Lead Product Manager in Cardiff

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a clear mission - to grow the economy. Our role is to help businesses invest, grow and export to create jobs and opportunities right across the country. We do this in three ways:

• We help to build a strong, competitive business environment, where consumers are protected and companies rewarded for treating their employees properly.
• We open international markets and ensure resilient supply chains through Free Trade Agreements, trade facilitation and multilateral agreements.
• We work in partnership with businesses every day, providing advice, finance and deal‑making support to those looking to start up, invest, export and grow.

The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate develops and operates tools and services to support us in this mission. Are you passionate about shaping impactful digital services that make a real difference? At DBT, we’re looking for a Lead Product Manager (Grade 6) who thrives on collaboration, curiosity and purpose-driven leadership.

Working in the Business Growth portfolio, you will be a part of the portfolio’s senior leadership team, operating in a matrix environment. In this role, together with your senior leadership team colleagues, you will provide cross‑profession leadership on all matters relating to the portfolio which designs, builds and runs DBT’s national scale digital services that underpin how we support businesses to start, grow and succeed both domestically and internationally.

You will lead, develop and empower a team of product managers across multidisciplinary squads, delivering transformation and running live services in an environment with high levels of uncertainty, change and pace. In addition, you will be responsible for one of the sub‑portfolios, where you will own the delivery, advice and hands‑on support for several multidisciplinary squads.

You’ll bring people together, such as Product Managers, Service Owners, stakeholders and delivery teams to identify and solve complex challenges and co‑create meaningful solutions. You’ll lead with empathy and clarity, helping the team to develop a shared product vision and roadmap. You’ll support them in choosing the right approaches to discovery, prototyping and delivery ensuring our products are viable, sustainable and grounded in user needs to enable value.

This is a stretching role for an experienced and ambitious colleague who enjoys a challenge and is driven to have an impact, delivering through others. You’ll be supported by our Head of Product and Chief Digital Officer for Product, who are committed to your growth and development. You’ll also line manage and mentor junior colleagues, helping them build confidence and capability in their roles.

As part of the wider Product, Business Analyst, and Delivery Leadership Team, you’ll play a key role in shaping how we work across DBT, bringing significant experience of developing, shipping and evolving high usage digital products at pace. You’ll work closely with Service Owners to understand the organisation’s future needs and help teams validate and deliver against them. You’ll also lead on communicating your team’s work to senior leaders bringing clarity, insight and impact to the conversation.

A Lead Product Manager is the lead for the product team and product capabilities in their portfolio. At this level, you will:

• Own and evolve the portfolio vision and roadmap, ensuring alignment with departmental priorities and the delivery of joined‑up, end‑to‑end services.
• Lead and inspire agile, multidisciplinary teams, creating an environment where collaboration and continuous learning thrive.
• Champion agile ways of working, helping teams adopt and adapt practices that support iterative delivery, user‑centred design and measurable outcomes.
• Coach and mentor product managers at all levels, supporting their development and helping them grow in confidence and capability.
• Partner with the portfolio leadership team to provide strategic direction across the portfolio.
• Collaborate with Service Owners and Delivery Leads, contributing to portfolio planning, prioritisation and product assurance.
• Lead on product recruitment and onboarding, helping to build diverse, high‑performing teams by hiring associate, mid‑level and senior product managers, as well as contractors.
• Ensure decisions are grounded in evidence, working closely with researchers, analysts and designers to understand user needs and validate assumptions.
• Communicate with clarity and purpose, representing your team’s work to senior leaders and stakeholders across DBT and government.
• Support delivery excellence, helping teams navigate complexity, unblock challenges and deliver value early and often.