At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the delivery of complex digital products and evolve product ownership frameworks.
- Company: Global defence and aerospace organisation with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with flexible working arrangements and impactful projects.
- Why this job: Shape next-gen digital capabilities and influence critical defence programmes.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in product ownership and strong Agile/Lean experience.
Salary: £49,400 - 62,400 per year
Requirements
- We require active SC Clearance.
- We require UK nationality and SC eligibility for sensitive MOD/aerospace programmes.
- We need proven leadership of product ownership across multiple major programmes.
- We need a strong background in MOD, Defence Digital, or UK aerospace environments.
- We require experience managing multidisciplinary teams and external suppliers.
- We need a deep understanding of Agile and Lean product delivery frameworks.
- We require strong technical awareness of digital platforms and infrastructure, security protocols, and modern enterprise architectures.
- We need proven expertise in backlog management, prioritisation, and value-based delivery.
- We require excellent stakeholder engagement skills with senior leadership.
- We need the ability to define and operate scalable product governance frameworks.
- We consider experience at strategic or portfolio product level desirable.
- We consider mentoring or coaching experience within product teams desirable.
- We consider familiarity with complex defence or regulated digital ecosystems desirable.
- We consider experience influencing organisational product transformation desirable.
Responsibilities
- We define and evolve product ownership frameworks, governance models, and delivery standards.
- We lead end-to-end delivery of complex, data-driven digital products across multiple teams.
- We own backlog strategy, prioritisation, and value-driven delivery across programmes.
- We align product direction with organisational, portfolio, and MOD objectives.
- We establish strong collaboration between Product Owners, Business Analysts, architects, and engineering teams.
- We oversee supplier and third-party performance, ensuring quality, compliance, and strategic alignment.
- We drive continuous improvement in Agile and Lean product delivery practices.
- We mentor and influence product teams, embedding best practice across the organisation.
- We ensure clear communication between senior stakeholders and delivery teams.
- We translate complex technical and security considerations into clear product strategy.
We are a global defence and aerospace organisation operating within critical MOD and regulated programmes, and we are offering a senior leadership opportunity in Reading with hybrid and custom working options available. This is a high-impact role where you will help shape next-generation digital capabilities, define product operating models and standards, and influence how complex digital products are designed and delivered at scale. You will work in a collaborative, multinational environment on programmes of national and global significance, with flexible working arrangements and the opportunity to contribute directly to critical defence capability.
Lead Product Owner employer: CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler
As a leading global defence and aerospace organisation, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel. Located in Reading, we offer flexible working arrangements and a commitment to professional growth, ensuring that our team members can thrive while contributing to critical national and global programmes. Join us to be part of a mission-driven environment where your expertise in product ownership will directly influence the future of defence capabilities.
Contact Details:
CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Owner
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Owner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Lead Product Owner, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Lead Product Owner position at CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
