Lead Product Manager

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking a Lead Product Manager to oversee a portfolio of digital products and manage cross-functional teams. This role involves driving the agile development of DVLA services while collaborating with internal teams and stakeholders to align on requirements and expectations. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in product leadership, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage budgets. Competitive compensation and flexible working options are offered.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Flexible working options

On-site gym

Free parking

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading product teams.
• Understanding of agile product development.
• Strong communication skills to engage stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a portfolio of digital products.
• Collaborate with internal teams to gather requirements.
• Manage budget and resource allocation for product development.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Relationship Management

Agile methodologies

Portfolio Management

Education

Experience in managing digital products

Tools

Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

Job description

Job Opportunity

Within our ITS directorate, we are recruiting a Product Leader with responsibility for managing and leading a number of products within a product portfolio containing multiple individual products.

Are you an experienced product leader who enjoys taking responsibility and pushing boundaries? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday.
• Flexible working options that encourage a great work‑life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Role Overview

As a Lead Product Manager you will oversee a portfolio of digital products, manage cross‑functional teams, and act as a key liaison between technical teams, stakeholders, and senior leadership. The Lead Product Manager role is a critical role in driving the development and maintenance of new and existing DVLA services during an exciting period of development.

Key Elements of the Role

• Managing a portfolio of products, providing leadership, direction and escalation, while also acting as product manager for the most complex areas.
• Define and articulate a portfolio‑level product vision, roadmap and strategy, aligning with organisational goals and government digital transformation objectives.
• Collaborate with internal business teams, senior leadership and external stakeholders to gather requirements, manage expectations and ensure alignment.
• Drive agile and lean product development processes, ensuring timely delivery within scope, budget and quality standards.
• Ensure operational running of the product, be involved in any ongoing incidents and support the prioritisation of the team in the resolution of issues and defects versus ongoing change commitments.
• Set strategy and manage resource allocation within the product to support product development as well as operational management of the product.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success and drive continuous improvement.
• Work closely with other Lead Product Managers to ensure synergy across the product organisation.
• Contribute to the DVLA product management capability to build standards and guidance across the capability.
• Work closely with the Head of Product to provide leadership and direction within the product community.
• Be involved in hiring Senior Product Managers and managing any related contracts.
• Budgeting and forecasting across the product portfolio.
• Manage and mentor a team of product managers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

Lead Product Managers manage a complex portfolio of products at the heart of the delivery of DVLA change programmes. You will be responsible for line management, development and coaching of Senior Product Managers, providing the escalation route through to the Head of Product and ensuring the consolidated delivery of technical change across multiple squads.

You will be confident challenging approaches and be a positive role‑model of the values, attitudes and behaviours of the capability. You will set the vision and strategy of the technical outcomes, manage dependencies and identify and manage priorities to ensure the successful delivery of the technical products by introducing value within the products.

You will need to have excellent communication skills and will engage with senior stakeholders at all levels to support the effective delivery of those products and services.

You will own the development and continuous improvement of the product portfolio, turning the vision into reality. You will ensure the product vision is delivered in the most effective way, building something that is reusable and transformational.

You will be responsible for balancing requirements within change initiatives across multiple programmes, continuous product improvements to ensure the product is maintained to DVLA standards, managing defects, technical debt and other improvements identified.

You will work closely with Project and Portfolio Management teams to align any project plans of approved change initiatives with your roadmap for delivery.

You will work closely with service owners and other stakeholders across directorates to understand the aims, objectives and changes required by the services that will be facilitated and implemented by your product.

Further Responsibilities

• Manage people and products at a strategic, technical, and working level.
• Maintain the high‑level roadmap at a portfolio level and ensure all product within the portfolio have coherent road‑maps.
• Be involved in programme management activities relevant to their product portfolio.
• Recruit product managers at all levels and contractors.
• Provide leadership in your portfolio and across the local product community, working closely with the head of product.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only – whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Working Hours & Location

Full‑time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Part‑time candidates must be able to work at least 30 hours per week. This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non‑contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home‑based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements. The expectation is a minimum of 60% of working time per month at the designated workplace or an office/work location. Occasional attendance at other offices may be required.

Visa Sponsorship

DVLA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and is unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Security Check

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements with a security check. Candidates must have at least 5 years continuous residency in the UK.

Behaviours

• Leadership

Technical Skills

• Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework – Life Cycle Management (Expert)
• Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework – Strategic Ownership (Expert)
• Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework – Product Management (Expert)
• Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework – Stakeholder Relationship Management (Expert)
• Delivering a portfolio of enterprise‑scale digital products and services or managing multiple individual products
• Setting strategy and managing resource allocation for solution development programmes
• Creating and maintaining a portfolio‑level product vision and high‑level roadmap

Recruitment Timeline

The sift will take place on 10 February 2026. Interview and additional assessment will take place from 23 February 2026. The interview will be conducted in person at our Swansea office (DVLA, Swansea, SA6 7JL).

Selection Process

Applicants will be assessed against success profile elements including Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. A presentation may be required. Feedback is provided only for candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

Nationalities Eligible

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries with right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: £69,501
• Employer pension contribution of £20,134 towards Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
• Flexible working options
• Cultural inclusion and diversity with staff communities
• Digital communities with clear career frameworks
• On‑site gym and personal training (membership applies)
• On‑site nursery, restaurant and coffee bar
• 25 days annual leave (up to 30 days), 8 bank holidays plus a privilege day for the King's birthday
• Free parking

How to Apply

To find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance, please visit our Careers website. We maintain a 12‑month reserve list for this role; potential opportunities may arise beyond the initial role.

Feedback will be provided only if you attend an interview or assessment.