Details:
- Salary: £95 - 104 - Hour
- Location: Reading Berkshire
- Date: 1 month ago
Description:
Lead Product Owner
???? Reading (Hybrid / Custom working options available)
???? £95 - £104.46 per hour
???? Active SC Clearance Required
???????? UK Nationals Only (SC eligibility required for sensitive MOD/aerospace programmes)
Join a global defence and aerospace environment, shaping next-generation digital capabilities across critical MOD and regulated programmes. This is a senior leadership role where you will define product ownership standards, drive delivery excellence, and influence how complex digital products are designed and delivered at scale.
The Role
As Lead Product Owner, you will take ownership of product management strategy, governance, and delivery assurance across complex digital portfolios. You will lead multiple product streams, set delivery standards, and ensure alignment between business outcomes, technical execution, and long-term value realisation.
This role is highly strategic, focusing not only on delivery but on shaping how product ownership is embedded across large-scale digital transformation programmes.
Key Responsibilities
Define and evolve product ownership frameworks, governance models, and delivery standards
Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, data-driven digital products across multiple teams
Own backlog strategy, prioritisation, and value-driven delivery across programmes
Align product direction with organisational, portfolio, and MOD objectives
Establish strong collaboration between Product Owners, Business Analysts, architects, and engineering teams
Oversee supplier and third-party performance, ensuring quality, compliance, and strategic alignment
Drive continuous improvement in Agile and Lean product delivery practices
Mentor and influence product teams, embedding best practice across the organisation
Ensure clear communication between senior stakeholders and delivery teams
Translate complex technical and security considerations into clear product strategy
Essential Experience
Active SC Clearance
Proven leadership of product ownership across multiple major programmes
Strong background within MOD, Defence Digital, or UK aerospace environments
Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and external suppliers
Deep understanding of Agile and Lean product delivery frameworks
Strong technical awareness across:
Digital platforms and infrastructure
Security protocols
Modern enterprise architectures
Proven expertise in backlog management, prioritisation, and value-based delivery
Excellent stakeholder engagement with senior leadership
Ability to define and operate scalable product governance frameworks
Desirable Experience
Experience operating at strategic or portfolio product level
Strong mentoring or coaching experience within product teams
Familiarity with complex defence or regulated digital ecosystems
Experience influencing organisational product transformation
Why Apply?
Senior leadership role shaping defence digital transformation
High-impact programmes with national and global significance
Opportunity to define product operating models and standards
Collaborative, multi-national working environment
Flexible hybrid working arrangements
Work that directly contributes to critical defence capability