D2C Product Development Manager

Purpose of the role

The Product Development Manager will be instrumental in steering the successful delivery of new features, enhancements, and product innovations across our digital platforms. As a key member of a cross-functional squad, this role serves as the conduit between strategic product vision and operational execution, ensuring that product changes are thoroughly defined, implemented efficiently, and meet customer, business, and regulatory standards

What does the job involve?

• Lead and coordinate day-to-day execution within the feature squad, ensuring that product backlog items are clearly specified and effectively advanced through all stages of the development lifecycle.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to align with the product roadmap, prepare for future sprints, and maintain transparency around priority features and delivery timelines.
• Work in partnership with Developers, Testers, UX/UI specialists, Compliance, and business subject matter experts to refine requirements and develop pragmatic, high-quality solutions.
• Draft and review user stories, acceptance criteria, process flows, business rules, and all relevant supporting documentation for upcoming work items.
• Orchestrate Agile ceremonies such as backlog refinement and sprint planning, facilitating team discussions to drive clarity and consensus on deliverables.
• Own the squad’s delivery plan, proactively monitoring progress, identifying potential risks or blockers, and supporting the team in resolving issues.
• Act as a liaison to internal stakeholders—including customer service, operations, and marketing—to prepare teams for the release of new product features and ensure seamless go-live experiences.
• Ensure all product development complies with applicable regulations (such as FCA, Consumer Duty), and company standards, working with compliance and legal teams as required.
• Support the planning and execution of User Acceptance Testing (UAT), coordinating business sign-off and managing feedback cycles.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, facilitating retrospectives, gathering insights, and implementing process enhancements within the squad.
• Directly manage and develop junior team members (e.g., Product Analysts, Associate Product Owners), providing coaching, feedback, and performance guidance.

Knowledge and experience

• Strong experience in digital product delivery and change management, ideally within financial services
• Proven track record of leading and coordinating delivery across cross-functional teams
• Working knowledge of Agile methodologies and sprint-based delivery
• Understanding of FCA regulatory framework and delivering compliant change

Competence & skills

• Understanding of digital platforms and customer-facing technologies, ideally within investment or financial services
• Excellent skills in requirements gathering, user story writing, and producing clear documentation for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business requirements into actionable, testable, and deliverable solutions
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills—able to influence and coordinate across multiple departments
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Strong problem-solving skills, organisational talent, and the ability to prioritise effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.
• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret and challenge requirements and identify solutions
• Skilled in documentation of requirements, process flows, and delivery tracking
• Committed to continuous improvement and personal development
• Collaborative team player with a focus on quality and outcomes

About us:

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 620,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £96.1 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years and in 2024 named a Great Place to Work®.

Our perks and benefits

• Competitive starting salary
• Starting holiday entitlement of 27 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8% (Increasing with length of service)
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual free share awards scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
• Private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike loan scheme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Loans for travel season tickets
• Death in service scheme
• Paid time off for volunteer work
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Ongoing technical training
• Professional qualification support
• Talent development programmes
• Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches

Hybrid working

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.