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Digital product owner

Alternative titles for this job include

Digital product owners lead a team of specialists to build online products and services for customers.

Average salary (a year)

£39,000 Starter

to

£65,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 39 a week

You could work

evenings occasionally

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Digital product owner

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • specialist courses

University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification, then start on a graduate training scheme with an employer. Most subjects are acceptable, for example:

  • project management
  • business management
  • business analytics
  • marketing

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Digital Product Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Project Manager Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These can take between 2 and 4 years to complete.

After finishing your apprenticeship, you'll need to get experience working in digital delivery teams before getting a job as a product owner.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start out in a junior or assistant role. Employers will set their own requirements, though an understanding of some of the following might be helpful:

  • product marketing
  • customer experience
  • user research
  • business change management
  • agile project management methods like Scrum, Kanban and Lean

Other Routes

If you do not have work experience, there are some things you can do, such as:

  • develop skills in data analysis
  • study online about the role of digital product management
  • take a specialist course in product management
  • join online product management communities for tips and networking opportunities

Real career story

A woman with blue trousers and a pink jacket smiling on a coastal path.

University and work experience

“I went to university to study French and Politics. At university I did work experience at a city council. I found it interesting seeing the choices that the council was having to make.”

Master’s degree and first job

“I did a master’s in public policy as I was finding it hard to get a job. I got a job as a policy officer, but I found this role quite boring, as it relied a lot on reading reports.”

Business analyst

“I got the opportunity to be a business analyst as you didn’t need any specific experience. I really enjoyed this work as it was fast-paced, and I worked on lots of different areas. I went on to do a few more business analyst roles.”

Product manager

“I wanted a role with a bit more responsibility, so I moved to a junior product manager role, and then became a senior product manager. I enjoy this role as there’s always lots to do, and I’ve worked on lots of interesting projects.”

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about working in the digital industry from techskills.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a digital product owner, you'll:

  • work closely with your teams
  • look at user feedback to help improve the product
  • work with designers to make the product easy to use
  • develop business cases and user stories for new features
  • work with the design team to draft versions of your product or service
  • keep people informed about your product's development
  • manage relationships between teams, partners and customers

Working environment

You could work in an office or at a client's business.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could apply for a more senior jobs, such as head of product or senior product manager. 

Some product managers also become self-employed consultants.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Project Manager (BM) Degree Apprenticeship – Pfizer

  • Wage: £20,000 a year Annually
  • Location: Ramsgate Road, Sandwich

Project Management Degree Apprenticeship - Guildford (Bridges)

  • Wage: £23,000 a year Annually
  • Location: Cross Lanes

Courses In England

Project Management, Skills Bootcamp

  • Provider: WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION
  • Start date: 10 January 2025
  • Location: Bristol

CMI AWARD IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT - LEVEL 3 - BOOTCAMP (DFE)

  • Provider: EXETER COLLEGE
  • Start date: 10 January 2025
  • Location: EXETER

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