Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Duration: Permanent 

Location: Gloucester

Job Ref: 203109

About the role

Benefact Group, are looking for a Practice Manager to join our Gloucester office.

The Technology Analysis and Product (TAP) Team is a dynamic team of talented Business Analysts and Product Owners within the Group Technology Department. This team operates across several Technology product teams, with some members also working on projects or mobilising new initiatives outside of existing Products. Our primary delivery method is Agile.

As the TAP Practice Manager you will develop, champion, and represent the TAP Practice in various impactful ways. You will have a blend of functional and line management responsibilities, you will also dive deep into your Product Ownership expertise when necessary. Collaboration is key as you will work closely with the Group Technology management team and wider business stakeholders to enhance and maintain a practice that drives value for our customers and stays ahead with evolving standards and tools.

As a functional manager in a matrix management environment, you will partner with the TAP People Manager, who is responsible for the line management function of the team. Together, you will ensure the team is supported, motivated, and aligned with the Group Technology Department goals. 

Joining our rapidly expanding and innovative Group presents a fantastic opportunity to develop your career and become an integral part of an inclusive, purpose-led organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Standards Advocate: Elevate and uphold Practice standards and processes, including minimum standards, frameworks, templates, and tooling. Ensure adherence to these standards to deliver top-notch services.
• Transparent Reporting: Guarantee that Product Visions, Goals, Roadmaps, and reports are in place for all Products and are easily accessible to stakeholders, promoting transparency and alignment. Contribute to the identification, measurement and improvement on KPIs designed to track the quality of deliverables from the team.
• Product Ownership Leader: Spearhead the setup of new/changes to Product teams, including recruitment, and serve as the Lead Product Owner for specific Products, driving their success from inception.
• Team Coach: Offer coaching, guidance, and support to the team, ensuring they deliver high-quality products that align with business goals and exceed expectations.
• Leadership Excellence: Leverage the team’s expertise to foster a culture of continuous improvement within the Practice, driving innovation and excellence.
• Practice Champion: Advocate for the Practice, its people, and the immense value the team brings to the organisation, ensuring their contributions are recognised and celebrated.
• Strategic Visionary: Work with the Head of TAP to shape and drive the roadmap for evolving the TAP Practice in Tools, People, and Processes. Take ownership of agreed items and ensure seamless integration of future changes impacting both existing and new Product teams.
• Resource Planner: Collaborate with Lead POs and the TAP People Manager to define resource plans that effectively deliver Product roadmaps, ensuring optimal allocation and utilisation of resources.
• People Manager: Provide line management for Lead Product Owners and Lead Business Analysts (where required), fostering a supportive and high-performing team environment.
• Development Enabler: Partner with the TAP People Manager to ensure the availability of training materials and development frameworks that support the Practice’s growth and effectiveness.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Proven experience: Demonstrated experience as a Product Lead, Product Manager, or Senior Product Owner, successfully delivering change across multiple technologies (or suitable alternative experience) with a passion for technology and Product Ownership.
• Analytical Insight: A solid background in (or a deep understanding of) the business analyst role.
• Inspirational Leadership: Strong coaching and motivational skills that inspire and drive the team to excel.
• Tooling Expert: Proficiency with Agile tools (preferably the Atlassian Suite of products Jira and Confluence).
• Industry Savvy: Relevant industry experience (preferably Insurance), bringing valuable insights and expertise.
• Decisive Problem Solver: Strong decision-making abilities and a proactive approach to solving complex problems.
• Stakeholder Management Pro: Excellent stakeholder management skills, adept at handling conflicting requirements and uniting differing viewpoints to move forward.
• Relationship Builder: Ability to forge strong, effective relationships with individuals from diverse disciplines.
• Passionate and Energetic: Self-motivated and enthusiastic, with great energy and passion for your work.
• Adaptable and Positive: A flexible approach to work and a positive attitude, fully embracing and incorporating the company values.

What we offer

• A competitive salary - let's discuss it
• Group Personal Pension - up to 12% employer contribution
• Generous annual bonus scheme up to 30%
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and a holiday buy and sell scheme
• An array of health and wellbeing benefits, including private healthcare, income protection and life assurance
• Up to £300 annual personal grant to a charity of your choice
• Encouraged to take at least one volunteering day per year
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Full study support to gain professional qualifications

About us

Benefact Group is a unique international financial services Group made up of over 30 businesses. We are owned by a charity and are currently the UK’s 3rd largest corporate donor, having given away £200 million since 2016. We have ambitious plans to become the UK’s number one corporate donor, with strategic objectives in place to double the Group’s size.

We believe it’s essential to attract, empower, grow and reward talented people, offering fantastic opportunities for career and personal development. Our giving ethos, 135-year history and the diversity of what we do, has enabled us to build a culture of kindness, great ambition, and of passionate people driven to do better and be better.  

At Benefact Group, we are committed to creating an inclusive culture and building an environment where each and every one of us feels valued and respected. We are a community made up of people with a range of different backgrounds, abilities, perspectives, beliefs and interests and we value the strength this brings to us as a Group. We welcome applications from everyone.

If you need any additional support during the recruitment process, then please let us know.