Product Owner - Payments in Leeds

Location: Leeds

We currently have a number of opportunities across our Product team. The Payments Directorate sits at the heart of the UK’s financial system, playing a critical role in delivering the Bank’s mission. We design and operate the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) service and CHAPS, the UK’s high-value payment system. RTGS ultimately lies at the heart of every electronic payment in the UK and settles over £800 billion on an average working day.

The directorate leads on policy and innovation for our Payments services and helps shape the broader payments landscape, both domestically and internationally. Drawing on our expertise in innovation and delivery, we are now embarking on a programme to enhance the RTGS 2 platform, enabling the UK financial sector to innovate while ensuring safe and efficient settlement in central bank money. Our work connects us closely with many other areas of the Bank. As one of the most outward-facing and fast-paced directorates, we offer a dynamic and impactful environment to work in.

Role Overview

As a Product Owner, you will be part of the Payments Product Management Team, supporting the maintenance and continuous improvement of the RTGS Core Settlement Engine.

In this role, you will:

• Support senior Product Owners and Product Managers in representing user needs during design and delivery.
• Assist in managing the product backlog and ensuring user stories meet agreed standards.
• Contribute to product planning, refinement, and implementation activities.
• Develop your skills in stakeholder engagement, agile delivery, and product leadership.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Planning & Prioritisation

• Support product planning sessions, including quarterly planning, by preparing inputs and gathering data.
• Assist in drafting clear, concise user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Help maintain the product backlog, ensuring items are well-shaped and ready for development.
• Contribute to maintaining the product roadmap and Now / Next / Later view with guidance from senior POs.
• Participate actively in backlog refinement sessions.

User Engagement

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to gather and refine requirements.
• Support senior POs/PMs in aligning functionality with business processes and user needs.
• Help produce training materials and support training delivery when changes are introduced.
• Assist in preparing presentations or updates for stakeholders, including senior audiences.
• Attend workshops, demonstrations, and engagement sessions.

Delivery & Documentation

• Support the preparation of release notes, documentation, and communication materials.
• Help maintain up-to-date product documentation (designs, guides, support materials).
• Assist with implementation planning and coordination during scheduled release support defect triage and resolution.
• Support the triage of defects, gathering information and updating records as needed.
• Contribute to reviewing outputs from development teams to ensure they meet requirements.

Minimum Experience

• Experience working as a Product Owner, Business Analyst or in a related change role.
• Experience engaging with business and technical stakeholders to gather or clarify requirements.
• Demonstrable experience with cross-functional business improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with agile principles and change management processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, user-friendly language.

Essential Skills

• Good analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.
• Willingness to take ownership of tasks and demonstrate leadership through behaviours, even without direct authority.
• Ability to build strong working relationships and contribute positively to a cross-functional team.
• A proactive attitude with a desire to learn product management practices and tools.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in a product or change delivery environment within the public sector.
• Understanding of financial services or payments.
• Understanding of RTGS and its key functions.

Our Approach to Inclusion

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve. At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it’s by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we’ll continue to make the best decisions for the public.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part-time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed. For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.

Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the ‘Candidate Personal Information’ under the ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ section of the application.

Salary and Benefits Information

We encourage flexible working, part-time working and job share arrangements. Part-time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate. The salary range on offer is £37,120 - £41,760. In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package.

Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year. The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time. A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool. An 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits. 26 days’ annual leave with the option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits. Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and/or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Application Process

Important: Please ensure that you complete the ‘work history’ section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It’s therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process. The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages. This role closes on 4th June 2026. Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.