Do you want to change the way people travel?

Are you obsessed with creating #MacsMoments (Unforgettable travel experiences) 

Do you want to be part of the management team building the world's leading adventure travel brand? 

Are you excited about joining a fast scaling company (>30% CAGR over past 8 years)?

Yes?

Then this might be your "Once in a lifetime opportunity" so please do read on. 

Role: Head of Product Management (Self-guided adventure travel)

Location: Either Glasgow, UK (3+ days onsite) or UK remote (with fairly regular travel to Glasgow)

As we continue to scale internationally and lead the adventure travel market, we are seeking an experienced Head of Product Management to lead our team of product managers during an exciting stage of growth.

About Macs Adventure

We’re a leading adventure travel company on a mission to be the leading global brand in adventure travel.

Specializing in self-guided walking, cycling, and adventure holidays worldwide. We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding customer experiences and delivering seamless journeys expertly. Welcoming over 35,000 adventurers on over 600 walking and cycling trips to destinations around the world, we employ almost 200 adventurous people across the UK, US and Germany who share our purpose to create #MacsMoments (by leading, advocating & enabling self-guided, active travel as a positive force for people and planet.)

Our Culture

We’re an adventurous business with an ambitious vision. Our aim is to double the size of the business by 2027. We want to do this the right way and have set ourselves another important goal of achieving BCorp status within 12 months.

Our culture reflects these ambitions. We’re a fast-paced organisation and we like to have fun along the way. We’re looking for people who can grow with Macs and join us on our journey. It’s not the easy route, we’re looking for people who enjoy challenges, love learning and want to make an impact and relate to our core values;

• Love the journey: A Macs trip is all about the journey, not the destination. We are all believers in Macs’ unique brand of self-guided, active travel and shout about it. As more travellers convert to the Macs Way, we accept our business will grow and change. We welcome new connections, and embrace to new opportunities. Carpe diem!
• Take a different path: We’re not different for differents sake; but we won’t succeed if we’re just the same as everyone else. We devise creative solutions to problems, find new ways of doing things, and trust colleagues who are doing so too. We are brave and feel empowered to take the initiative. We ask ourselves: is what I’m doing authentically Macs?
• Tread thoughtfully: We are considerate, empathetic and try to put ourselves in our customers’, suppliers’ and each other’s shoes. We support local, and find ways of having less negative impact on the planet. We find ways of having positive impact on people and communities. We are fair, and we do the right thing.
• Go the extra mile: We know that creating a perfect #MacsMoment involves going that bit further. We imagine the best feedback we can get and set out to earn it. We take ownership and accountability – it’s yours, not someone else’s, problem. We step up and help our team mates when they need us.

What you’ll do;

The Head of Product Management at Macs Adventure is responsible for overseeing the growth, management, and continuous improvement of our self-guided walking, cycling and adventure travel product portfolio. This role requires an execution focused leader with a deep understanding of the adventure travel market, strong leadership and management skills, and a passion for delivering exceptional self-guided travel experiences. You will lead a team of product managers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure that our products meet market demands, company goals, and customer expectations.

Mission for the Role:

• To lead product management at Macs Adventure to create and deliver the world’s best self-guided adventures.
• To be a key member of the management team building the world’s biggest and best adventure travel brand by driving revenue, customer and profit growth.

You will report to: Product and Operations Director

Your direct reports will be: You will lead the product management team (~18 colleagues) and your direct reports will be between 6 - 8 Senior Product Managers and Product Managers. 

Seniority: Head of Department / Senior Management Team

What do we need from this role:

• Leadership and Management: You will provide leadership, coaching and guidance to the product management team, fostering a culture of accountability, performance, innovation, and continuous improvement. Some of the ways you will do this include:
  • Coaching them to do their best work, achieve stretch targets and develop their skills.
  • Holding performance/development reviews for team members and agreeing development plans.

• Team building: You will recruit, onboard and develop the product management team to build a high performing team.
• Product Strategy Development & Execution: Develop and execute the product management strategy to drive revenue, customer and profit growth and quality improvements.
• Market and customer insight: Lead on market analysis and customer insight through customer, supplier and industry conversations and analysis.
• Product leadership and innovation: Lead on product development, innovation and continuous improvement to drive growth and keep Macs Adventure at the forefront of the self-guided adventure market.
• Delivering for customers: Ensuring that our product range of self-guided adventures deliver a seamless customer journey, meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
• Supplier and Commercial Management: Manage supplier relationships to ensure sufficient supply, quality service delivery, compliance to operational and sustainability standards and drive commercial improvements. Ensuring that Macs Adventure is the partner of choice.
• Risk Management: Implement robust processes to identify and mitigate H&S risks to keep customers safe, minimize disruptions, ensure regulatory compliance and business continuity.
• Operational Excellence: Implement and optimize product management processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness and ensure all products meet standards.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains across all areas of product management.
• Resource Allocation: Manage resource allocation to ensure optimal utilisation of people, technology, and other resources.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage budgets for your department and projects, ensuring alignment with overall financial goals.
• Project & Change Management: Lead key departmental change projects and ensure robust project management is in place for all projects.
• Performance Optimisation: Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement measures to improve product performance.
• Continuous Improvement: Leading and supporting initiatives for continuous improvement, innovation, and best practices adoption across the product portfolio.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with other departments, including product marketing, operations, technology, people and finance, to align product management with overall company goals and objectives.

What kind of person might see this as a good fit?

• An adventure travel industry pro. You have deep sector expertise, a wide network and are extremely knowledgeable about the adventure travel industry, market and customers, and are more excited than ever about the industry and changing the way people travel.

• A product management expert. You have many years of experience in developing, managing and improving high quality, commercially successful walking and/or cycling tours.

• A Manager of People. You have a successful track record as a manager of high performing teams, where people do their best work, grow as professionals and together deliver great results. We need your help to build a great team, then inspire, motivate and guide them to achieve personal and business goals.

• Performance and results focused. Data guides your decision making in achieving impressive product portfolio management results. Your analytical insight and attention to KPI’s and outcomes are key strengths. Getting the reporting, systems, processes and technology right that supports this will be crucial.

• A creative innovator. The customer outcome is the best self-guided adventures in the world, so you need to combine your creativity and innovative mindset to problem solve and bring groundbreaking new trips to market.

• Fast-paced and efficient. You maintain clear focus on the business goals, moving forward systematically and smoothly. You don’t ‘flap’ easily, so your team feel confident communicating, being accountable and thinking creatively.

• Ready for change, learning on the go. You’re smart, you’re knowledgeable and you’re experienced in scaling a business - this is going to be a roller coaster continually presenting new challenges and opportunities, and you are open and ready for that learning curve. When mistakes happen, you learn fast, fix it and move on, not hide from it.

• Decision-making and ‘Get Sh*t Done’. You’re probably known as a “completer finisher” who loves to see things through, however, in a scale-up scenario the only constant is change and nothing is ever truly “done” - you’re okay with that and it won’t slow you down. You judge the best course of action after evaluating consequences, target on the best outcome, then get it delivered.

• Tech savvy. As the company grows it is increasingly seeking technology solutions to drive efficiency, effectiveness and improve user experience. We need people who embrace this change.

• You are commercial in the right way. You understand that driving a great commercial deal is important, but that only true partnership is sustainable.

• Alert and curious, with initiative and resourcefulness. You think ahead, prioritising and planning carefully to achieve measured progress on business and team goals. You stay informed and organised, so when issues occur you can act quickly and calmly, because at heart you are a problem solver, and you are prepared for as much as possible.

• Open and communicative. You are not afraid to ask questions or have them asked of you. You are a ‘team player’ and you are adept at coaching, mentoring, encouraging and supporting those around you to play to their strengths and achieve their best work. You are confident, competent and articulate enough to influence at all levels, and across all business functions.

• A ‘we’ thinker, rather than an ‘I’ thinker, high on empathy and low on ego. This role is about collaboration, delegation and enablement. You communicate openly, plan solutions then execute as a team.
  
• You think BIG. You’re ambitious for the company and for the team. 3x growth is well within your comfort zone and 10x really gets you excited, so you are also confident in encouraging everyone in the team towards ambitious goals.

The knowledge and skills we’ve listed represent “the perfect candidate”. No one’s perfect and we know the ‘confidence gap’ can stop brilliant people applying. If you love the sound of this opportunity please apply, we’d love to hear from you.

You could belong here;

To deliver adventures for more than 100,000 adventurers we need to build a company that’s reflective of their diversity. We’re building an inclusive workplace that promotes and values difference, where everyone, from any background, can do their best work and be proud to belong.

What we’ll offer

As well as your excellent salary and performance related rewards package;

• ANNUAL LEAVE: We’re an inclusive employer and celebrate diversity. We want you to be able to take holidays that matter to you, so 8 public holidays are included in your annual leave allowance of 33 days, which increases to 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• BIRTHDAY BOOSTER: An extra day off on your birthday!
• PENSION: We offer a contributory pension scheme.
• DISCOUNTS: You are eligible for great discounts on Macs Adventure trips!
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: We provide you and your spouse/partner/children with annual worldwide travel insurance.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING: A flexible work culture you’ll be able to work from home as well as coming into our hub office in Glasgow at least 3 days per week to collaborate with colleagues. (For the right candidate remote working in the UK will be available with fairly regular travel to Glasgow)
• GETTING TOGETHER: Regular team, management and leadership meetings and retreats.
• CULTURE: An innovative, fast growth, international and solution focused culture, where we work hard to embed our values across the business.
• L&D: We support regular learning and development opportunities.
• WELLBEING. We'll support you in looking after your health and wellbeing so you can do your best work.
• TRAVEL: Regular international travel will be required.

• IMPACT: The opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and the planet.