Senior Product Manager → Head of Product

A realistic transition from Senior Product Manager to Head of Product: transferable skills, the gaps to close, a step-by-step learning plan and alternative routes. Estimated skill overlap 85%. Difficulty: Easy.

Difficulty: Easy5 stepsDuration: 4 to 8 monthsOverlap: 85%

Transition from Senior Product Manager to Head of Product.

Transferable skills

  • Product leadership
  • Product strategy
  • Portfolio management
  • Team coaching
  • Executive stakeholder management
  • Business case

Skills to learn

  • Hiring & org design

Step-by-step learning plan

  1. 1. Build on your Senior Product Manager experience

    2–4 weeks

    Leverage

    • Product leadership
    • Product strategy
    • Portfolio management
    • Team coaching

    Map transferable skills — Product leadership, Product strategy, Portfolio management — against what a Head of Product needs.

  2. 2. Learn the core of the Head of Product role

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Hiring & org design

    Technologies

    Planview

    Cover the biggest gaps first: Hiring & org design.

  3. 3. Get productive with the Head of Product toolchain

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    Planview

    Be hands-on with Planview and the rest of the target stack.

  4. 4. Practise Head of Product work in real conditions

    4–8 weeks

    Ship a portfolio project or take on Head of Product tasks at work.

  5. 5. Get certified and position yourself as a Head of Product

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    Pragmatic MarketingSVPG Product ManagerSAFe PM/PO

    Update your CV and LinkedIn around Head of Product, then apply to target roles.

Alternative routes