Product and delivery

A business analyst works out what an organisation actually needs from a digital service, and helps the team building it understand those needs.

You’ll look at how things work today, find where they’re not working and recommend changes that solve real problems.

You’ll spend time with the people who use and run a service, mapping processes and gathering requirements. You’ll then turn what you find into something developers and designers can act on.

You might suit this role if you:

• enjoy getting into the detail of how a process actually works
• want to understand the real cause of a problem before suggesting a fix
• can help technical and non-technical people understand each other

Where you could start

Many business analysts come into the role from different jobs where they’ve often been doing similar things.

You could join through the Fast Stream or build your skills through vocational qualifications.

Where it can lead

With experience, you could become a senior, lead or principal business analyst.

Some business analysts move into programme management, leadership or coaching roles. Others move sideways into related roles like product manager, user researcher or business architect.

A delivery manager helps a digital team get its work done, using agile ways of working.

You’ll keep the team moving, remove anything that’s getting in their way and make sure people have what they need.

You’ll plan how the team works rather than what they work on. You’ll spot risks before they become problems, hold things together when plans change and help people work together, even when things are stressful.

You might suit this role if you:

• enjoy helping a team work well together
• can see what’s coming up and clear obstacles before they slow people down
• like getting things done through other people

Where you could start

Many delivery managers move into the role from project management, operational management or other digital jobs. Some join through the Fast Stream.

Agile or project management qualifications can support the move.

Where it can lead

With experience, you could become a senior delivery manager, lead delivery manager or head of delivery.

Some delivery managers move into programme management or service ownership, and others into agile coaching.

A product manager decides what a digital service or product should do and why.

You’ll set the direction, weigh up what users need against what the organisation needs, and decide what your team works on next. You’ll lead a team and help them understand the problem, test ideas and build something that genuinely works for the people who will use it.

You might suit this role if you:

• are comfortable making decisions when you do not have all the information
• can move between technical detail and strategic conversations
• want to understand why a problem matters before solving it

Where you could start

You do not need a product background to start.

Many product managers move from related digital roles like business analysis, user research or delivery management. Others have also joined from product roles outside government.

You can also join a Fast Stream scheme where you can learn on the job.

Where it can lead

With experience, you could become a senior product manager, lead product manager or head of product. Some product managers move into service ownership, and others into wider digital leadership.