Head of Product - Contract

The Head of Product provides leadership and direction to the entire product management community within the organization and across government. You will lead on product strategy, working closely with lead product managers and their business units to ensure a cohesive vision and the delivery of high-quality, user-centered services. As the Head of Product, you are responsible for setting and raising the standards for product management in the organization, building a thriving community of practice.

This is a senior strategic leadership role that requires a deep understanding of product management, agile methodologies, and public sector delivery. You will represent the product community at the highest levels, ensuring that product thinking is at the heart of our digital transformation efforts. You will have decision-making authority to deliver on large-scale services, taking responsibility for the development, operation, and continual improvement of the entire product portfolio.

About the team

The GovTech Barbados team is responsible for developing multi-disciplinary, user-centered digital teams within the Government of Barbados. Our goals are twofold: first, we want to deliver tangible impact to citizens through excellent public service design and delivery. Second, we want to build a sustainable and enduring digital mindset, skillset, and culture within the government. It’s an exciting time to join us as we accelerate our delivery phase. We are taking an agile, lean approach to this work, learning as we go from our end-users, public servants, and global experts in digital transformation.

About the role

As the Head of Product, you are a leader of leaders. You will shape the direction of the entire product portfolio, guiding teams and mentoring other product managers to deliver on a cohesive vision. You are responsible for the overarching strategy, ensuring your teams are delivering value for users and the organization. You will represent the product area to senior leadership and act as a champion for the product management community within GovTech Barbados. You will also oversee the recruitment, development, and performance of the entire product management community, shaping the future of the profession within government.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and own the overall product strategy for the organization, ensuring it aligns with user needs and business goals.
• Develop and maintain the high-level product roadmap for the entire product portfolio and support teams in prioritizing their backlogs to maximize value and return on investment.
• Lead, coach, and line manage the product management community, including senior and lead product managers, overseeing their assignments, development, pay, and performance.
• Manage the recruitment, development, and retention of product managers, both civil servants and contractors.
• Act as a recognized expert and advocate for Agile and Lean practices, coaching teams and experimenting with innovative ways of working to improve delivery.
• Champion user-centered design, advocating for effective research approaches and ensuring user insights are used to make strategic decisions across the entire product portfolio.
• Direct the stakeholder relationship strategy, influencing and negotiating with senior stakeholders to resolve issues and enable progress.
• Define product goals and metrics for the entire product portfolio, advocating for data-driven decision-making and helping teams prioritize effectively.
• Manage the operational process of designing and running services throughout their entire life cycle, including predicting and mitigating risks.
• Lead the product management community in cross-government activities, establishing and maintaining wider relationships across the profession.
• Represent product management in conversations with senior stakeholders within and outside GovTech, influencing and negotiating to resolve issues and enable progress.

Essential attributes

• You can dedicate your time to understanding and articulating the problems your teams are trying to solve at a strategic level.
• You are an expert in product management, with a proven ability to set and deliver on a long-term product strategy.
• You are an exceptional coach and mentor who can lead and motivate multiple teams and develop other product managers.
• You are bold and not constrained by old ways of thinking, with a proven ability to challenge the status quo and experiment with new ways of working.
• You understand users and can interpret and communicate their needs to make the correct strategic product decisions.
• You can think conceptually, simplify complex problems, and communicate your vision clearly while avoiding jargon.
• You are a data-driven decision-maker, with the ability to use data to prioritize work and demonstrate the value of your products.
• You are a leader who can inspire and motivate a community of practice, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

You understand constraints and are able to challenge those that can be changed, balancing user value against cost and organizational goals.

Contract details

• Contract duration: One (1) year, with potential to extend
• Pay commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered
• We prefer hybrid (remote and in-person) work, but we will consider entirely remote candidates

Reporting to

Mark Boyce, CEO, GovTech Barbados, or his designate

Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference for this contract are available here: Head of Product