Product Manager - Defence

Kainos; Slough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kainos is seeking a Product Consultant to drive backlog maturity and MVP delivery within an agile, client-facing environment. You will lead workshops, manage stakeholder expectations, and coach junior staff while aligning initiatives with strategic goals.

A Defence background and active DV clearance are highly valued, with responsibility for shaping delivery across teams. You will work closely with customers and internal teams to ensure feasible solutions, maintain product quality, and meet

Qualifications

• Experience delivering bespoke software within an agile, client-facing consulting environment.
• Defence sector experience is essential.
• Active DV clearance is required.
• Experience across the software development lifecycle from analysis to live operations.
• Excellent workshop facilitation to achieve focused outcomes.
• Ability to model as-is and to-be business processes and gain buy-in.
• Proven stakeholder management with adaptable communication styles.
• Breakdown of work into deliverable pieces and manage team backlog quality.
• Elicitation of functional, technical and non-functional requirements into user stories.
• Strong backlog prioritisation and dependency management.
• Ability to meet MVP scope within commercial constraints.
• Experience contributing to sales activities (e.g., bids, proposals).
• Experience mentoring and developing junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Own backlog maturity from inception to delivery and articulate MVP value to the team and stakeholders.
• Lead agile ceremonies and run workshops with diverse stakeholders to build consensus.
• Support delivery of initiatives within the Product capability and coach junior staff.
• Manage, coach and develop a small number of staff, focusing on performance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure timely delivery and quality.

Skills

Client facing

Agile methodologies

Backlog management

Stakeholder management

Facilitation

Coaching juniors

DV clearance

Defence sector experience

Workshop planning

MVP thinking

Team leadership

Clear communication

Job description

Join Kainos and Shape the Future

At Kainos, we’re problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators - driven by a shared mission to create real impact. Whether we’re transforming digital services for millions, delivering cutting-edge Workday solutions, or pushing the boundaries of technology, we do it together.

We believe in a people-first culture, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of a diverse, ambitious team that celebrates creativity and collaboration.

Ready to make your mark? Join us and be part of something bigger.

As a Product Consultant in Kainos you will be responsible for your teams backlog maturity, taking ownership of features from inception through to delivery. You will drive MVP thinking and communicating the value of it with those in your team, the wider project team and relevant stakeholders.

You will be a leader in your team, comfortable running agile ceremonies, encouraging engagement and discussion. You will plan and run workshops, engaging with a variety of stakeholders to facilitate consensus in areas of uncertainty. You will actively participate within the Product capability, supporting the delivery of initiatives. You will also manage, coach and develop a small number of staff, with a focus on managing employee performance.

Minimum (Essential) Requirements:

• Experience in bespoke software delivery, operating as a part of an agile team working for an external customer (experience in a client-facing role in a consulting environment is a must-have).
• Defence sector experience.
• Active DV clearance.
• Experience of the software development lifecycle, involved from analysis through to acceptance, launch and live operations
• Excellent facilitator of workshops, able to lead stakeholder groups to achieve focused outcomes
• Accomplished at modelling As-is and To-be business processes, able to present these to stakeholders and the team to ensure understanding and to achieve buy-in
• Experience in stakeholder management, comfortable challenging decisions when appropriate and tailoring collaboration and communication styles where necessary
• Responsible for the breakdown of an area of work from inception through to delivery, managing the team's backlog ensuring quality and maturity
• Responsible for the elicitation of functional, technical and non-functional requirements, translating these into user stories so they are easily understood across the whole team.
• Ability to use prioritisation techniques to refine the backlog and manage dependencies
• Proven ability to manage scope to meet the required MVP, ensuring value is delivered
• Ability to work within commercial constraints for example cost restrictions and project deadlines
• Excellent user story writing skills, ensuring quality and consistency of stories across the project
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships both inside and outside of the delivery team, comfortable collaborating on the breakdown of an area into deliverable pieces of work
• Experience working in a client/supplier relationship, sensitive to their needs
• Experience contributing to sales activities (e.g. working on bids, writing sales proposals etc.)
• Experienced in Agile methodologies and able to mentor those in your team as well as coaching our clients
• We are passionate about developing people – a demonstrated ability in managing, coaching and developing junior members of your team and wider community
• Experience of explaining technical jargon to non-technical/commercial teams.

Desirable:

• Ability to participate in technical discussions with a broad understanding of technical terms
• Experience working closely with clients on site day-to-day
• Active participation in communities of interest, for example online groups, meetups and speaking at conferences

Embracing our differences

At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive. We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are. We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field.

Our friendly talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way, so if you require any accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out.

We understand that everyone's journey is different, and by having a private conversation we can ensure that our recruitment process is tailored to your needs.