Lead Product Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Civil Service pension

Learning & development

Wellbeing initiatives

Employee discounts

Job summary

UKRI, the UK's leading public funder of research and innovation, in partnership with Inspire People, seeks a Lead Product Manager to steer product strategy, mentor teams and shape digital services to meet GDS standards. The role is hybrid in Swindon, offering a generous civil service pension and flexible working, with a focus on impactful funding platforms.

You will define strategy, roadmaps and embed product best practice across a complex digital landscape, partnering with design, delivery

Qualifications

• Expert practitioner in Product Management with relevant qualifications.
• Experience designing and leading workshops to align stakeholders and outcomes.
• Experience delivering digital services to the GDS standard.
• Ability to manage, influence, challenge, mentor and coach team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive the strategic roadmap for UKRI Funding Platforms.
• Provide product leadership across UKRI digital projects and services.
• Collaborate with user-centred design teams to understand problems and craft solutions.
• Organise and lead Design Sprints and workshops to reveal value and feasibility.
• Develop and run the UKRI product management Community of Practice.
• Oversee a range of service delivery activities within Funding Platforms.
• Coach and mentor Product Managers at all levels, including contractors.

Skills

Product Management

Stakeholder management

GDS standards

Workshop facilitation

Mentoring

User-centred design

Roadmapping

Leadership

Education

Relevant Product Management qualifications

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. Hybrid working in Swindon (60% across a month), 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 in Funding Platform projects and services across the UKRI digital community, working closely with the Head of Product and Design.
• Work closely with user-centred design teams to investigate problems and design solutions.
• Organise and lead Design Sprints and other workshop-based activities to quickly understand value, feasibility, and to help teams work toward shared outcomes.
• Develop and run the UKRI product management Community of Practice.
• Oversee a range of service delivery activities relevant to the Funding Platforms portfolio.
• Coach and mentor Product Managers at all levels including business service owners and contractors.

Person specification:

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Expert practitioner in Product Management with relevant qualifications. (S)
• Experience of designing and leading workshops and collaborative sessions to align stakeholders, support effective collaboration, and achieve shared outcomes. (I)
• Experience of delivering digital services to the GDS standard. (S&I)
• Evidence of the ability to manage, influence, challenge, mentor and coach team members. (S&I)
• Proven substantial experience of working with user-centred design teams to solve business problems. (S&I)
• Evidence of delivering outcomes with defined benefits representing value for money. (I)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills. (I)
• High levels of accountability demonstrated through ownership of complex decisions, delivery commitments, and outcomes. (I)
• Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills. (I)

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.

Selection process details:

If at sift your application is successful, you will be invited to the first stage of the interview process (hosted by Inspire People), where you will be asked to complete a pre-recorded video interview (this again will be based on the experience points outlined in the essential criteria on this advert).