Location: Palestra, Southwark
Salary: £48,000-£53,000
Role Type: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract
Overview
The Product Manager is accountable for the end-to-end management of allocated TfL technology and data products (within a product family) making all necessary provisions to meet the needs of their business area(s) and provide the required Technology & Data (T&D) capability to realise business outcomes.
The Product Manager supports the Senior Product Manager in being the primary T&D department interface with their business area ensuring relationships are strategically managed and working with the wider T&D function to ensure all TfL stakeholders have a clear understanding of T&D product direction.
As a Product Manager, you will join a highly collaborative and creative area of TfL Technology and Data (T&D). The Surface Transport team is responsible for designing and delivering world-class technology; from operationally critical systems such as iBus, to the radio systems, to Dial-a-Ride booking systems and service planning modelling tools.
The role holder will carry out the necessary due diligence and analysis to build robust and justifiable roadmaps which set out the direction and investment required by T&D to ensure products meet the need of their business area.
Key Accountabilities
Elicit and shape technology and data needs with relevant TfL stakeholders (mid management and user communities) for their respective products to ensure business outcomes are achieved in-line with agreed T&D strategies
Own, manage and maintain pan-TfL roadmaps for their respective products that meet business needs in a cost effective and efficient manner and provide all necessary justification to secure investment against these roadmaps as part of the business planning process
Ensure their TfL product roadmaps are informed by, and exploit, relevant opportunities presented within the wider technology and data marketplace to reduce the overall cost of ownership of their products over the business plan
Provide subject matter expertise input into T&D strategies and represent their business area needs to ensure that T&D strategies are aligned with business strategy
Ensure their product road-maps set out the capabilities required to deliver the agreed business outcomes and work with the T&D senior management team to ensure the T&D department develops capabilities in line with the agreed roadmaps
Baseline and manage all associated cost elements related to their products and provide this information in a transparent way to communicate the total costs of ownership (TCO) to all relevant stakeholders providing a foundation for cost efficiency plans
Sponsor change initiatives for their products, in line with agreed investment plans, and represent the customer needs within the T&D department to ensure new and/or modified products deliver the required business outcomes on time and within budget, as specified in their business case
Owns all product-related engagements within and between the T&D department and the wider TfL stakeholder community ensuring stakeholders are adequately managed and clear direction is maintained for their products
Key Interfaces
TfL stakeholders to shape and define business outcomes and ensure these are factored into the product roadmaps
T&D Strategy team to ensure business needs are factored into T&D strategy development and to align product roadmaps to T&D strategies
Service Owners to understand the current service performance and using the feedback inform the product development and continual improvement activities
Programme Delivery to ensure T&D delivery activity is conducted in a manner that realises business outcomes defined in product roadmaps through sponsorship of change
Transport and technology partners, responsibility for establishing, managing and maintaining strategic relationships with external customers, industry experts and suppliers related to their product family
Product vendors to understand new offerings to find commercial opportunities to deliver further value from products
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Skills
Able to systematically define and implement product development strategies and product roadmaps
Modelling, analysis and research skills; able to synthesize complex sources of information into clear concepts to inform decision making inc. defining total cost of ownership, whole life product costing and return on investment indicators
Ability to establish and document business needs and outcomes
Strong commercial acumen; able to competently conduct commercial negotiations and input into commercial activities
Strong interpersonal skills including the ability and gravitas to influence at senior levels with positive effect
Strong planning, problem solving skills and prioritisation abilities
Demonstrable mix of creative and technical flair, commercial realism and a pragmatic ‘can-do’ approach
Demonstrable ability to develop a climate and practices of continuous product improvement
Resilience to champion a cost-conscious pan-TfL perspective on T&D investment & delivery within specific areas
A working knowledge of Transport Systems or knowledge of a related industry area is desired.
Knowledge
Educated to degree level or possess relevant equivalent professional experience
Necessary process and technical knowledge for their respective product area to deliver fit for purpose products
Relevant legislation pertaining to information management within the Government/Public/Transport Sector – e.g. Data Protection Act
Good knowledge of relevant product domain including current overview of the main developments within the industry and macro-level drivers for change
TfL’s policies, management structure, strategic priorities and business objectives
Some knowledge of strategy and investment methods and an understanding of the information required to align portfolios to business goals
Investment & business planning processes that align investment in information technology to business priorities
Recognised project or programme delivery methods (e.g. MSP, Agile, SCRUM or PRINCE 2) with a focus on sponsorship
Experience
Successfully managed multiple complex technology and data products delivering value within an organisation of similar size, complexity and budgets as TfL
Extensive experience of product ownership and management, gained within a large, demanding organisation with multiple stakeholder groups and operations
Experience of working with end-users to sense and shape T&D needs towards meeting business needs
Experience in a business analysis / other related analysis role desirable
Benefits
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the business area but mostly include:
Final salary pension scheme
Free travel for you on the TfL network and nominated person
A 75% discount on National Rail Season Ticket and interest free loan
30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
Discounted Eurostar travel