West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is embarking on an ambitious journey redefining how services are delivered, embracing programmes such as bus franchising, and strengthening collaboration with partners including Fire and Police. Digital and technology will be critical to enabling that change. We have created a brand‑new leadership role to shape how we design, build and deliver user‑centred digital products and services across the organisation.
With the organisation growing rapidly in scale and complexity, you will lead the shift to a more agile, product and service‑led approach, embedding modern engineering and DevOps practices while ensuring everything we deliver is driven by user need and real‑world impact.
This is an opportunity to step into a challenging and evolving environment where you’ll shape systems and services and enable colleagues across WMCA to deliver transformational outcomes for the region.
What You Will Be Doing
* Develop and maintain the Digital Product Strategy and portfolio roadmap.
* Champion the responsible and ethical adoption of AI into the WMCA’s product portfolio and business processes.
* Establish WMCA’s product management framework.
* Set and uphold engineering and DevOps standards.
* Ensure cross‑organisational and matrix‑based product teams engage closely with sponsors, senior users, and stakeholders.
* Lead, coach and develop Product Managers, BAs, Engineers, UX/Service Designers, and DevOps enablement leads.
* Own relevant Opex/Capex budgets.
* Embed sustainability in all aspects of corporate IT operations.
* Own release readiness and service transition in partnership with the Head of Corporate IT and the Head of Technology Systems & Infrastructure.
* Lead the Solution Development capability.
Essential Qualifications
* Senior leadership of digital product portfolios with measurable outcomes in complex public sector or multistakeholder environments.
* Proven introduction and scaling of Product Management and Development.
* Experience Leading Solution Development teams covering Microsoft, AWS and/or bespoke App‑based solutions.
* Experience working with Enterprise Architecture guardrails, Solution Architects, and Product Leads to assure design.
* Experience collaborating with operational environments to enable effective service transition.
* Experience of relevant standards compliance (e.g. WCAG).
* Experience of managing projects and or programmes in a complex Digital, Data & Technology environment.
* Experience in solution design literacy, API‑led integration, and platform governance.
* Outstanding communication (technical and non‑technical), stakeholder engagement and influence.
Location
16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD, with at least 2-3 days a week spent in the office.
Salary and Benefits
We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year‑on‑year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.
* Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
* Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
* 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
* EV car benefit scheme.
* Healthcare plans.
* Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
* An option to buy a bicycle, including e‑bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
* 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
* Interest‑free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology.
* Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big‑name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.
* Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top‑rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
* Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.
Right to Work in the UK
Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non‑UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Equal Opportunities Statement
We are a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria. We are also a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks.
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