Product and Data Manager - Working for Essex

About the role

Product and Data Manager

Fixed Term, 2-year contract with potential for extension

Full Time, 37 hours per week

£50,066 to £58,901 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 5th January 2026

The Product and Data Manager will lead the development and delivery of the TravelEssex Digital platform, as well as other product areas within the Integrated Passenger Transport Unit (IPTU), driving a transformational roadmap that supports modern, connected travel solutions.

With strong knowledge of digital technologies and emerging trends, the postholder will bring a forward-thinking approach to product innovation and clearly articulate a compelling product vision. Building and maintaining senior stakeholder engagement across the organisation and with external partners will be critical to success.

This role requires a sharp focus on delivery, balancing innovation with operational priorities and budget constraints. The successful candidate will be a proactive self-starter, experienced in managing multiple competing priorities and engaging a wide range of stakeholders.

To read more about our business area, please visit Climate, Environment and Customer Services

Accountabilities

Develop and implement the TravelEssex digital platform product strategy, collaborating with experts (e.g. architects, developers, UX/UI) and maximising value from the solution for the Council and its commercial partners.

Lead the development and implementation of product roadmaps, to maintain exceptional service delivery and ensure the objectives and priorities of the TravelEssex brand and Modernising Passenger Transport project (MaaS) are met.

Define product data goals that align with IPTU and business objectives, using data analysis to identify trends, specify new data products and features.

Responsible for the overall quality and use of data and digital products across the IPTU and their successful delivery; offering coaching and training to raise digital skills and data literacy.

Working collaboratively within and across the IPTU and commercial partners, thinking commercially to support the delivery of best possible outcomes for customers through digital, product and data.

Maintain and nurture collaborative relationships with other teams in the IPTU and external organisations to enable the organisation to delivery joined-up digital approaches and products.

Drive the design, delivery and management of cutting-edge digital solutions; modernising how the IPTU and the bus sector operates, including AI and automation strategies.

Enable self-service analytics across the IPTU and external partners/suppliers through the Modernising Passenger Transport contract, PowerBi, Tableau and other products.

Lead the identification, analysis, and interpretation of complex datasets using Excel, QGIS and Python programming language across multiple projects. Combine datasets from various sources to analyse spatial data in QGIS.

Using professional expertise to translate goals and plans into ways of working that comply with relevant legislation and statutory requirements and manages a level of appropriate risk.

Be responsible for specific individual and shared targets and objectives which are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience.
Strong leadership experience in managing cross-functional digital teams with a laser focused on user requirements.
Strategic thinking with a passion for solving operational challenges through technology.
Experience developing and managing digital products in an agile environment.
Experience of end-to-end product ownership and management, ideally gained within a large, demanding organisation with multiple stakeholders and audiences.
Experience of using data analytics tools to validate and iterate products.
Excellent experience of some or all of: business analysis, product design, user testing, trend analysis.
Significant experience in using data-driven insights to inform decision making.
Proven knowledge and experience of APIs, ETL/ELT pipelines, cloud data architecture, Microsoft Power Platform, QGIS and similar.
Significant experience and in-depth knowledge in the management and delivery of transport apps that are public facing.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)) on our careers site

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

Links / Downloads

Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours