Head of Product and Creative Operations

Job Description

This is a senior leadership role shaping how digital products and creative work come to life at scale. As Head of Product and Creative Operations, you’ll be accountable for the operating model that underpins high‑quality digital execution across product, design, user research, copy and motion graphics. You’ll focus on the how, building the frameworks, standards and capabilities that enable teams to deliver consistently great customer experiences across web and app, while staying aligned to our long‑term consumer strategy. You’ll lead a multi‑disciplinary team of senior leads, setting direction for operational excellence and acting as the bridge between product, creative, technology and delivery. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you’ll champion lean, customer‑centred and data‑driven ways of working, embed scalable and reusable practices, and ensure that research, design systems, copy and motion are fully integrated into the product lifecycle. This role blends strategic thinking with hands‑on leadership, guiding teams through change and helping the organisation deliver better outcomes, faster. Who we are

The UK’s fastest broadband network. The nation’s best-loved mobile brand. And, one of the UK's biggest companies too. We put our customers first, making life simpler, smoother, and more joyful. With big ambitions and a brilliant team, we’re building a more connected future for everyone.

Our ways of working

We’re a flexible-first organisation, because we know people do their best work when they have choice and clarity. To support meaningful collaboration, we ask everyone to spend at least eight days each month connecting in person.

That doesn’t just mean time in the office, it could be team meetings, offsites, volunteering days, cross-functional projects, or away days - anywhere meaningful collaboration happens. What matters is making those moments purposeful, so when we come together, it really counts.

Accessible, inclusive and equitable for all

Virgin Media O2 is an equal opportunities employer and we're working hard to remove bias and barriers for our people and candidates. So, we build equity and inclusion into everything we do, from the policies we craft to the relationships we shape. We support and encourage you to be your authentic self throughout your application journey with us.

The must haves

In order to be considered, you must have the following experience;

• Operational Strategy & Outcome Ownership: Has owned and articulated an operational or "DesignOps" strategy for a large-scale digital organization, demonstrating measurable improvements in delivery efficiency.
• Creative Leadership at Scale: Has led multiple cross-functional creative or product operations teams and been accountable for the quality of output beyond initial launch.
• Agile & Product-led Ways of Working: Significant experience integrating creative disciplines (Design, Research, Motion) into high-performing Agile Full Stack squads.
• Systemic Thinking: Proven experience governing a Central Design System and its adoption across diverse product portfolios.
• Stakeholder Management: Examples of influencing and collaborating with Commercial, Technology, and Delivery leaders to resolve prioritisation trade-offs and process bottlenecks.
• People & Change Leadership: Has line-managed and developed senior Leads (Lead Designers/Researchers) and led teams through material organisational change.
• Multi-Disciplinary Oversight: Demonstrable experience owning the operational "how" across the full creative spectrum, specifically including Product, User Research, Copy/UX Writing, and Motion Graphics.
• Multi- Platform Consistency: Proven experience ensuring consistent creative and operational standards across both Web and Mobile App platforms.
• Tooling & Infrastructure: Experience in selecting, implementing, and governing the modern product/creative stack (e.g., Figma, Jira, Research Repositories, Adobe Suite) at an enterprise level.

The other stuff we are looking for

We'd also love you to bring;

• Experience driving the adoption of emerging design, research, and content methodologies (e.g., AI‑assisted workflows, automation, rapid experimentation frameworks) to unlock measurable step‑changes in creative and product delivery performance.

What's in it for you

Our goal is to celebrate our people, their lives and everything in-between. We aim to create a culture that empowers everyone to bring the best versions of themselves to work each and every day. We believe the most inclusive and diverse culture makes for a better business and a brighter world.

Working at Virgin Media O2, you get a bumper reward package bursting with benefits, and loads of extras you can add if you’d like to. These are designed to support both you and your loved ones, making sure that you’re covered no matter what life throws your way.

Next steps

If we feel like a place where you can belong, we'd love to learn more about you as a person and your experience to date. Once you've submitted an application the next steps of the process, if successful, are likely to include a two stage interview process.

When you apply, you'll be asked about any adjustments you might need to support the recruitment process. Let us know, and we'll be sure to discuss it with you.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert, therefore we may bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. If you’re offered a job with us, it will be conditional, based on the passing of background checks. All roles require a criminal record check and some roles need a financial probity check. Your recruiter can provide you with more information if needed.

Thanks for your patience and for showing an interest in joining the Virgin Media O2 family.

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