Product Line Manager – Business Functions

The role holder:

Product strategy and planning

Defines the product vision and roadmap aligned with business objectives and other related products in this and other product value streams.

Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify trends, understand customer needs, and inform product decisions.

Develop and manage product roadmaps, prioritising features and functionalities based on market demand and technical feasibility.

Product Development & Execution:

Lead the product team working with product customers to requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.

Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between enabling teams (commercial, legal, supply chain, security) to ensure efficient product development and launch.

Track product development progress, identify and mitigate risks, and manage dependencies across the product line.

Product delivery, management, and ongoing development:

Work with the product team and customers to define implementation strategies and success metrics for new product features or updates.

Collaborate with change management to develop messaging and positioning for the product.

Analyse performance data and user feedback to identify areas for improvement and iterate on product offerings.

Provide ongoing service management and operational support for the product and its users to meet performance targets and KPIs.

People Management:

Provide guidance and mentorship to product team members, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team environment.

Coach and develop their skills in product management, user research, and data analysis.

Budget Responsibilities

The role holder:

Management of budget within the area of delivery scope assigned – the technology delivery programme / project or platform / product area.

Competencies

Knowledge:

Platform and product operating models

Cyber Security

IT infrastructure

IT Service Management

Knowledge and experience of the specific product or platform technologies in scope of this role

Skills:

A Product Owner (PO) requires a blend of technical expertise and soft skills to excel in their role. Here's a breakdown of the crucial abilities:

Technical Skills:

Product Management:

Understanding of the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to launch and post-launch support.

Proficiency in product roadmapping, user story creation, and defining acceptance criteria.

Knowledge of Agile methodologies and their application in product development.

Market & Competitor Analysis:

Ability to conduct thorough market research to identify trends and customer needs.

Skills in analyzing competitor strategies and offerings to gain a competitive edge.

Understanding of market dynamics and the ability to translate insights into actionable product decisions.

Data Analysis:

Competence in interpreting product usage data, market research findings, and customer feedback.

Ability to leverage data to inform product strategy, prioritize features, and measure success.

Familiarity with data analysis tools and techniques relevant to the technology domain.

Soft Skills:

Leadership & Communication:

Providing guidance, coaching, and mentorship to the product team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team.

Effectively communicating product vision, strategy, and roadmaps to stakeholders across various teams (engineering, design, marketing, sales).

Ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Collaboration & Relationship Management:

Building strong relationships and fostering trust within the product team and across cross-functional departments.

Adept at facilitating collaboration between diverse teams with varying priorities and working styles.

Ability to negotiate, manage conflicts, and build consensus effectively.

Strategic Thinking & Decision Making:

Translating business goals into actionable product strategies.

Prioritizing features and making data-driven decisions under pressure.

Ability to think critically, analyze complex situations, and identify potential risks and opportunities.

Additional points:

Technical Expertise: While a deep technical understanding is beneficial, the specific level may vary depending on the product line's complexity.

Matrixed Environment: Comfort working in a matrixed structure where collaboration across various departments is crucial.

Problem-Solving & Adaptability: Ability to address challenges, think creatively, and adapt to changing market conditions and business priorities.

By possessing a strong combination of these technical and soft skills, a Product Line Manager can effectively lead their team, drive product success, and ensure the product line aligns with business objectives and market demands.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration) with experience in technology product management.

3+ years of experience in working as part of product teams as a DevOps engineer, preferably within a related technology domain.

Strong understanding of the Agile development methodology and product lifecycle management.

Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across various teams.

Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively.

Data-driven approach to decision making with experience in product analytics and user research.

Behaviours

Strategic Vision – Anticipates and plans for the future business landscape

Collaboration – Drives high standards of performance through cooperation and teamwork

Adaptability – Responds to change with positive action

Inspiration – Inspires others to be at their best

Courage – Takes appropriate risks and leads with humility

Recruitment Summary

Role Title for Market: Product Owner

This role in a nutshell:

The Product Owner (PO) is a leader responsible for the success of a specific products within a product line. They report to the Product Line Manager and manage a multi-disciplinary fusion team comprised of DevOps engineers, testers, site reliablility engineers, business process leads and drive product strategy, development, and execution.

What you will deliver:

Product strategy and planning

Collaborate with the Product team and product customers and stakeholders to define the product vision and roadmap aligned with business objectives and other related products in this and other product value streams.

Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify trends, understand customer needs, and inform product decisions.

Develop and manage product roadmaps, prioritising features and functionalities based on market demand and technical feasibility.

Product Development & Execution:

Lead the product team to define product requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.

Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between enabling teams (commercial, legal, supply chain, security) to ensure efficient product development and launch.

Track product development progress, identify and mitigate risks, and manage dependencies across the product line.

Product delivery, management, and ongoing development:

Work with the product team to define implementation strategies and success metrics for new product features or updates.

Collaborate with change management to develop messaging and positioning for the product.

Analyse performance data and user feedback to identify areas for improvement and iterate on product offerings.

Provide ongoing service management and operational support for the product and its users to meet performance targets and KPIs.

People Management:

Provide guidance and mentorship to the product team, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team environment.

Coach and develop their skills in product management, user research, and data analysis.

Within your first 6 months you will:

Establish the team including confirming and recruiting key roles and defining statements of work for 3rd party supplier engagement.

Work with customers to understand requirements, develop and prioritise the backlog, and create and communicate a product roadmap to support business engagement and alignment.

Engage with other Product Owners inside and outside of your Product Line and establish a regular cadence of interaction and ways of working that allow for sharing of understanding and plans across the business.

Implement appropriate systems to control the flow of work ensuring that the right things are deliverd in the right way.

Be able to demonstrate the value of digital services from your product to the business by launching, or improving products and services.

Key systems

Jira, Teams, Power BI