Product Manager

Job summary

Can you lead a product through its entire lifecycle, from discovery and development to delivery, continuous improvement, and retirement?

Have you successfully supported Senior Product Managers while prioritising team workloads and delivering measurable outcomes that create real value?

Are you an experienced people leader who can confidently oversee performance, conduct and attendance processes, ensuring timely, fair and effective decision-making in roles such as Investigating Officer, Decision Officer or Appeals Officer?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Our team plays a vital role in shaping and delivering digital products that meet the needs of users while supporting organisational goals. Working in a collaborative, agile environment, the team is responsible for defining product direction, driving continuous improvement and ensuring products deliver measurable value throughout their lifecycle. Product Managers work closely with multidisciplinary teams to balance user needs, business priorities and technical considerations, making informed decisions that improve quality, performance and outcomes. The team also contributes to the growth of the product profession through coaching, people development and fostering a culture of learning and innovation. As part of a forward-thinking department, you'll have the opportunity to influence strategic priorities, lead meaningful change and help deliver products and services that make a real difference.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVLA:

• DVLA roles: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

This role sits within the Government Digital & Data Profession Capability Framework, aligned to the Product Manager profession. You'll be responsible for ensuring products deliver value and achieve the right outcomes by balancing user and business needs, while driving product quality and continuous improvement. Working in a supportive, people-focused environment, you'll help develop product capability, contribute to a culture of learning and collaboration, and uphold Civil Service values in everything you do.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

1. Lead a product through different phases of the product life cycle, from discovery, through development, delivery and continuous improvement, to retirement.
2. Support lead and Senior Product Managers.
3. Prioritise work for your team and be able to measure outcomes.
4. Oversee and be accountable for performance, conduct and attendance processes within your area of responsibility and ensure they are adhered to and acted on in a timely manner in your role as Investigating Officer, Decision Officer or Appeals Officer.
5. Oversee the Contact Centre’s Incident Management Process, ensuring all incidents are investigated, escalated where appropriate and communicated to stakeholders.
6. Contract Management where required for Contact Centre services and technology.
7. Work closely with suppliers to understand product road maps, recommend product improvements and oversee the delivery of product upgrades.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile.Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

1. Experience of leading products through the full product lifecycle, using user insight and data to deliver measurable outcomes and continuous improvements.
2. Experience of supporting senior product leaders, prioritising competing demands and working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to achieve strategic objectives.
3. Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience of influencing decisions and confidently presenting information to a range of audiences, including senior leaders and large groups.
4. Experience of leading and developing people, including managing performance, conduct and attendance matters in line with organisational policies and procedures.

Additional Information

We welcome applications from candidates who can speak Welsh and English. Welsh language skills could be useful in this role, but it is not an assessment criterion, so it won’t put you at any disadvantage during recruitment if you aren’t a Welsh speaker. Please note that the application and assessment process will be held in English.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 35 hours per week over 5 days.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contributes £12,816 tow