Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom
Head of Product and User Centred Design
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476033 Head of Product and User Centred Design
Department for Transport
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 7th October 2026
š Location: Birmingham, Hastings, Leeds, London, Swansea (This role is suitable for hybrid working)
š· Salary: Ā£69,501 - Ā£98,061
- National: Ā£69,501
- London: Ā£74,535
- Plus an additional allowance of up to Ā£28,560.
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
šļø Contract Type: Permanent ā Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
šļø Available Positions: 1
Join the Department for Transport as the Head of Product and User-Centred Design and play a leading role in shaping the future of digital services. This is an exciting opportunity to define the strategic direction for Product Management and User-Centred Design (UCD), ensuring services deliver value, meet user needs and support departmental objectives.
As a senior leader within the Portfolio Management Hub, you'll oversee and develop a community of Product Managers and UCD professionals, setting standards, driving best practice and building capability across the organisation. You'll create the conditions for teams to thrive, championing innovation, collaboration and a strong focus on user outcomes.
Working closely with senior stakeholders, business leaders and delivery teams, you'll help align digital investment with organisational priorities, ensuring product strategies contribute to long-term value, performance and sustainability. You'll influence decision-making, communicate strategic insights and advocate for user-centred approaches across the department and its agencies.
Top Responsibilities
- Defining and maintaining the strategic approach to product management and user-centred design across the Portfolio Management Hub, aligning with organisational priorities and investment plans.
- Setting and raising standards for product management and UCD practice, ensuring consistency and alignment across service lines.
- Working closely with lead product managers, UCD leads, and business units to develop coherent product strategies that contribute to portfolio-wide value realisation.
- Providing leadership, support, and coaching to senior and lead Product managers and UCD leads, fostering a strong, collaborative community.
- Creating a community for product ownership across the department and develop a framework for product ownership.
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For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.
Benefits
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
- 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the Kingās birthday.
- Access to the staff discount portal.
- Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
- Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
- 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
About You
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
- Experience leading Product Management and User-Centred Design (UCD) functions, setting strategy and driving organisational outcomes.
- Proven ability to build, lead and develop high-performing Product and UCD teams and communities of practice.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing senior leaders and decision-makers.
- Experience developing and implementing product strategies that align with organisational priorities and deliver measurable value.
- Experience working in complex digital, transformation or portfolio environments, balancing priorities, risks and investment decisions.
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Essential qualifications
If you do not already hold the qualifications listed below, you will be expected to work towards achieving them once in role.
- APM Product Management Practitioner level
- A relevant qualification in Product management e.g agile product management or BCS certified digital product manager
- UX design - UX diploma certificate
- User centred design qualification
- Agile Project Management Practitioner
- APM Chartered Project Professional
- Project Leadership Programme (PLP)
- APM Project Management Qualification
Additional Information
The role is part of the Government Digital and Data Framework profession and utilises an enhanced CapabilityāBased Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.
- The base pay is Ā£69,501 National and Ā£74,535 London.
- In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to Ā£28,560.
- The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.
How to Apply
š Read the full description and apply here
This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Wednesday 7th October 2026
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