Product Innovation Manager

Skillsfirst Awards Ltd; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK education charity is looking for a passionate Product Innovation Manager to advance education through innovative qualifications and resources. You will manage product innovation, support global growth, and engage with stakeholders. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in the education sector and strong analytical skills. Benefits include 26 days of leave, flexible work arrangements, and healthcare services worth up to £1,400.

Benefits

26 days annual leave

Life assurance

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced sick pay

Retail discount offers

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Regular massages for office staff

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in the education and skills sector.
• Expert knowledge of qualification package development.
• Excellent analytical and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage product innovation for qualifications and assessments.
• Work with business development teams for growth opportunities.
• Plan and manage product innovation activities across the organization.

Skills

Innovative problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Project management

Effective communication

Education

Experience in education and skills sector

Formal project management qualification

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Excel

Qlik

HubSpot

SharePoint

Job description

Product Innovation Manager

If you are passionate about education and want to work in a vibrant environment with people who believe in our mission to advance education for the public benefit, please apply and support our charitable objectives. As a diversity-sensitive employer, we are always looking for exceptional talent to join VTCT Skills from a wide range of backgrounds.

We are seeking a Product Innovation Manager to work alongside BOOL stakeholders to support the ongoing improvement of our qualification, assessment and resource portfolio, ensuring it meets the needs of customers and learners throughout the UK and across the world.

VTCT Skills (the working name of Vocational Training Charitable Trust) is a market‑leading specialist vocational and technical awarding organisation. We offer a comprehensive range of qualifications, assessments and services in 17 sectors, including hairdressing, beauty, logistics and early years. Working closely with employers and training providers, our ranges are backed by industry and trusted worldwide. With over 3,000 training locations, we help more than 120,000 learners achieve professional skills that transform their lives each year.

Principal Responsibilities of the Role

• Managing innovation of the qualification and assessment portfolio, leading the development of a ‘qualification in a box’ offer, using appropriate methods gained from extensive industry experience in the awarding, education and skills sectors.
• Working with the UK and international business development teams to identify opportunities for product innovation to support growth in UK and international markets.
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• Undertaking research and planning and managing stakeholder engagement to ensure scoping and validation requirements are met and align with relevant project or operational milestones.
• Supporting the management of VTCT Skills’ Course Endorsement service.
• Determining your own and team priorities when managing complex projects.
• Planning and managing cross‑organisational product innovation activities, ensuring all internal and external stakeholders are aware of roles, responsibilities and timelines.
• Supporting the recruitment, onboarding and retention of associates, ensuring associates have the knowledge and experience to align with VTCT Skills’ qualifications and apprenticeship standards.

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge and experience of working withительную regulators in the awarding sector.
• Extensive experience of working within the education and skills sector, either in the UK or internationally.
• Expert knowledge of the development of ‘qualification packages’ in the awarding sector, including the development of value‑add products and services.
• Experience of innovating products and services to meet the needs of current and future customers.
• Experience of representing an organisation externally in a senior capacity, working with a variety of key stakeholders, government regulators and industry professionals.
• Excellent analytical and project management skills, with the ability to manage conflicting projects and priorities.
• Ability to create innovative solutions to unique problems.
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, HubSpot, Qlik and SharePoint.
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• Excellent leadership, management and communication skills, utilising these skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent writing and proof‑reading skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of assessment design principles and development processes.
• Ability to plan strategically.
• Experience of developing educational resources and guidance for courses, qualifications and assessments.
• Formal project management qualification.

Benefits (Please enquire if you would like more information about these before you apply)

• 26 days annual leave, rising to 27 after 2 years. With an extra day for your birthday
• Life assurance 4 waktu salary
• Flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced sick pay benefits and pension contributions principle;
• Retail discount offers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Wellbeing initiatives and support
• Vibrant array of social opportunities
• Free parking, free tea and coffee and free fruit!
• Healthcare services worth up to £1,400 and access to 24/7 GP services
• Regular massages for office staff

Please submit your CV in a covering letter (optional) to [e-mail] to start the application process.

Once you have applied we will get in touch after the advertising has closed to let you know if you have been shortlisted for interview. If you are not contacted after this time you should assume you were not successful this time; we cannot give feedback due to the volume of applications.

Application closing date: Monday 26th January 2026 at 9am

Interviews for this role are ongoing throughout the application timeframe and beyond

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.