We’re the world’s largest seller of pre-loved books — a certified B Corp on a mission to become the Planet’s Bookstore. Since 2002 we’ve rehomed over 100 million books, helped millions of customers read more and waste less, and built a business that proves sustainability and commercial ambition belong together.
Now we’re accelerating. We’re shifting from a marketplace-first model to a consumer-focused, product-led business — and we’re looking for a Product Director to lead that transformation.
The role
Reporting to the CPTO and sitting on the Product & Technology Leadership Team, this is one of the most consequential roles in the business right now. You’ll own product strategy across our three core flywheels — Supply, Operations, and Demand — and lead the teams building the D2C, pricing, marketplace, and data platform products that power everything we do.
Your first year has clear, ambitious targets: grow US D2C revenue from ~16% to over 40% of US total, deliver the US phase of our global pricing transformation, and scale the supply products that get more books into our hands and onto our shelves.
This isn’t a role for someone who wants to perfect the PowerPoint. It’s for someone who moves fast, makes clear decisions, and builds teams that ship.
What you’ll be doing
• Setting and communicating a focused product strategy aligned to WoB’s commercial and operational priorities • Leading the D2C growth agenda — particularly in the US, where the opportunity is significant • Partnering with Engineering to sharpen delivery cadence and reduce friction across the product and tech stack • Leveraging AI tools across the full product management and design lifecycle — and raising the bar for the whole team • Leading, coaching and developing a high-potential team of 7 — setting standards, building capability, and holding people accountable • Translating ambition into actionable roadmaps that balance short-term wins with long-term value • Cutting through complexity: championing build vs. buy rigour, fast feedback loops, and a default towards simplicity
What we’re looking for
• Senior product leadership experience (Head of / Director / VP level) in international environments, with meaningful US market exposure • A strong track record in D2C eCommerce or marketplace product — ideally scaling consumer-grade products at pace • Someone equally comfortable setting the big picture and getting into the detail when the team needs it • Proven ability to lead through influence — building trust quickly with engineering, commercial, and data teams • A genuine adopter of AI tools in product work, not just in theory • High EQ, strong communication skills, and the commercial edge to make decisions that land
Why World of Books?
• A mission that genuinely matters — B Corp certified, with sustainability at the core of every decision • A seat on the leadership team during a pivotal moment of transformation • Real autonomy, real accountability, and a business that moves fast • London-based (King’s Cross, ~3 days per week), with travel to Coventry, West Sussex, Illinois and Budapest • A team that cares about doing things right — for customers, for colleagues, for the planet
If you’re a product leader who wants to build something that means something — and has the commercial edge and execution focus to do it at scale — we’d love to hear from you.
Apply below or reach out directly to find out more.
World of Books is a certified B Corporation. We are committed to building an inclusive team and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
