Product Manager Lead

If you have experience leading the end-to-end development and lifecycle of high-quality digital products or services, we want to hear from you.

Our Future Transport team have a 2-year fixed term contract available for a Product Manager lead to play a pivotal role in driving product vision, strategy, and delivery across multiple cross-functional teams. Acting as a champion for our customers, you will develop a deep understanding of user needs and pain points, ensuring these insights are at the heart of all product development and decision-making.

Working on initiatives such as journey planning and mobile ticketing, you’ll forge strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure goal alignment, champion engagement, and drive the successful launch of impactful solutions that address the region’s evolving transport needs.

A strong grasp of data analytics, strategic product management, agile methodologies, and technical architecture principles is essential to drive the continuous delivery of high-quality, user-focused products. You will also lead and mentor small, project-based delivery teams—ensuring their outputs are aligned with programme objectives, timelines, and budgets—while delivering transformative digital tools and services that support the strategic ambitions of the West Midlands.

What you will be doing

• Lead the identification of critical service delivery pain points and strategic opportunities, translating them into compelling product strategies and roadmaps
• Collaborate closely with senior stakeholders and partners to define and evolve product strategy, ensuring it addresses critical regional transport needs
• Provide expert product leadership and guidance to multiple cross-functional product teams
• Facilitate and optimise the end-to-end product development process
• Proactively engage with customers, operational teams, and delivery partners to clarify requirements, validate solutions, and gather insights, ensuring products meet user needs
• Provide guidance and recommendations on system architecture, API design, and integration strategies to enable scalable, robust, and future-proof product solutions
• Ensure products can report on key financial metrics and reporting required for financial teams
• Conduct comprehensive product appraisals

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
• Extensive experience in stakeholder management
• Experience in translating complex data insights into actionable product decisions
• Experience in producing clear, concise, and impactful product documentation
• Experience with data capture, analysis, and management of complex datasets across a variety of applications
• Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles, technology capabilities, and data-drive decision making
• Expertise in a range of product management principles and approaches
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Product Management related courses or training

Location. 

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

How to apply. 

Applying for a role with WMCA is straight forward. 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 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).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more), giving you have ample time to relax.
• ethical saving options and healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership.
• 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.  

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.

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 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).