Awards Product & Research Manager (Maternity cover)

Company Description

LIONS is the global platform that champions creativity and marketing effectiveness for growth. We help businesses grow through creative marketing that matters. We know that creativity can and should be applied across the full marketing mix. Creativity is an impactful business driver - and when it's integrated with a culture of effectiveness, it's a competitive advantage. 

Backed by over 150 years of experience and evidence, Cannes Lions, WARC, Effie, Contagious and Acuity - provides the global marketing industry with the definitive benchmarks, intelligence, training and tailored advice needed to grow. 

LIONS is part of Informa Festivals. Marking an exciting new chapter in B2B events, Informa Festivals brings some of the world's most influential creative, technology and business festivals together. We’re combining prestigious events like Cannes Lions, Black Hat, Money20/20, GDC, and London Tech Week with cutting-edge marketing intelligence platforms and advisory services to deliver unmissable experiences and insights.

Our festival-led approach reimagines traditional B2B events, creating powerful, immersive experiences that drive innovation and industry advancement. Building on decades of expertise and powered by Informa's international reach, we're shaping the next generation of business festivals.

We’re part of Informa, a global business with a network of trusted brands in specialist markets across more than 30 countries, and a member of the FTSE 100 who are #3 in Glassdoor's Best Places to Work 2025 UK list.

Job Description

This role is based in our 5HP, London Victoria office

Role overview    

As the interim leader of Awards Product Development, you will uphold and advance the global reputation of both LIONS and Money20/20 Awards. Building on our legacy of recognising excellence, you'll ensure our awards remain the industry's gold standard by combining strategic foresight with operational excellence. This role requires seamlessly integrating into operations while identifying opportunities for evolution, ensuring our categories, criteria, and processes stay ahead of market shifts. 

The LIONS Awards celebrate creative breakthroughs in branded communications, while Money20/20 honours transformative fintech innovation. You’ll lead a team to maintain their position as the industry's definitive benchmarks. 

Key accountabilities 

• Awards Product Strategy. Own and execute a 12-month awards roadmap, adapting categories and criteria to reflect industry shifts  
• Team Leadership. Manage and develop a high-performing team, maintaining operational continuity while fostering growth. Implement clear performance metrics and skill-building opportunities that align with team and organisational goals 
• Category development. Lead 3–5 category reforms or launches, validated by market research and stakeholder insights 
• Coordinate and conduct market research with customers, agencies, and industry professionals (surveys, interviews, focus groups) to identify opportunities and pain points 
• Market Intelligence. Analyse qualitative and quantitative market data to identify award development opportunities with regular reporting on emerging industry trends 
• Data-Driven Decisions. Validate all category changes through data, from entry patterns, jury feedback, competitor benchmarking 
• Product Delivery. Oversee end-to-end awards product delivery, from concept design, product and platform development to post-event analysis, ensuring deadlines are met 
• Platform Excellence. Optimise entry systems to enhance user experience  
• Insight Reporting. Deliver quarterly roadmap updates and bi-monthly "What's Next" briefings to key stakeholders 

This list is not exhaustive and there may be other activities you are required to deliver. 

Qualifications

Essential 

• Proven experience in leading end-to-end product management, within awards or similar programs, ensuring seamless delivery and continuous improvement  
• Expertise in designing award frameworks and programmes that set industry standards and drive measurable growth 
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, recognising growth potential, coaching, and supporting skill development  
• Strong analytical skills to transform strategic vision into actionable product roadmaps using entrant feedback, participation analytics, customer research, sector trends and rigorous testing 
• Experience collaborating with Development, Data, Marketing, and Content teams to ensure alignment on product requirements and customer needs 
• Outstanding data interpretation skills, translating complex insights into clear strategies 
• Adaptable and results-focused, able to assess effectiveness, refine approaches, and report on progress 
• Exceptional presentation and facilitation skills, confidently representing the brand with enthusiasm as an engaging ambassador 

Preferred 

• Understanding of the branded communications and fintech landscapes, with a proactive drive to deepen knowledge of relevant sectors and trends 
• Experience working with award submission platforms  

Additional Information

Please note that this role is offered as a maternity cover contract.  

Location: this role is based in the UK, and you must have the right to work and live in the UK. 

We believe that great things happen when people connect face-to-face. That's why we work in-person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you’re not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces – like at an Informa event – you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely. 

We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone. Here’s some of what you can expect when you join us. But don’t just take our word for it – see what our colleagues have to say LifeAt.Informa.com 

Our benefits include: 

• Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks 
• Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too 
• Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves 
• Time out: 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year 
• A flexible range of personal benefits to choose from, plus company funded private medical cover 
• A ShareMatch scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder with free matching shares 
• Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more 
• Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes 
• As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world 

We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most – although not all – of the skills and experience listed, we welcome your application. 

If you would like to request reasonable adjustments or accommodations to assist your participation in the hiring process and, or in the advertised position, please inform the appropriate Talent Acquisition Partner for the role once they have been in touch. Your request will be reviewed and considered in confidence. At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed. As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law. Ask us or see our website for full information. 

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