Non Executive Director - Product Strategy

Innovate Awarding, part of the Lifetime Group, is a leading independent national awarding organisation specialising in vocational apprenticeship qualifications.

Working for Lifetime Group isn’t just a job, it’s an opportunity to be part of a supportive and progressive culture that is focused on enabling people to fulfil their potential.

The Non-Executive Director (NED) will join our Board and take on the additional responsibility of Chairing the Product Strategy Committee. This combined role provides strategic oversight and constructive challenge to ensure our regulatory obligations are met, risks are managed, and quality remains at the heart of everything we do. This is a pivotal governance role for an individual with strong regulatory insight, sound judgement, and the ability to foster a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement

What will you be doing?

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the Product Strategy Committee, ensuring effective governance, clear agendas, and timely, evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide the Board with assurance that product development and innovation are robust, commercially aligned, and strategically coherent.
• Provide insight and oversight that the organisation is identifying future opportunities across apprenticeship standards, assessment services, and related education markets.
• Ensure the product portfolio meets evolving employer demand, workforce trends, and policy changes in the skills system.

Product & Market Insight

• Offer deep commercial insight into the apprenticeships landscape, training providers, employer needs, workforce development priorities, and market competition.
• Challenge and support the executive team on pricing, positioning, product lifecycle, customer experience, and commercial partnerships.
• Advise on the viability, scalability, and risk implications of new product opportunities or market diversification, including international partnerships and markets.

Governance & Oversight.

• Oversee the monitoring of product performance, customer feedback, and quality indicators.
• Ensure appropriate risk management is applied to product development, market entry decisions, and resource allocation.
• Ensure the Committee receives accurate, insightful reporting to support informed scrutiny.

What will you bring to the role?

• Senior leadership experience in a commercial education or training environment (e.g., apprenticeship training provider, FE college/provider, or major employer with significant apprenticeship programmes).
• Strong understanding of apprenticeships, employer-led skills development, and the wider workforce/education policy landscape.
• Demonstrable experience in product strategy, business development, commercial planning, or portfolio management.
• Ability to provide strategic challenge, independent judgement, and supportive oversight.
• Experience operating at Board or senior governance level.
• Excellent communication and relational skills, with the ability to lead a balanced, effective committee.

It would be great if you had:

• Experience of chairing boards or committees.
• Insight into digital assessment, AI, and/or product innovation in education technology.
• Experience of international markets.

Time Commitment

• The Board meets online every month for 1–2 hours, you will be expected to read board papers and supporting information in advance of board meetings.
• The Board meets in person for longer sessions 3-4 hours every quarter, usually in Bristol.
• The compliance committee will meet quarterly in-person or online.
• Additional availability during regulatory events, audits, or periods of heightened scrutiny may be required.

A diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce.

As a group, we're committed to broadening the equity, diversity, and inclusion of our workforce and creating a sense of belonging for all. In this way we will better represent those who learn with us and our partners to greater understand and fulfil their needs.

By listening to our emerging diverse workforce, we will agree future goals and priorities as a community. This in turn will help secure a sustainable future for the Group, benefiting not just us but also our partners and those who learn with us

Your experience is invaluable to us, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable recruitment environment for all candidates. We welcome any feedback on how we can enhance our approach to an inclusive process, please feel free to share your ideas with us here:
Your feedback

This feedback is anonymous and will only be used for EDI monitoring and enhancement