Overview
This is a newly created leadership role, designed to elevate how product categories are led across the business. The focus is shifting from pure product management and execution to stronger strategic category leadership — and this role sits at the centre of that change. We’re looking for a senior product or category leader who enjoys setting direction, building capability and driving commercial outcomes through others, rather than being buried in the ‘day-to-day’ of product management.
The Opportunity
You’ll take ownership of a large, complex, SKU intensive, national product portfolio, with accountability for strategy, performance and long-term growth. Leading a team of three Product Managers, your role is to set the agenda — defining category strategy, pricing architecture and portfolio direction — while empowering your team to execute at a high standard.
This is not a hands-on Product Manager role. It’s about lifting the function, improving decision quality and ensuring the category is led with clarity, discipline and commercial intent. You’ll have genuine authority, visibility and the mandate to improve — supported by a business investing in systems, data and people capability.
About the Business
This is a large, established organisation with a national footprint and a complex product portfolio, supplying multiple channels and customer segments across Australia. Now is one of the most exciting times in its history to join, as its investing heavily in technology, data and capability to modernise how product decisions are made and strengthen commercial performance. Creating this role is a deliberate step in that evolution — recognising the need for stronger strategic leadership across product categories. The environment is collaborative, commercially focused and open to improvement — a place where capable leaders are trusted to lead change.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Setting and owning category strategy and long-term direction
Leading, coaching and developing a team of 3 Product Managers
Establishing clear priorities, governance and ways of working for the category
Owning pricing architecture, margin performance and portfolio decisions
Guiding product lifecycle, range optimisation and investment choices
Driving data-led decision-making and performance reviews
Partnering with supply chain, sales and marketing to align execution
Lifting capability and maturity across the product function
Is This You?
An experienced Senior Product Manager and/or Category Leader who has already:
Owned and developed large, SKU intensive portfolios with commercial accountability
Moved within your roles from a pure focus on hands-on execution into strategic leadership
Have influenced cross-functional stakeholders at a senior level
Have Led and effectively developed and inspired a small team
Industry background is open — FMCG, hardware, tools, automotive, building materials, industrial or consumer categories are all relevant. What matters most is your ability to lead people, set strategy and drive outcomes at scale.
Why Consider This Move?
Newly created role with a clear strategic mandate
Leadership responsibility with real influence and visibility
Opportunity to shape how product categories are led
Joining at a time where there is significant investment in systems, tools and capability
Competitive package, flexibility and long-term career runway is on offer
Incredible benefits are paid, ahead of the market
If you’re ready to step into a true category leadership role — leading people, not just products — this could be your most career defining move. If this sounds like you, APPLY now or contact Gabby Symons at gabbys@peopleequity.com.au or 0432 261 116 for a confidential conversation.
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Head of Product | Design, Innovation & Production
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