Product Manager Contract Role (Until December 2026)

Location: Clayton, VIC (Hybrid – 3 days onsite per week)

Rate: Competitive market rate

Your new company

Join a leading Australian institution renowned for its commitment to innovation, student success, and digital transformation. This organization is at the forefront of reimagining how education is delivered and supported, with a strong focus on equity, access, and operational excellence. With a dynamic and inclusive culture, they empower their teams to challenge the status quo and build solutions that truly make a difference in students’ lives.

Your new role

My client is undertaking a major transformation of its student financial aid systems, and is seeking a strategic Product Manager to lead the charge. You’ll be part of a high-impact initiative that touches thousands of students and helps shape the future of financial support in higher education.

As the Product Manager, you’ll lead the modernization of legacy systems and processes that support student funding. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams to design and deliver scalable, student-centric solutions that improve transparency, efficiency, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead product discovery and roadmap development for scholarship and aid systems

• Deconstruct legacy platforms to identify opportunities for rebuild or reengineering

• Align product vision with institutional goals, student needs, and regulatory frameworks

• Collaborate with BA, UX, Dev, and QA teams to deliver high-impact features

• Define and prioritize user stories, MVPs, and acceptance criteria

• Manage the full product lifecycle from ideation to post-launch support

• Facilitate workshops and drive consensus across diverse stakeholder groups

• Build strong relationships with finance, IT, student services, and compliance teams

Key Selection Criteria

We’re looking for a strategic thinker and hands-on executor who thrives in complex environments and brings deep expertise in student finance.

• 5–10 years of experience in product management or business transformation

• Strong background in scholarships and financial aid systems within higher education

• Proven ability to lead system rebuilds or overhauls

• Deep understanding of eligibility, disbursement, compliance, and reporting frameworks

• Familiarity with student management systems (SMS) and finance platforms

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills

• Highly adaptable, analytical, and comfortable navigating ambiguity

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' or send your updated CV at [email protected]

At Hays, we value diversity and are passionate about placing people in a role where they can flourish and succeed. We actively encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply