Head of Product & User-Centred Design (Hybrid)

Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension 28.97%

25 days annual leave (+1 per year)

8 Bank Holidays + Privilege Day

Staff discount portal

Career development opportunities (CIPD

Prince2, apprenticeships) paid for by,

24-hour Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working options

Job summary

Department for Transport is seeking a Head of Product and User-Centred Design in a senior leadership role. You will shape the strategic direction for Product Management and UCD, ensuring services deliver user value and align with departmental objectives.

You will lead and develop a community of Product Managers and UCD professionals, setting standards, driving best practice and promoting innovation across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading Product Management and User-Centred Design (UCD) functions, setting strategy and driving organisational outcomes.
• Proven ability to build, lead and develop high-performing Product and UCD teams and communities of practice.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing senior leaders and decision-makers.
• Experience developing and implementing product strategies that align with organisational priorities and deliver measurable value.
• Experience working in complex digital, transformation or portfolio environments, balancing priorities, risks and investment decisions.

Responsibilities

• Defining and maintaining the strategic approach to product management and user-centred design across the Portfolio Management Hub, aligning with organisational priorities and investment plans.
• Setting and raising standards for product management and UCD practice, ensuring consistency and alignment across service lines.
• Working closely with lead product managers, UCD leads, and business units to develop coherent product strategies that contribute to portfolio-wide value realisation.
• Providing leadership, support, and coaching to senior and lead Product managers and UCD leads, fostering a strong, collaborative community.
• Creating a community for product ownership across the department and develop a framework for product ownership.

Skills

Product management leadership

User-centred design

Stakeholder management

Leadership and coaching

Strategy development

Education

APM Chartered Project Professional

APM Project Management Qualification

Job description

Department for Transport is seeking a Head of Product and User-Centred Design in a senior leadership role. You will shape the strategic direction for Product Management and UCD, ensuring services deliver user value and align with departmental objectives.

You will lead and develop a community of Product Managers and UCD professionals, setting standards, driving best practice and promoting innovation across the organisation.