Director, Product Management

Overview

PLOS is a non-profit organization on a mission to drive open science forward with measurable, meaningful change in research publishing, policy, and practice. We believe in a better future where science is open to all, for all.

This position is fully remote/home based. Applications will be accepted from candidates based in the UK.

The Director of Product Management plays a critical leadership role in shaping PLOS’s strategic direction and ensuring that our digital services deliver meaningful, measurable impact for the global research community. As a senior member of PLOS, the Director provides vision and oversight for the Product Management function, ensuring that PLOS’s product strategy aligns with organisational priorities, market opportunities, and the evolving needs of researchers, librarians, funders, and institutional partners.

This role is responsible for scaling PLOS’s product capability, building organisational maturity in product management, and representing PLOS’s product vision both internally and externally. The Director will foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and user-centred design across teams, driving the long-term success and strengthening our position as a leader in Open Science.

• Team Leadership:
  Lead and mentor a team of Product Managers, fostering supportive culture of continuous improvement, innovation, collaboration and accountability.
• Continuous Learning and Improvement:
  Encourage a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the Product Management team.

• Product Leadership:
  Own and align the long-term product strategy with PLOS’s organisational goals, ensuring that product decisions drive measurable strategic, financial, and mission-aligned outcomes. Champion an evidence-based approach to defining priorities and articulating the value of product investment.
• Transformation of Product Management Practice:
  Lead the transformation of Product Management at PLOS by evolving our ways of working, tools, and culture to strengthen strategic alignment, speed, and impact. Evolve and embed PLOS’s Product Management framework to support cross-functional collaboration, evidence-based decision-making, and transparent prioritisation. Champion the integration of user research, data, and design thinking into all stages of the product lifecycle, ensuring that teams operate with clarity of purpose and measurable outcomes.
  
  Drive continuous improvement in processes, rituals, and governance, enabling PLOS to respond with agility to emerging opportunities and challenges while maintaining coherence across the product portfolio.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  
  Partner closely with senior leaders and subject matter experts across Engineering, UX & Design, Publishing, Editorial, Finance, Marketing, and Operations to ensure strategic alignment, cohesive planning, and effective delivery across the organisation. Build strong, trust-based relationships with peers and stakeholders to drive enterprise outcomes.
• Stakeholder Alignment & Communication:
  Partnering with leaders across the organisation to align on and communicate the strategic direction, performance, and impact of PLOS’s digital services. Translate complex product and technical concepts into clear narratives for diverse audiences – designing and engaging in ways that bring others along.
• Governance:
  Establish and oversee a coherent and prioritised roadmap for the development of our digital services. Ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and user needs, and that cross-functional teams are empowered and accountable for delivery.
• Innovation and Market Insight:
  Champion innovation across PLOS’s digital ecosystem, identifying emerging trends, market opportunities, and partnerships that can advance Open Science and improve research communication. Foster a culture of experimentation and data-informed decision-making.
• Compliance, Risk, and Quality:
  Ensure that compliance frameworks, information governance, accessibility standards, and ethical principles are embedded across the product lifecycle. Balancing innovation with operational excellence and risk management.
• Leadership…