In the latest episode of the Sheffield Digital Podcast, Sarah Lister sits down with Kieran, a Senior Product Manager at the Home Office, to talk about his career journey, the impact of digital roles in government, and why he’s passionate about product management in public service.
If you’re curious about the reality of working in digital roles within the civil service, if you’re exploring pathways into tech from a non-traditional background, or if you want to understand what it’s like to be a neurodivergent and LGBT+ person working at the Home Office – this is a conversation worth tuning into.
From part-time jobs to product management
Kieran’s career path is a brilliant example of how varied experiences can build the perfect foundation for a role in digital. He studied business and globalisation at the University of East Anglia and held part-time roles in hospitality and marketing, which taught him valuable people skills and leadership. A placement with an NGO investigating emerging tech in tropical fruit supply chains sparked his interest in how technology can solve real-world problems.
Like many, he originally thought tech roles were all about coding. But after attending an open evening for the Home Office Digital Career Development Programme, he discovered the world of product management – and realised it was exactly what he’d been looking for.
Building experience on the digital career development programme
The programme turned out to be a pivotal experience. Kieran worked on diverse projects, including using AI for data insights and modernising legacy casework systems. A highlight involved collaborating with junior colleagues on a project for a horse welfare charity, where they designed a bespoke app. This gave him valuable hands-on experience – the kind that made a real difference when interviewing for more senior roles further down the line.
What it’s like working at The Home Office
Now a permanent member of the team, Kieran works in the police and public protection technology portfolio, collaborating closely with both operational and development teams. He’s helped expand data analytics capabilities and even had a mini-secondment in a ministerial private office, giving him rare insights into high-level decision-making.
He emphasises that being a product manager is about much more than just building software. It’s about:
- Developing strategies and roadmaps
- Understanding user needs and business priorities
- Managing stakeholders and backlogs
- Saying “no” (in a constructive way!)
- Building strong relationships to enable adoption and change
One of the most rewarding aspects of the role for Kieran is knowing that the work helps real people – from Border Force staff to frontline police officers – do their jobs more effectively and keep the public safe.
Kieran is currently part of a major government programme that works closely with policing staff, not just as a supplier but as a partner. This collaborative approach has led to tangible results, including four national awards.
He also reflected on one of the most exciting projects he’s worked on – applying AI for data insights, pre-ChatGPT. This early use of AI empowered users to present stronger evidence, shape policy, and make decisions that wouldn’t have been possible before.
A Culture of inclusion
Kieran spoke openly on what it’s like to be a neurodivergent and LGBT+ person working at the Home Office. Far from being a tick-box exercise, he describes the culture as genuinely positive, inclusive, and empowering.
From social events and support networks to career development opportunities tailored to underrepresented groups, he’s seen first-hand how inclusion is woven into the organisation. Seeing LGBT+ colleagues in senior roles made leadership feel much more achievable. And as someone with autism and ADHD, he’s found real strengths in his unique way of thinking – especially in making rigorous, well-informed product decisions.
Listen to the full interview now on the Sheffield Digital Podcast – it’s an inspiring conversation about digital careers, making an impact through tech, and finding your place in the public sector.