Product Manager

West Midlands Combined Authority; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Shared Cost AVC scheme

28 days annual leave

EV car benefit

Job summary

West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking an experienced Product Manager to shape a portfolio of digital products for the West Midlands. You will own product vision, strategy and roadmaps, focusing on customer needs and delivering meaningful outcomes across public services and transport.

The role involves independent ownership while collaborating with Technology & Insight and stakeholders to reflect the voice of the customer.

Qualifications

• End-to-end lifecycle experience with digital products or services.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in an agile environment.
• Translate data insights into actionable product decisions.
• Produce clear product documentation (strategies, roadmaps, user stories).
• Experience with data capture and management across multiple applications.
• Strong understanding of user-centric design principles and value delivery.
• Ability to lead or contribute to all phases of product delivery.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate clear product vision and strategy across a varied portfolio.
• Identify customer needs, operational challenges and opportunities.
• Align product direction with organisational priorities and service goals.
• Provide day-to-day leadership to multidisciplinary teams.
• Explain product approaches and trade-offs to stakeholders.
• Lead products from discovery to delivery and ongoing improvement.
• Prioritize and manage product backlogs.
• Balance short-term delivery with long-term goals.
• Support investment decisions and business cases.

Skills

Product management

Agile methodology

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

User research

Roadmapping

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Product Manager to join a newly established team and play a key role in shaping the digital products and services that support people across the West Midlands.

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a portfolio of digital products, with work driven by the Bus Franchising Programme, alongside a longer‑term roadmap of products and services that will transform how customers interact with transport and other public services. From websites and apps that help people plan journeys and purchase tickets, to internal tools and data‑driven services, you'll ensure products are designed around real customer needs and deliver meaningful outcomes.

At the heart of the role is being the voice of the customer. You'll understand what customers need, translate insight into product priorities and work collaboratively across Technology & Insight and the wider organisation to ensure their voice is reflected in the products we develop. You'll own product vision, strategy and roadmaps, ensuring there are clear measures in place to understand whether products are delivering the intended value and improving the customer experience.

You'll have the freedom to bring fresh ideas, try new approaches and make your mark on how product management is done across the organisation. You'll need to be comfortable working independently, taking ownership and making decisions, while also adapting your approach to a wide variety of products, stakeholders and changing priorities.

IMPORTANT: This is a 2‑year fixed‑term contract opportunity.

What you will be doing

• Define and communicate clear product vision and strategy across a varied portfolio of digital products and services
• Identify customer needs, operational challenges and opportunities
• Work with stakeholders to align product direction with organisational priorities, policies and service goals
• Provide day‑to‑day leadership and direction to multidisciplinary teams
• Act as a trusted advisor, helping stakeholders understand product approaches, trade‑offs and priorities
• Lead products through the full lifecycle, from discovery and design to delivery and ongoing improvement
• Prioritise and manage product backlogs
• Balance short‑term delivery needs with longer‑term strategic goals
• Support investment decisions, business cases, and prioritisation activities

What's essential

• Proven experience leading the end‑to‑end development and lifecycle of high‑quality digital products or services
• Experience in defining and implementing product strategy and roadmaps
• Demonstrable experience leading and guiding cross‑functional product teams within an agile environment
• Experience in translating complex data insights into actionable product decisions and improvements
• Experience in producing clear, concise, and impactful product documentation (e.g. strategies, roadmaps, user stories)
• Experience with data capture, analysis, and management of complex datasets across a variety of applications
• Deep understanding and practical application of user‑centric design principles, technology capabilities, and data‑driven decision‑making
• Expertise in a range of product management principles and approaches
• Ability to critically appraise products and identify strategic areas for improvement
• Comprehensive understanding of the different phases of product delivery and the ability to lead or contribute to them effectively

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year‑on‑year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest‑free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big‑name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top‑rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser‑focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it’s needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people’s lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours.

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven - We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact.
• Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
• Innovative - We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We're a Disability Confident Employer with 'Leader' status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part‑time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying.

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non‑UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won't be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It's your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.