Lead Product Manager

Inspire People; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Annual leave 30 days

Civil Service pension

Learning & development

Wellbeing programme

Discounts

Inclusive culture

Job summary

UKRI is the UK's leading public funder of research and innovation, investing in ideas, people and infrastructure that drive growth. As Lead Product Manager you will shape the strategy and delivery of digital services to meet GDS standards, aligning priorities with business outcomes and technical delivery.

Based in Swindon, you will lead product management across UKRI Funding Platforms, work with design and delivery teams, define roadmaps and mentor teams to embed product best practice at scale.

Qualifications

• Expert-level Product Management experience with digital services.
• Experience delivering digital services aligned to GDS standards.
• Strong workshop facilitation and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to influence, coach and mentor product teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive the strategic roadmap for UKRI Funding Platforms.
• Provide product leadership across projects and live services.
• Collaborate with user-centred design teams to define problems and solutions.
• Facilitate design sprints and workshops to align stakeholders.

Skills

Product management

GDS standards

Stakeholder management

Mentoring teams

Roadmap planning

Job description

Lead the product strategy and direction of digital services that support the UK's research and innovation community. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), in partnership with Inspire People, is seeking a Lead Product Manager with expert Product Management expertise, experience delivering digital services to GDS standards, strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, and a proven track record of leading, mentoring and developing product teams. Based in Swindon, this role offers a salary of £65,100 - £69,056, flexible working, an outstanding Civil Service pension with a 28.97% employer contribution, and the opportunity to shape the products and platforms that underpin research funding and innovation across the UK.

Shape the Future of Digital Services at UKRI

UKRI is the UK's largest public funder of research and innovation, investing in ideas, people and infrastructure that drive economic growth, improve lives and tackle global challenges. As Lead Product Manager, you will lead the Product Management discipline across UKRI, ensuring digital products deliver measurable value for users while aligning organisational priorities, business outcomes and technical delivery.

Working closely with the Head of Product and Design, Funding Platforms leadership teams, service owners and delivery teams, you will help define strategy, shape roadmaps and embed product best practice across a complex and evolving digital landscape.

As a Lead Product Manager, you will:

• Lead and drive the strategic roadmap for UKRI Funding Platforms.
• Provide product leadership across projects and live digital services.
• Work closely with user-centred design teams to understand problems and develop effective solutions.
• Facilitate design sprints, workshops and collaborative sessions to align stakeholders and deliver shared outcomes.

Essential skills for the Lead Product Manager include:

• Expert-level Product Management experience supported by relevant qualifications.
• Experience delivering digital services aligned to GDS standards.
• Strong workshop facilitation and stakeholder engagement experience.
• Proven substantial experience of working with user-centred design teams to solve business problems and the ability to influence, challenge, coach and mentor individuals and teams.

In return, you can expect a flexible working culture, including:

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• 30 days annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days.
• Civil Service pension with a 28.97% employer contribution.
• Learning and development tailored to your role and career ambitions.
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing initiatives.
• Retail and leisure discounts.
• An inclusive culture that values diversity, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to lead Product Management at scale within an organisation that plays a critical role in the UK's future prosperity. You'll shape the strategy and delivery of digital services that support research funding, innovation programmes and scientific advancement, while developing product capability across one of the UK's most influential public sector organisations.