Do you work in research planning, approvals, set‑up, or management and believe digital services can make these processes simpler, faster, and more connected? Are you excited by the idea of shaping tools that help researchers collaborate and deliver studies people can trust? If so, we want to hear from you.
As a Product Owner, you'll lead agile teams to design and build digital products that support research regulation and approval systems across the UK. You'll also lead on specific areas that support product delivery. This role sits within our Research System Programme – a fast‑paced, iterative digital transformation programme developing services that will replace legacy systems.
The programme aims to:
* Connect processes for health and social care research in the UK
* Make the UK a great place to do research that people can trust
* Enable collaboration to plan, approve, set up, manage, and complete research.
You'll work closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure our services are inclusive, accessible, and impactful.
Main duties of the job
You'll be responsible for:
* Leading agile delivery teams
* Translating user needs and business goals into deliverable outcomes
* Leading on activities to support product delivery
* Driving continuous improvement and innovation across products
* Building strong relationships with stakeholders across the research ecosystem
What you’ll bring
We’re looking for someone with:
* Extensive knowledge of UK research regulation and health/social care research systems
* Strong analytical, strategic planning, and communication skills
* A collaborative mindset and ability to lead and coach others
* Resilience and adaptability in a fast‑paced agile environment
* A commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and continuous learning
Experience in agile product development would be an advantage, but onboarding and training will be provided.
About us
Working at the HRA, we are reminded daily of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.
When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement – if it works for us, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note, if applying to our Manchester, Nottingham or Bristol locations, we are only able to offer the role as home based.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* An appropriate recognised management qualification equivalent to a degree qualification and/or significant relevant equivalent experience.
* Evidence of agile and/or product management training or certification.
* Evidence of continuous professional development / Post‑graduate qualification in relevant discipline.
* Product Owner Certification from a recognised provider / CDDO service assessor training / Agile Certification from a recognised provider / Professional/ Accredited qualification in Change Management Certification.
Knowledge, skills and expertise
* An extensive specialist knowledge of research regulation and approval systems in the UK, including a working knowledge of key legislation.
* Current, expert knowledge of UK ecosystem for health and social care research including NHS R&D, and NIHR structures and delivery processes.
* The product lifecycle and how products in different stages of it benefit from different design and development approaches.
* Professional standards and practices relevant to digital public health services (e.g. NHS Service Manual, Government Service Standard & Manual, Technology Code of Practice).
* Leading and coaching staff in ways of working, professional development and standards / Common technology standards – including software, security, privacy and accessibility standards / Contemporary organisational management practices / The wider private/public/third sector digital landscape – including public sector procurement and contracting frameworks or supplier management.
Experience
* Significant demonstrable experience and understanding of user‑centered design, technology and data perspectives.
* Significant experience of working within digital products and projects / Experience of developing and maintaining a product roadmap which is fit for purpose and meets organisational requirement.
* User‑centred service design practices and methodologies for public-facing, business-facing or internal services and applications / Able to identify areas for improvement in ways of working and product management practices across a service areas and suggest and implement appropriate solutions.
* Line management and recruitment experience; Experience coaching and mentoring staff in agile ways of working and product management.
Analytical and judgemental skills
* High level ability to understand and identify problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution. You can classify and prioritise problems, document their causes and implement remedies.
Full‑time, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours
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