, such as:

• develop skills in data analysis
• study online about the role of digital product management
• take a specialist course in product management
• join online product management communities for tips and networking opportunities

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Skills:

• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• excellent verbal communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• maths knowledge
• business management skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to read English
• active listening skills
• excellent written communication skills
• knowledge of human resources and employment law
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• concentration skills
• a good memory

What you'll do:

Digital product owners lead a team of specialists to build online products and services for customers.

As a digital product owner, you'll:

• work closely with your teams
• look at user feedback to help improve the product
• work with designers to make the product easy to use
• develop business cases and user stories for new features
• work with the design team to draft versions of your product or service
• keep people informed about your product's development
• manage relationships between teams, partners and customers

Location : You could work in an office or at a client's business.

Salary:

Starter : £39,000
Experienced : £65,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 39 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings occasionally

Career Path:

With experience, you could apply for a more senior jobs, such as head of product or senior product manager.

Some product managers also become self-employed consultants.