Head of Product

We have a new opportunity for a Head of Product in the WMCA’s Technology & Insight Directorate to lead digital product innovation at the heart of a major regional transformation.

As the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) embarks on an ambitious journey - redefining how we deliver services, embracing programmes such as bus franchising, and strengthening collaboration with partners including Fire and Police - digital and technology will be critical to enabling that change. We have created a brand-new leadership role to shape how we design, build, and deliver user-centred digital products and services across the organisation.

With the organisation growing rapidly in scale and complexity, you will lead the shift to a more agile, product and service-led approach, embedding modern engineering and DevOps practices while ensuring everything we deliver is driven by user need and real-world impact. This is an opportunity to step into a challenging and evolving environment, where you’ll not only shape systems and services, but also enable colleagues across WMCA to deliver transformational outcomes for the region.

We’re looking for someone with the experience, mindset, and ambition to lead through complexity - someone who is motivated by purpose, thrives in change, and is passionate about using digital innovation to make a tangible difference to people, businesses, and communities across the West Midlands.

What you will be doing.

• Develop and maintain the Digital Product Strategy and portfolio roadmap.
• Champion the responsible and ethical adoption of AI into the WMCA’s product portfolio and business processes.
• Establish WMCA’s product management framework.
• Set and uphold engineering and DevOps standards.
• Ensure cross-organisational and matrix-based product teams engage closely with sponsors, senior users, and stakeholders.
• Lead, coach and develop Product Managers, BAs, Engineers, UX/Service Designers, and DevOps enablement leads. 
• Own relevant Opex/Capex budgets.
• Embed sustainability in all aspects of corporate IT operations. 
• Own release readiness and service transition in partnership with the Head of Corporate IT and the Head of Technology Systems & Infrastructure. 
• Lead the Solution Development capability.

What’s essential.

• Senior leadership of digital product portfolios with measurable outcomes in complex public sector or multistakeholder environments. 
• Proven introduction and scaling of Product Management and Development. 
• Experience Leading Solution Development teams covering Microsoft, AWS and/or bespoke App-based solutions. 
• Experience working with Enterprise Architecture guardrails, Solution Architects, and Product Leads to assure design. 
• Experience collaborating with operational environments to enable effective service transition.
• Experience of relevant standards compliance (e.g. WCAG).
• Experience of managing projects and or programmes in a complex Digital, Data & Technology environment.
• Experience in solution design literacy, API-led integration, and platform governance.
• Outstanding communication (technical and non-technical), stakeholder engagement and influence.

Location. 

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

How to apply. 

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
2. Build your Profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
3. Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
4. Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

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.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).

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, building trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and customers to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven - Focussed on impact - leading with clarity, care and courage to deliver meaningful results for the West Midlands. 
• Inclusive - Every voice matters - we create belonging, fairness and psychological safety so everyone can thrive. 
• Innovative - We think future and act smarter - embracing curiosity, creativity and continuous improvement to shape the future. 

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 supports 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).