Global Process & Operating Model Partner

We’re Pentland Brands: a global family business behind some of the world’s most iconic active and lifestyle brands. We bring integrity, energy and ambition to our work, setting high standards and striving to deliver great outcomes without ego.

The Global Process & Operating Model Partner supports product management teams in preparing for and adopting improved product management processes by connecting process design, platform enablement and practical adoption support.

The role works with brand, product, merchandising and commercial teams to embed practical, sustainable ways of working across the product management operating model, while maintaining agility, commercial focus and innovation.

This role requires deep understanding of the specific role product management plays in shaping product direction, range decisions, product governance, product data discipline, commercial alignment and cross-functional decision-making. It focuses on improving how product management teams set direction, govern ranges, use data, make decisions and connect with adjacent functions across mainline and non-mainline product processes

What you’ll be doing:

Process Architecture & Operating Model Design

• Conduct end-to-end assessments and analysis of current and future operating models in product management areas to identify opportunities for simplification, improvement or transformation.
• Map and redesign the role Product Management plays across the product operating model, including how product direction, range decisions, product governance, product data and commercial priorities connect with wider business activity.
• Clarify decision rights, approval points, range governance and accountability across mainline and non-mainline product processes, reducing rework and cross-functional confusion.
• Design structured touchpoints between product management, brand, merchandising, design, development, marketing, sourcing and retail to improve product decision-making, commercial alignment and range visibility.
• Design and document simplified, systemic workflows within a highly matrixed organisation, using appropriate enablers such as systems, tooling, automation and AI where relevant.
• Enable the implementation and continuous improvement of system design, development and implementation activity that product management teams are involved in.
• Apply shared design principles to balance consistency, autonomy and flexibility across brands and business areas.

Change Readiness & Adoption

• Support product management teams in preparing for operating model, process and data-related changes.
• Support and enable adoption of updated product management ways of working, including product governance, range management, decision rights, product data disciplines and cross-functional handovers.
• Work collaboratively with brand, merchandising and commercial stakeholders to ensure changes are practical, understood and embedded.
• Identify adoption challenges, capability gaps and areas where additional support is needed to sustain new ways of working.
• Encourage continuous improvement and process simplification while supporting clear product ownership, commercial alignment and effective decision-making.

Technology & Platform Enablement (Where Relevant)

• Partner with Platform/IT teams to ensure product management processes and operating models are appropriately enabled by data, systems and tools.
• Define and articulate business requirements for system-enabled change in product management - including Vibe IQ platforms and product data management tools - without owning technical delivery or configuration.
• Act as a bridge between product management business needs and technology solutions, ensuring alignment between process design intent and user adoption across creative and commercial teams.
• Identify and address misalignment, workarounds or constraints that undermine effective, system-enabled product management - particularly where Vibe IQ adoption, product data quality or unclear governance slows cross-functional decision-making.

Governance, Readiness & Risk Assurance

• Support governance and readiness for process and operating model change within product management, including clarity of scope, dependencies and decision points across the product calendar.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to shape sequencing, readiness and prioritisation of product management change initiatives.
• Identify, articulate and escalate risks, issues or decisions that could impact adoption or sustainability of change.
• Support cross-functional alignment where product management outcomes and accountability span multiple teams or functions.

Capability Building & Leadership

• Support development of process and adoption capability.
• Coach stakeholders through updated product management processes.
• Develop practical guidance and playbooks.
• Act as a collaborative partner supporting understanding and adoption.

What you’ll bring:

• Deep understanding of product management as a business function, including product direction, range decisions, product governance, product data discipline and commercial alignment across brands and categories.
• Strong knowledge of how product management teams shape and govern ranges, including how product choices, range reviews, commercial priorities and go-to-market activity connect across the business.
• Familiarity with mainline and non-mainline product processes, including where they differ in how decisions are made, how ranges are governed and how work flows between teams.
• Understanding of the KPIs and measures that define success in product management, including range efficiency, product margin, product data quality, commercial alignment, time-to-market and range performance.
• Experience with systems used in product management, including Vibe IQ, PLM platforms and product data management tools, and how they support product governance, range visibility and decision-making.
• Ability to translate product management requirements into clear process, governance and operating model designs that improve decision-making, reduce rework and support alignment across product, brand and commercial teams.
• Proven experience in change management and project management, with the ability to land practical, sustainable change in complex, matrixed environments.
• Strong facilitation, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to align stakeholders, simplify complexity and bring teams through change.
• Confidence working across business and technology boundaries, understanding how systems, tools and platforms shape ways of working.
• A learning and growth mindset, with the curiosity to challenge existing practices and continuously improve how the organisation works.

Why Pentland Brands?

Pentland Brands is the name behind some of the world’s best-known sport, outdoor and lifestyle brands, including Speedo, Berghaus, Canterbury, Endura, Ellesse, Kickers and Mitre.

We are a global family business with a clear purpose: pioneering brands that make life better. Across our teams, functions and locations, we work together to create products, experiences and partnerships that help people live more active, confident and positive lives.

Joining Pentland Brands means becoming part of a business where your work can have real reach, across multiple brands, markets, teams and disciplines. It is a place for people who want to contribute, collaborate, improve how things are done and help build the future of brands with heritage, ambition and global impact.

Perks & Benefits

We offer a competitive salary, discretionary bonus, hybrid working, flexible start and finish times, generous holiday allowance, product discounts, sample sales, enhanced family-friendly policies, healthcare support, gym and fitness discounts, cycle to work scheme and electric car scheme.

You can find full details of our benefits and perks on our UK Benefits page.

The Interview Process

We want our interview process to feel clear, straightforward, and supportive. If your experience and expectations look like a strong match for the role, here’s what you can expect next:

1. Talent Team Intro Call - A 30-minute video call with our Talent Team to get to know each other, talk through the role and your experience, and answer any questions you have.
2. Experience Interview - A more in-depth interview (usually online) with the hiring manager to explore your skills, experience and approach, and how these align with the role, our principles, and our ways of working.
3. Final Interview - A final in-person interview at our office, focused on deeper discussion and practical application, giving you the chance to meet more of the team and see Pentland Brands in action.