Head of Product Governance

About the role

We have the opportunity to join us as a Head of Product Governance where the role holder will be accountable for leading product governance & product risk for the Commercial directorate of the combined Group. The position owns Product Governance across the group ensuring and appropriate product risk framework, providing oversight, check and challenge on our product assurance to support delivery of good customer outcomes across all product ranges

Working closely with senior leaders across the group, this role engages up to Board level, third‑party partners and external regulators to support a strong, compliant and commercially focused product agenda.

As a head of within the Chief Commercial Office, the role holder will build trusted relationships across the group and act as a critical influencer with senior stakeholders. The role sets and communicates a clear commercial vision, shapes long‑term strategy and operating models, and embeds strong governance, controls and risk ownership across the Commercial function.

Through inclusive leadership, constructive challenge and a focus on learning and development, the role creates alignment, drives performance and ensures the organisation is well positioned for future opportunities and regulatory change. It  will also lead production of materials and framework for governance and customer forums, oversee regulatory and Consumer Duty reporting, manage product risk monitoring and maintain a product assessment roadmap.

This role can operate from either our Head Office campus in Binley, Coventry or our Manchester office but as a Group role, travel to both locations will be required. A team-led hybrid working arrangement is in place.

Benefits:

• 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays and a holiday buy/sell scheme
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Personal pension with enhanced contributions
• Car allowance
• Private medical and health screenings
• Maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
• Extensive wellbeing support
• Life assurance (6 times annual salary)

Find out more about the fantastic benefits of joining Coventry Building Society

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

About you

For this role you'll have strategic influence, high-level decision-making to shape critical initiatives, and ensure cohesion across the combined Group structure. 

For this role you’ll need to have:

• Proven senior leadership experience in a senior-level product governance or product risk in financial services
• Demonstrable expertise in first line product risk management, and regulatory reporting including Consumer Duty
• Adept at producing high-level outputs and coordinating stakeholder engagement across multiple teams
• Strong ability to manage, persuade and influence multiple stakeholders up to Exec level
• Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills, capable of translating complex challenges into actionable insights.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal abilities, with a track record of fostering cross-functional collaboration and influencing
• Experience of operating in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment with multiple high-priority demands
• Adept at managing relationships, securing stakeholder buy-in, and driving alignment across diverse teams

Experience in these areas would be helpful:

• Tier 1 banking
• Evidence of leading through an integration
• Skilled at navigating shifting priorities and evolving market conditions in a dual organisational setting.

About us

In 2025, Coventry Building Society purchased The Co-operative Bank. Bringing together our purpose-led building society with the UK’s original ethical bank was the start of an exciting journey.

Trusted by over four million people, we’re a mutually owned business free from shareholders, and with our combined experience of almost 300 years, our ethics and dedication will continue to guide us. Together, we have shared values and an ethical approach towards our members, customers and colleagues.

We’re officially recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’ and our benefits go beyond basic pay, with a discretionary bonus scheme, a culture of reward and recognition and comprehensive support for wellbeing. 

We’re serious about equality, of race, age, faith, disability, and sexual orientation and we celebrate diversity. By working together, we know you’ll build more than just a career with us.

Flexibility and why it matters

We understand the need for flexibility, so wherever possible, we’ll consider alternative working patterns. Have a chat with us before you apply to see what the possibilities are for this role.                 

Proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer

We’re proud to offer an interview or assessment to every disabled applicant who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As part of the application process, disabled applicants can opt in for the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. If there are ever occasions where it is not practicable to interview all candidates that meet the essential criteria, such as when we receive a high number of applications, we commit to interviewing disabled candidates who best meet the minimum essential and desirable criteria.

Feedback

We are currently receiving a high number of applications for our roles and, while we review each one carefully against the advertised criteria, unfortunately we're unable to provide individual feedback. We will contact shortlisted candidates directly.

Location

Coventry-Binley Business Park