Platform Owner - Data Centre Networks - Manchester

About the job

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HMRC is continuing its transition to a products and platforms operating model, with increased focus on platform ownership, measurable outcomes, service reliability and effective delivery across complex technology estates.

We are seeking a Platform Product Owner within HMRC Network Services, part of the Chief Engineering and Platform Office (CEPO). In this role, you will own and deliver outcomes for a defined set of data centre network platforms and associated services that underpin critical HMRC services and large-scale infrastructure change.

You will be responsible for the direction, lifecycle management and delivery of outcomes for network platform capabilities, balancing operational stability, resilience, security and cost with the need to support change across a complex and evolving estate. Central to this role is treating the platform as a product area, using clear priorities, strong stakeholder engagement, performance insight and continuous improvement to deliver value.

This role requires strong leadership across a complex supplier and stakeholder landscape. You will ensure network platform services remain reliable and fit for purpose while enabling delivery across large-scale programmes and interdependent services.

As a Platform Product Owner - Data Centre Networks, you will own and deliver the roadmap for a defined set of network platform capabilities, aligned to broader platform strategy and organisational priorities. You will be accountable for ensuring these platforms remain secure, resilient, scalable and operationally effective, while supporting the successful delivery of infrastructure change across HMRC's estate.

Operating within a complex environment of internal teams, strategic suppliers and wider business demand, you will:

• Own and manage the roadmap and backlog for your network platform area, balancing value, risk, service performance and organisational demand.
• Make prioritisation decisions, considering operational resilience, dependencies and delivery constraints.
• Coordinate activity across multiple teams and suppliers to ensure joined-up delivery across interdependent services and programmes.
• Use service performance data, operational insight and stakeholder feedback to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Act as the primary point of ownership for your platform area, ensuring alignment between supplier delivery, stakeholder needs and platform priorities.

You will act as an advocate for your platform area, working across organisational boundaries to support alignment, adoption and successful delivery of outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Platform Engagement, Vision and Adoption
  • Contribute to the vision and direction for data centre network platform services.
  • Promote clear ownership, engagement and adoption across stakeholders and delivery teams.
  • Use insight and feedback to inform priorities and improve platform outcomes.
  • Support continuous improvement in service quality, performance and cost optimisation.
• Platform Delivery and Ownership
  • Own the end-to-end lifecycle of data centre network platforms, including roadmap, backlog and service performance.
  • Drive delivery across a complex portfolio of work aligned to organisational change.
  • Identify and manage risks, issues and dependencies across platform and delivery activity.
  • Balance operational stability with ongoing transformation.
• Technology and Platform Capability
  • Demonstrate strong understanding of data centre technologies and enterprise networking concepts.
  • Ensure platform services operate with high levels of availability, resilience and security.
  • Work with engineering, architecture and service teams to ensure alignment with standards and good practice.
  • Support lifecycle management and continuous improvement in line with service management principles.
• Stakeholder Management and Influence
  • Act as the primary interface between HMRC Network Services, stakeholders and strategic suppliers.
  • Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders across technical and business teams.
  • Oversee and challenge supplier delivery to ensure performance and value for money.
  • Influence decision-making across a complex, matrix environment.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience owning and managing complex infrastructure or network platforms within a large-scale organisation.
• Experience of delivering outcomes across complex programmes or portfolios.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience working in a multi-supplier environment and holding suppliers to account.
• Strong understanding of data centre technologies and enterprise networking concepts.
• Experience managing risks, dependencies and delivery alignment across complex environments.
• Experience working within service lifecycle or ITIL-aligned environments.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments, providing clarity and direction.
• Strong leadership capability across matrix-managed teams.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure transformation initiatives.
• Awareness of evolving data centre or hybrid infrastructure trends.
• Experience working across legacy and modern platform environments.
• Experience applying product-focused approaches such as outcome-based prioritisation, roadmap management or metrics-driven delivery.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

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