23727 - Principal Product Manager

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Job Title: Principal Product Manager

Grade: G7

Directorate: Digital Technology Services (DTS)

Location: National

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time/Flexible Working

This is a full-time position only due to the nature of the role however compressed hours will be considered.

Successful applicants will be expected to be office based 3 days per week in any HMCTS Office (subject to business availability).

Level of Clearance: To apply for this role, you will be required to successfully complete Security Clearance (SC) level as a condition of appointment. For further guidance click here

Introduction

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice.

HMCTS Digital and Technology Services (DTS) is a specialist technology directorate which provides support to HMCTS in the use of IT and Digital.

DTS is committed to being a great place to work and part of our offer is brilliant training opportunities and support from expert colleagues. In addition, you’ll find flexible working, an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued.

Please follow the link below for further information about HMCTS.

If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

Job Description

As a Principal Product Manager, you will champion the delivery and continuous improvement of a major product and define, own and solve problems. You will use your knowledge of user needs and business goals to frame problems, set priorities and to drive your delivery teams to deliver continuous improvement. You will be responsible for developing the overall vision and strategy for a major product, working with other product managers and through engagement with senior stakeholders (both internal and external), user researchers and content designers, cross functional product teams and technical strategists, and the delivery of that vision, through time. Your work will impact across DTS, HMCTS and the external reputation of the organisation through effective management of products.

You will have a deep knowledge of product management techniques and will have developed expert skills. You will provide direction and empowerment to multidisciplinary teams, ensuring return on investment and execution of the vision.

You will understand where the product for which you are responsible fits within the overall HMCTS landscape, how it fits with other services and with common components and the dependencies it has on other teams and technology. You will ensure that all the relevant services to support the product are in place.

As a Principal Product Manager, you will lead and support product managers responsible for products in a particular area of HMCTS business. You may line manage them, support their professional development and be involved in recruitment.

Your role as Principal Product Manager will encompass several key responsibilities listed below (but not limited to):

• Translate business strategy into a clear product vision and roadmap, ensuring services remain aligned to user needs, organisational priorities and evolving business requirements.
• Deliver products that meet the Digital by Default Service Standard, providing high-quality digital services that meet user expectations.
• Define and use meaningful performance measures and metrics to drive continuous improvement and deliver business outcomes.
• Lead innovation and technology change, working closely with suppliers and stakeholders to develop current and future capability while achieving value for money.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders, suppliers and cross-functional teams, communicating complex issues clearly and influencing decision-making.
• Lead collaboration across HMCTS, the Ministry of Justice and wider government partners to support joined-up service delivery and shared objectives.
• Ensure products integrate effectively with existing services and platforms, managing dependencies, risks and transitions across teams and technologies.
• Provide leadership to Product Managers and multidisciplinary teams, supporting professional development, coaching and recruitment while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience working as a Product Manager or Lead Product Manager within a large digital organisation.
• Accountable for the successful management of a digital product.
• Ability to work with technical and business stakeholders to develop visions, roadmaps and requirements, and assess and assign priorities.
• Capability to set direction and methodology while adhering to agreed standards.
• Prior team management experience, including managing and supporting more junior colleagues and role modelling good practice.
• Excellent facilitation, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to provide expert advice to stakeholders at all levels.
• Resilient and experienced in finding solutions to difficult and complex situations.
• Experience of managing conflict and achieving resolution while considering individual needs.
• Ability to use creative thinking to develop possible courses of action.
• Ability to evaluate risks and make judgements on the most appropriate solutions.
• Experience of problem solving and working collaboratively to deliver at pace.
• Ability to act independently on day-to-day issues and take a strategic view on operational or policy areas.
• Evidence of contributing significantly to the achievement of business or policy objectives.

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge and experience of Civil, Family and Tribunals digital products and applications.
• Understanding of the common components and capabilities that underpin HMCTS digital services.

Application process:

This role will be recruited using a combination of Government Digital and Data (GDD) Profession Capability Framework and Success Profiles Frameworks during the sift and interview process. Using GDD we will then determine if you will be paid an additional allowance, on top of your basic salary. This role is within the Product Manager Job Family, is a Product and Delivery role at Product Manager level but carries the title Principal Product Manager within DTS.

Stage 1 - Sift:

To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application:

• An anonymised CV, setting out your career history, key responsibilities and achievements. Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Essential Skills section of this advert.

• A Statement of Suitability which should give us real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. We recommend following the STAR

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply - Application Guidance

Stage 2 - Interviews:

Successful candidates who passed the sift will be invited to interview via Microsoft Teams / At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours;

• Communicating & Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service

For Behaviours you will be expected to align your answers to the Government Digital and Data (GDD) Capability Framework

For further guidance on the interview process please click here

Important information

Level of Clearance

To apply for this role, you will be required to successfully complete Security Clearance (SC) level as a condition of appointment. To meet these requirements, you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least:

• SC - 5 years

For further information please click here

Salary details

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion, will usually be appointed on the salary minimum of the new pay band, or receive an increase of 10 percent on the current base salary, whichever is higher (This is restricted to the pay maximum of the new band).

Travel requirements

There will be a requirement to travel occasionally to any HMCTS site in line with business needs.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.