Leads the product organisation, strategy and portfolio across multiple product teams.
Entry
Expert
Coding
Low
Key skills
Career overview
The Head of Product leads the product organisation: product strategy, portfolio prioritisation, hiring and coaching of product managers, and alignment with executive leadership. They own the product vision at company level. The role leads to IT Director, VP Technology or CTO.
Main responsibilities
- Define and drive product strategy and roadmap
- Define strategy and steer long-term direction
- Align stakeholders and report progress
- Mentor junior team members and review their work
- Structure work, resources and governance
- Manage budget, scope and risks
- Prioritise work and manage competing demands
- Build and follow the project plan and milestones
- Ensure delivery of products and programs
- Keep technical documentation up to date
Technical skills
Technologies
Education level
Education requirements vary depending on the company, country and experience. Professional experience, certifications and technical skills can sometimes compensate for formal education.
High School / Bac
Less common
Bac+2 (2-year degree)
Less common
Bac+3 (Bachelor)
Less common
Bac+5 (Master / Engineering)
Common entry point
Experience & coding level
Experience level
Coding level
Useful certifications
Certifications are never mandatory. They are one way among others to prove a skill.
- Pragmatic Marketing
- SVPG Product Manager
- SAFe PM/PO
Where can this career take you?
Multiple paths are possible. Click a role to open its profile.
Direct progression
Possible branches
Where can you go next?
Realistic next career moves, with compatibility and a transition roadmap for each.
Overlap: 63% · Difficulty: Medium
Skills to learn: Budget, Governance, Mentoring
View roadmapOverlap: 51% · Difficulty: Medium
Skills to learn: Architecture & platforms, Innovation, Budget
View roadmapOverlap: 37% · Difficulty: Hard
Skills to learn: Technology vision, Innovation, Architecture
View roadmapWhere can you go from here?
A typical progression built from real career relationships. Click any role to open its profile.
Soft skills
- Strategic thinking
- Leadership
- Clear communication
- Stakeholder management
- Mentoring
- Decisiveness
- Big-picture thinking
Common previous careers
Roles that frequently lead into this career.
Overlap: 60% · Difficulty: Medium
Skills to learn: Team coaching, Hiring & org design, Business case
View roadmapOverlap: 49% · Difficulty: Medium
Skills to learn: Team coaching, Hiring & org design, Business case
View roadmapRelated resources
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Head of ProductIT Director
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