Principal Product Manager (Public Sector)

Kainos; New Gate; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kainos in Preston is seeking a Principal Product Manager to lead major public sector engagements from concept through delivery. You will shape product strategy, develop business cases, and drive Agile transformation with a user-centred approach, coaching senior staff and ensuring high-impact outcomes.

You will mentor teams, align stakeholders, and ensure value delivery within budget and deadlines.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of Product Management with UX, Agile and Programme Assurance.
• Experience in at least two major verticals including Public Sector.
• Experience in at least two business application environments (CRM, eCommerce).
• Strong C-Level stakeholder communication and mentoring.
• Broad business/tech understanding and awareness of industry trends.
• Experience delivering in an agile team.
• Experience in line management or coaching.
• Expert facilitator to drive outcomes from diverse stakeholders.
• Plan and lead consulting engagements from initiation to completion.
• Excellent commercial awareness and understanding of project dynamics.
• Adaptable to new disciplines.
• Excellent communicator with ability to explain and justify decisions.
• Translate business requirements into functional requirements.
• Deliver within project constraints.
• Strong understanding of Agile and Waterfall PM.
• Able to work flexibly under tight deadlines.
• Team management and mentoring abilities.
• Commitment to developing people.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and assure significant engagements from concept through to delivery.
• Shape product strategies and business cases for key initiatives.
• Coach and develop a small number of senior staff; manage performance.
• Drive Agile transformation and programme delivery in a user-centred context.
• Communicate with and mentor C-Level stakeholders to raise awareness of product management.
• Plan and lead consulting engagements from initiation to completion.
• Keep abreast of industry trends and adapt accordingly.

Skills

Product Management

User Experience

Agile

Programme Assurance

C-Level Communication

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Facilitation

Coaching & Mentoring

Job description

Principal Product Manager (Public Sector)

2026-09-16T00:00:00

Location: Preston, Lancashire, GB, PR1 2

Job Type: Any

Posted: 2026-10-22T14:03:30.23

Job Description

As a Product Consultant (Principal) at Kainos, you will be responsible for leading and assuring significant engagements from concept through to delivery. An experienced analyst with an ability to shape product strategies and business cases, the successful candidate will have significant experience of Agile transformation and programme delivery in a user-centred product context. You'll also manage, coach and develop a small number of senior staff, with a focus on managing employee performance.

MINIMUM (ESSENTIAL) REQUIREMENTS:

• Extensive vertical knowledge of Product Management, coupled with strong knowledge of User Experience, Agile and Programme Assurance disciplines.
• In-depth experience of at least two major business verticals (e.g., Telco, Financial Services, Retail) including Public Sector.
• Experience of at least two business application environments (e.g., CRM, eCommerce, etc.).
• Experience of strong C-Level stakeholder communication and relationship building, including coaching and mentoring of clients to raise awareness of product management.
• Broad business and technology understanding and a good awareness of industry trends.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering as part of an agile team.
• Experience of line management or coaching.
• Expert facilitator: able to drive focused outcomes from large gatherings of diverse stakeholders and interest groups.
• Able to plan and lead consulting engagements from initiation through to completion.
• Excellent commercial awareness and sound understanding of business and project dynamics.
• Demonstrated adaptability to embrace and lead in new disciplines.
• Excellent communicator: able to explain, persuade and justify decisions.
• Highly effective at translating business requirements into cost-effective functional requirements.
• Good commercial awareness, always delivering within project constraints.
• A strong understanding of Agile and Waterfall Project Management delivery methodologies.
• Able to work flexibly and to tight deadlines within uncertain and fast-changing environments.
• We all work in teams here in Kainos - a proven ability of strong team management skills, including effectively managing a multi-disciplinary team is crucial.
• We are passionate about developing people - a demonstrated ability in managing, mentoring and coaching members of your team and wider community is important.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience of working in a digital startup.
• Experience of working as a product manager and delivering high-quality digital products.
• Experience of working in a full-service digital agency environment.
• Experience leading Digital Transformation initiatives.
• Project management experience across a range of methodologies and frameworks (e.g., waterfall, scrum, Kanban, PRINCE2, MSP, etc.).
• Certified Scrum Product Owner.
• Active participant in communities of interest (e.g., online groups, speaking at conferences, etc.).