The National College
Lead Product Manager

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Description
About The National College
At The National College, we empower education professionals to transform children’s lives.
Our all-in-one platform helps schools, trusts, and nurseries stay compliant, raise standards, and reduce staff workload through intuitive, impactful technology.
If educators need it, we build it.
We’ve created a unique platform that combines the world’s largest CPD and policy library with innovative software tools, developed in collaboration with thousands of schools and more than 1,000 education experts.
The Role
We're looking for an experienced Lead Product Manager to drive the delivery and evolution of our core products while helping shape our future product portfolio. Working closely with the Chief Product Officer, you'll lead cross-functional teams, own the end-to-end product lifecycle, and support the development of a high-performing product team.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys turning strategy into execution, making data-informed decisions, and delivering products that create meaningful value for customers and the business.
Job Requirements
Experience
- Demonstrable track record of delivering high-quality products consistently and at pace across multiple workstreams
- Proven experience taking products from discovery through to launch, including user research, stakeholder alignment, prioritisation, and delivery planning
- Experience managing multiple products, platforms, or technology workstreams simultaneously
- Experience within an EdTech, SaaS, or subscription-based business. Familiarity with the UK education sector is desirable
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Skills and Competencies
- Strong product management fundamentals, including backlog prioritisation, requirements gathering, and writing clear user stories and acceptance criteria
- Confident working with design teams, providing direction and prioritising design work to support product delivery
- Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively, manage stakeholder expectations, and escalate risks early
- Highly organised and self-motivated, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability in a fast-paced environment
- Commercially minded, with the ability to balance customer needs, technical constraints, and business priorities when making product decisions
- Data-informed approach to decision-making, using qualitative and quantitative insights to guide prioritisation and measure success
- Comfortable working in ambiguity and adapting quickly as priorities evolve
Job Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end delivery of products and features, from initial scoping and discovery through to first release, proactively identifying and resolving blockers before they impact delivery
- Own and manage the product backlog, writing clear user stories, requirements, and acceptance criteria to ensure engineering teams always have well-defined, prioritised work
- Provide day-to-day direction to the UX Designer, setting clear briefs, offering timely and actionable feedback, and prioritising design work across competing initiatives
- Ensure the quality of product releases through effective testing and validation before launch, maintaining a high standard of user experience
- Communicate progress, priorities, risks, and decisions clearly with engineering, commercial, and leadership stakeholders
- Coordinate with the wider Product team to manage shared platform dependencies and ensure effective cross-functional delivery
- Work closely with the Chief Product Officer, keeping them informed of progress, risks, and key decisions while operating with a high degree of autonomy


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Job Benefits
At The National College, we’re passionate about helping organisations grow and thrive through knowledge and connection. You’ll be part of a business that values its people, supports continuous development, and celebrates success.
You'll also be able to benefit from:
- Life assurance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay
- 24/7 online GP access
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Charity day
- 25 days’ holiday, increasing to 30 days with service
- Professional study support
- Plus more
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills