Lead Product Owner - SC Cleared

Lead Product Owner 📍 Reading (Hybrid / Custom working options available) 💷 £95 - £104.46 per hour 🔐 Active SC Clearance Required 🇬🇧 UK Nationals Only (SC eligibility required for sensitive MOD/aerospace programmes) Join a global defence and aerospace environment, shaping next-generation digital capabilities across critical MOD and regulated programmes. This is a senior leadership role where you will define product ownership standards, drive delivery excellence, and influence how complex digital products are designed and delivered at scale. The Role As Lead Product Owner, you will take ownership of product management strategy, governance, and delivery assurance across complex digital portfolios. You will lead multiple product streams, set delivery standards, and ensure alignment between business outcomes, technical execution, and long-term value realisation. This role is highly strategic, focusing not only on delivery but on shaping how product ownership is embedded across large-scale digital transformation programmes. Key Responsibilities Define and evolve product ownership frameworks, governance models, and delivery standards Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, data-driven digital products across multiple teams Own backlog strategy, prioritisation, and value-driven delivery across programmes Align product direction with organisational, portfolio, and MOD objectives Establish strong collaboration between Product Owners, Business Analysts, architects, and engineering teams Oversee supplier and third-party performance, ensuring quality, compliance, and strategic alignment Drive continuous improvement in Agile and Lean product delivery practices Mentor and influence product teams, embedding best practice across the organisation Ensure clear communication between senior stakeholders and delivery teams Translate complex technical and security considerations into clear product strategy Essential Experience Active SC Clearance Proven leadership of product ownership across multiple major programmes Strong background within MOD, Defence Digital, or UK aerospace environments Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and external suppliers Deep understanding of Agile and Lean product delivery frameworks Strong technical awareness across: Digital platforms and infrastructure Security protocols Modern enterprise architectures Proven expertise in backlog management, prioritisation, and value-based delivery Excellent stakeholder engagement with senior leadership Ability to define and operate scalable product governance frameworks Desirable Experience Experience operating at strategic or portfolio product level Strong mentoring or coaching experience within product teams Familiarity with complex defence or regulated digital ecosystems Experience influencing organisational product transformation Why Apply? Senior leadership role shaping defence digital transformation High-impact programmes with national and global significance Opportunity to define product operating models and standards Collaborative, multi-national working environment Flexible hybrid working arrangements Work that directly contributes to critical defence capability