Early Product & Commercial Consultant

I'm working with an ambitious, early-stage technology business developing an innovative AI-powered learning and coaching platform designed to help young people build the essential human, career and employability skills they need to succeed in the workplace.

Having successfully developed and tested its platform, the business is now entering an exciting next phase: turning a proven concept into a commercially viable employer product.

They're looking for an experienced Early Talent / HR Tech Product & Commercial Consultant who can help shape the proposition, validate the opportunity and establish a clear route to market.

This is a genuinely interesting opportunity for someone who understands the employer market, knows how HR and Early Careers teams buy products and services, and has previous experience taking a proposition from concept through to commercial launch.

• Refine and develop the employer-facing product proposition, positioning, packaging and pricing.

• Identify the strongest commercial use cases across Early Careers, Talent Acquisition, HR and L&D.

• Understand employer buying behaviours, budgets and decision-making processes.

• Research the competitive landscape and establish clear differentiation from existing early-talent, assessment and learning solutions.

• Work alongside the product team to translate employer feedback and customer insight into a commercially relevant product roadmap.

Working closely with the Founder, Chief Product Officer and wider product team, you'll play a key role in shaping how the platform is positioned, packaged and sold to employers.

The product is designed to support businesses with their early-talent pipelines, including school leavers, apprentices and graduates, as well as helping new starters develop the skills and confidence they need during their first months in employment.

The business has already undertaken extensive research and customer conversations. Now it needs someone with genuine industry experience to challenge, refine and sharpen the proposition.

The central question is simple:

What problem are employers facing, how does this product solve it, and how do we turn that into something businesses will pay for?

Fractional / Freelance | 8-10 days work between now and early February

Day rate: £600-1000 per day depending on experience

You must have a strong understanding of the UK employer and talent market. You must know HR and L&D spaces, buyers, have a deep understanding of the early talent space.

• Use your existing network of employer contacts to open doors and create opportunities.

• Identify and engage relevant HR, Early Careers, Talent Acquisition and L&D decision-makers.

• Build a pipeline of potential employer customers and secure initial pilot opportunities.

• Help shape pilot objectives, success criteria and the evidence needed to support future purchasing decisions.

• Develop a compelling commercial proposition and pricing model to support the wider sales strategy.

• Bring proven experience of taking B2B products or services to market.

• Help establish what employers are prepared to buy, why they would buy it and how best to sell it.

• Support the business in moving from an exciting product concept to a scalable commercial opportunity.

This role will suit someone who combines strong knowledge of the HR and Early Talent market with genuine commercial and product development experience.

You'll ideally have:

• Deep knowledge of the UK HR, Early Careers, Early Talent or L&D market.

• Experience developing, launching or commercialising employer-facing products or services.

• Proven B2B sales experience, ideally selling into HR, Talent Acquisition, Early Careers or L&D teams.

• An established network of senior employer decision-makers and the ability to leverage those relationships to generate opportunities.

• A strong understanding of how employers buy, where budgets sit and what influences purchasing decisions.

• Experience building a commercial pipeline or taking a new proposition to market from scratch.

• The ability to work autonomously, challenge thinking and make things happen in an entrepreneurial environment.

Experience within HR Tech, EdTech, talent assessment, learning platforms or employee development would be particularly relevant.

Above all, we're looking for someone with a genuine start-up mentality. Someone who enjoys creating something from scratch, is commercially minded and can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.

• Commitment: Approximately 1-3 days per week, with an initial commitment of around 8 consultancy days.

• Duration: Initial assignment running between now and February 2027, with potential for further involvement.

• Start: ASAP.

• Location: Predominantly remote, with occasional face-to-face meetings in London.

• Day rate: £600-£1,000 depending on experience.

The business is open-minded about the working arrangement. This could suit an established independent consultant, someone working fractionally across several businesses, or a senior professional looking for a flexible part-time opportunity.

There is genuine potential for the right person to become more involved as the business develops and moves into its next phase of growth.

If you've successfully taken an employer-facing HR, Early Talent, learning or technology proposition to market, have the network to open doors and enjoy helping ambitious businesses turn ideas into commercial opportunities, I'd love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with your CV, a brief overview of your relevant experience, availability and day-rate expectations.

Sphere Digital Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.