VodafoneThree - Product Lead - Tooling

Job Description

Location: Newbury or London + Hybrid
Salary: Excellent basic salary plus bonus and Vodafone benefits
Working Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week – Monday to Friday



Hybrid

We believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don't require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week, for at least 8 days per month. You should work with your line manager to understand what their expectations are for you, your specific role and your team.

Who We Are

We’re here to build a network the UK can count on – one that connects people, places and potential. Because no matter where you live, what your background is, or how you get online – we think everyone deserves the same chance to stay connected, and with VodafoneThree, that future’s being built – today.

We’re creating more than the UK’s best network. We’re helping close the digital divide, empower communities and drive meaningful progress.

We believe that everyone should feel they belong. Whoever you are and whatever your story, there’s space for you here. We’re building a workplace where different perspectives are welcomed, voices are heard, and everyone feels safe to show up as themselves.

You’ll join a team that genuinely cares – about each other, about our customers, and about the future we’re building. From day one, you’ll be welcomed, valued and encouraged to bring your whole self to work.



Why VodafoneThree

Join us and you’ll be at the heart of change. That means building responsibly, investing sustainably and creating opportunities that last.

We’re not just expanding connectivity; we’re reimagining what a connected nation looks like. With £11bn invested in 5G and digital infrastructure, your work will directly power businesses, services, and communities across the country.

You’ll work on real challenges, with real impact, across every corner of the country. Wherever you join us, whatever your role, you’ll be helping to build a future that works better for everyone.

We move at pace, because what we’re building matters – and we’re learning as we go. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we’re just getting started.

Join our UK Networks team, where we’re continually building and enhancing our network, connecting millions of people and businesses across the country. Be part of the team that makes it all happen – simplifying, automating, and bringing better connectivity than ever before, with giga-fast speed, to our customers.

What you’ll do

The Product Lead – Tooling is responsible for the in life performance, enhancement backlog and governance of ND&I’s tooling estate, ensuring tools are reliable, compliant and continuously improved within the strategy and value framework owned by the Senior Manager Digital Solutions & Tooling.

• Own the in‑life product roadmap and backlog for ND&I tools, ensuring enhancements, fixes and improvements are prioritised and delivered in line with ND&I needs and the overall tooling strategy
• Manage the performance, stability and usability of existing ND&I tools, working with OSS/IT, vendors and delivery partners to resolve incidents, defects and service issues in a timely manner.
• Work with a small team of contractors, setting clear objectives, providing direction and coaching, and ensuring effective execution of in‑life tooling work.
• Gather, assess and prioritise enhancement requests and pain points from ND&I stakeholders, ensuring they are translated into clear backlog items with defined outcomes and acceptance criteria.
• Oversee tooling governance and lifecycle management, including versioning, deprecation and replacement plans, ensuring alignment with architecture, security and compliance standards.
• Use usage data, performance metrics and user feedback to identify optimisation opportunities and drive continuous improvement across in‑life tools.
• Collaborate with OSS/IT, technical system leads, Data & Analytics and security teams to ensure changes and enhancements are technically feasible, secure and consistent with wider platform roadmaps.
• Work closely with the Product Lead – AI & Automation to plan the transition of new AI/automation and replacement tooling into in life management, taking ownership of BAU backlog, incidents and enhancements once solutions are stabilised.
• Represent in‑life tooling products and operational performance in ND&I tooling and investment governance forums chaired by the Senior Manager Digital Solutions & Tooling, providing insight, risks and recommendations.
• Ensure in‑life tooling documentation, governance artefacts and audit trails are maintained to required standards, supporting regulatory, security and operational assurance.

Who You Are

• Strong experience in product management or in‑life product ownership for digital tools, platforms or OSS/IT solutions in complex operational environments.
• Proven track record managing BAU backlogs, incidents, defects and enhancements, balancing stability, user needs and change velocity.
• Understanding of tooling architectures, integrations and dependencies across OSS/IT and network operational systems.
• Experience leading small teams or squads, setting priorities and ensuring effective delivery through others.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to gather and balance input from diverse ND&I users and technical teams.
• Data‑driven mindset, comfortable using usage data, performance metrics and feedback to inform decisions and prioritisation.
• Familiarity with agile delivery models and tooling (e.g. Azure DevOps, Jira) for managing backlogs and change.
• Understanding of governance, security and compliance considerations related to in‑life tooling and data

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly?
We know that everyone is unique, with multiple aspects to their identity and different experiences behind them. We are passionate about Inclusion for All and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another role, and our recruitment team can help you see how your skills fit in.

What we offer

We care about our people’s success by offering great pay, bonuses, up to 28 days off plus bank holidays, and paid time for charity work. You can personalise our benefits for you and your family, like discounts, vouchers, a pension plan and loads more. We help with your career through our amazing learning tools and top-notch parental leave policies.



Need to Know

We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and all offers of employment for this role are subject to background checks, including criminal (DBS) and financial checks to meet the regulators standards.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, or assistive technology, please refer to the Accessibility section of our Careers website (https://careers.vodafone.com/uk/reasonable-adjustments/) for guidance.

We use AI in different parts of our business to boost innovation, improve efficiency, and create new opportunities. We know many candidates use AI to fine-tune their CVs or prepare for interviews, but what we really care about is your unique experiences and achievements.

During the interview, we want you to rely on your own knowledge and skills to show us who you really are—your personality, creativity, and abilities. Above all, we’re looking for authenticity and can’t wait to get to know the real you.

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