At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product ownership for complex digital programmes in Defence and Aerospace.
- Company: Join a leading organisation in the Defence and Aerospace sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to shape innovative products.
- Other info: Opportunity to coach teams and drive continuous improvement in a dynamic setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-value projects that matter to national security.
- Qualifications: Active SC Clearance and experience in product leadership within regulated environments.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
We are seeking an experienced Lead Product Owner with a strong background in MOD, Defence, or Aerospace environments to lead the evolution of product ownership practices across complex digital programmes. This role is critical in shaping product strategy, governance, and delivery standards across sensitive Defence and Aerospace initiatives. You will ensure strong alignment between Product Owners, Business Analysts, and delivery teams, enabling clear prioritisation, effective decision-making, and consistently high-quality, value-driven outcomes. You will provide hands-on leadership to embed best practice product management across large-scale programmes, strengthening cross-functional delivery and driving continuous improvement across digital products and services.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead product ownership across complex, high-value digital programmes within Defence, Aerospace, or other regulated environments.
- Define and evolve product ownership frameworks, governance models, and delivery standards at scale.
- Ensure clear prioritisation and alignment across Product Owners, Business Analysts, and engineering/delivery teams.
- Drive value-based decision making, ensuring product roadmaps align with strategic and operational objectives.
- Provide leadership across multidisciplinary teams and suppliers, ensuring accountability, performance, and delivery excellence.
- Coach and develop Product Owners and wider delivery teams, embedding strong product culture and continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with senior stakeholders to shape product strategy and influence digital direction across programmes.
- Support agile delivery practices and ensure effective backlog management and prioritisation discipline.
Essential Requirements
- Active SC Clearance (mandatory).
- Proven experience as a Lead Product Owner or senior product leadership role in MOD, Defence, or Aerospace environments.
- Demonstrable experience delivering complex digital products in regulated, high-security environments.
- Strong background leading product ownership across multiple large-scale programmes.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and third-party suppliers with strong delivery outcomes.
- Deep understanding of Agile and Lean product management methodologies.
- Strong backlog management and prioritisation skills with a value-driven approach.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior leadership.
- Ability to translate technical concepts across infrastructure, platforms, security, and architecture into clear product decisions.
- Proven ability to define and implement product governance frameworks and standards.
Desirable Experience
- Experience working across international or multi-programme environments.
- Background in Defence Digital, MOD transformation programmes, or complex aerospace engineering environments.
- Experience building and scaling product operating models within organisations.
- Strong coaching and mentoring capability across product teams.
- Experience operating in highly regulated, secure-by-design digital environment.
Lead Product Owner employer: LHH
As a Lead Product Owner in Reading, you will join a forward-thinking company that prioritises innovation and excellence within the Defence and Aerospace sectors. Our collaborative work culture fosters continuous improvement and professional growth, offering you the opportunity to lead high-value digital programmes while working alongside multidisciplinary teams. With a commitment to embedding best practices in product management, we provide a supportive environment where your expertise will directly influence strategic outcomes and drive meaningful change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Owner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the Defence and Aerospace sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, attend webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your Agile and Lean methodologies. Be ready to discuss how you've led product ownership in complex environments. We want to hear your success stories and how you’ve driven value-based decision-making!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! When chatting with potential employers, highlight your experience in coaching and developing teams. They’ll want to know how you can embed a strong product culture and drive continuous improvement across their programmes.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged in their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Owner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Lead Product Owner role. Highlight your experience in Defence, Aerospace, or MOD environments and showcase how you've led product ownership in complex digital programmes.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention your active SC Clearance and how your background aligns with our needs in shaping product strategy and governance.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've provided hands-on leadership in previous roles. Share examples of how you've coached teams, driven continuous improvement, and ensured delivery excellence across multidisciplinary teams.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at LHH
✨Know Your Product Ownership Frameworks
Make sure you’re well-versed in product ownership frameworks, especially those relevant to Defence and Aerospace. Brush up on how these frameworks can be applied to complex digital programmes, as this will show your understanding of the role's requirements.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Prepare examples that showcase your ability to engage with senior stakeholders. Think about times when you influenced product strategy or aligned teams towards a common goal. This will highlight your stakeholder management skills, which are crucial for this position.
✨Showcase Your Agile Expertise
Be ready to discuss your experience with Agile and Lean methodologies. Share specific instances where you’ve successfully implemented these practices in regulated environments, as this will demonstrate your capability to drive value-based decision-making.
✨Highlight Coaching and Mentoring Experience
Since the role involves coaching Product Owners and delivery teams, prepare to talk about your mentoring experiences. Share how you’ve embedded a strong product culture and driven continuous improvement in past roles, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
