Principal Product Manager - Central Gov

Overview

As a Principal Product Manager at Hippo, you lead strategic direction across central government portfolios to deliver high-value, citizen-centric digital services. You’ll influence policy, shape product roadmaps, and mentor senior product leaders while collaborating with cross-functional teams. This role offers executive-level representation of the product function and a chance to drive public sector digital transformation at scale. You will align governance, risk, and data/AI strategies with government mandates, delivering measurable citizen value.

Pay / Benefits

• Contributory Pension Scheme
• 25 Days Holiday + UK Public Holidays
• Perkbox discounts
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Private health cover
• Private dental cover

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the strategic vision and roadmaps for entire product portfolios within Central Government
• Represent the product function at the executive level, shaping policy and influencing senior departmental leadership
• Lead portfolio delivery frameworks and risk management to navigate highly regulated environments
• Advance user research standards to ensure citizen needs are central to product work
• Define data, AI, and innovation strategies while upholding central government standards
• Mentor and coach senior leaders, building capability across the public sector product profession
• Grow and nurture the Hippo product community and governance across portfolios
• Coordinate cross-department collaboration and align structures, culture, and processes

Key requirements

• Strong GDS experience with ability to translate policy and technology trends into strategic product investments
• Proven ability to architect change strategies aligning delivery with long-term departmental goals
• Experience building portfolio-level strategy with metrics to measure citizen value and drive pivots
• Ability to influence government policy and investment, ensuring resilience and security are foundational
• Proven track record presenting evidence-based business cases to senior civil servants
• Authoritative knowledge of the GDS Service Standard and leading service assessments across Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live
• Experience leading collaboration with internal teams, external partners, and senior stakeholders

• Strategic thinking
• Stakeholder management
• Coaching and mentorship
• GDS Service Standard
• Public sector agile delivery at scale
• User-centered design

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