Head of Product

Head of Product. Hybrid Remote. London (West End). ££Competitive

AKT (pronounced "act") is The Personal Performance Company with multi award-winning body care that may change your life. Founded by West End stars Ed Currie and Andy Coxon, AKT is by and for those who are "Born to Perform" — on the stage, at work, or in life.

In 2020, The Deodorant Balm made its stunning debut to rave reviews and awards from Vogue, GQ, Esquire, and Harper's BAZAAR. Plastic-free, aluminium-free, and gender-free, The Deodorant Balm instantly resonated with those looking for a natural deodorant that genuinely worked. Five fragrances and over 700,000 happy armpits later, The Deodorant Balm is already becoming a household name.

To this day, every new AKT product is put through its paces by London's hard-working theatre community to ensure it lives up to the high standards of its founders. As a rule, AKT's products don't break character — ever. It's this effectiveness that has propelled AKT from the backstage to bathroom cabinets, bedside tables, duffel bags, and carry-on luggage worldwide. And the good news is — the performance is just getting started.

About The Role:

You will lead the Product team at AKT London, currently comprising the New Product Development Manager and all future hires.  You will be important in supporting the business to shape the future product structure for the business.

You will be pivotal in working with the Co-Founders and the CMO in shaping AKT's future product offering.  The role will report to one of the two co-founders in their role as CPO. You will be responsible for translating business strategy into a tangible product roadmap and overseeing its execution and will regularly liaise with external partners including suppliers, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies, as well as internal stakeholders across marketing, operations, and finance. 

The role is based in the UK (working UK hours) but requires flexibility for occasional engagement with USA and other international stakeholders. This role may require you to travel to meet suppliers abroad, or to attend trade shows

• Product Strategy & Vision: Co-create and drive the long-term product roadmap and vision, ensuring alignment with AKT's brand identity, market opportunities, and business goals.
• Product Lifecycle Management:Oversee the entire product lifecycle, from concept generation and feasibility assessment to development, launch, and post-launch analysis.
• Sustainability & Innovation: Embed sustainable practices and innovative solutions throughout the product development process, maintaining AKT's commitment to performance-first products, sustainable packaging solutions and gender-free products… that smell incredible. 
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop the product development team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
• Market & Competitor Analysis: Drive comprehensive market research, consumer insights, and competitor analysis to identify new product opportunities and inform strategic decisions.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Champion product initiatives across the organization, collaborating closely with marketing, operations, finance, and supply chain teams to ensure seamless execution.
• Compliance & Quality Assurance: Ensure all products meet rigorous quality standards and comply with relevant UK/EU/US/AU/CA cosmetic regulations and labelling requirements.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strategic relationships with manufacturers, fragrance houses, and packaging suppliers to drive innovation, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

About You:  

• Extensive experience in product leadership within beauty, cosmetics, skincare, or personal care.
• Proven track record of developing and launching successful, market-leading products
• Deep expertise in sustainable packaging development and manufacturing processes
• Comprehensive knowledge of cosmetic regulations and labelling requirements across global markets (UK/EU/US).
• Exceptional strategic thinking and roadmap development abilities with proven experience in the subsequent project implementation
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience in mentoring and developing product teams
• Experience of managing complex portfolios
• Demonstrable experience of excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in project management software (e.g., ClickUp, Monday, Asana) and data analysis tools.

Backstage Perks 

• Make a real impact on our next act by joining AKT at an exciting stage of growth, following our recent USA, Australia and New Zealand launches.
• Flexible working: work from home, at our Oxford Circus office (which comes with gym access), or in co-working spaces across the UK. We'll reimburse you if you prefer a co-working space over working from home.
• Monthly team days in London to connect with the AKT ensemble.
• Be part of a collective of creatives where the arts underpin everything we do.
• A funny, kind, and inclusive work environment — we are banter, but we get sh*t done.
• Allowance for products to give you the confidence to step onto the stage and perform. 
• Intervals encouraged: 36 days holiday, including bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time roles)
• Pension contribution matching via salary sacrifice up to 5% of your salary.

If you're a driven and hungry professional with a passion for beauty and sustainability, and you're ready to make a significant impact in a fast-growing start-up, we'd love to hear from you.  Join us in redefining personal care while looking after our planet