Development Manager - Digital Platform & API

Role overview

This position is responsible for owning the product direction, delivery approach, and full lifecycle of Toyota Financial Services UK's Digital Platform and API integration layer. It sits at the intersection of product ownership, architecture, delivery governance, and team leadership, ensuring that digital applications and integrations are designed and evolved to support business capability, digital transformation, and the required enterprise security and regulatory standards.

The role functions as a Product Owner for both API capabilities and the Digital Platform, coordinating priorities, roadmaps, budgets, outcomes, and stakeholder engagement. It leads a team of two Solutions Architects and external development partners, and also carries line management responsibility. Over time, the platform is expected to grow beyond a customer portal replacement into a broader strategic application delivery platform.

What you will do

• Set the vision, roadmap, and delivery focus for APIs, integrations, and the Digital Platform.
• Manage APIs, integrations, and platform services as product offerings with defined users, business outcomes, and lifecycle oversight.
• Rank backlog items according to business value, delivery risk, technical condition, and strategic fit.
• Guide the build, adoption, and governance of the Digital Platform.
• Oversee application delivery and enhancements so they match business needs, architecture direction, security rules, and quality expectations.
• Help shape the platform into a strategic channel for digital delivery.
• Work with architects and vendors to define and maintain API standards.
• Support a move toward event-driven and platform-based integration approaches.
• Prepare and present to ARB and TDA forums at UK and regional levels.
• Run agile ways of working, including planning, refinement, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Lead end-to-end delivery from discovery through design, build, and release.
• Project manage small pieces of work.
• Handle service design, transition, and operational support considerations.
• Prioritise the API and Digital Platform backlog with business stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-team, vendor, and business dependencies.
• Ensure operational readiness, including support and incident handling processes.
• Own governance for the API and Digital Platform in line with wider enterprise IT controls.
• Ensure compliance with security, GDPR, GISG, ISO27001, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Work with Architecture, Information Security, Compliance, Legal, the Data Protection Officer, and business teams.
• Manage remediation activity and formal governance through CAB, ARB, and technical forums.
• Balance agile delivery with enterprise governance requirements without creating avoidable bureaucracy.
• Manage vendors to support capability, delivery quality, and value for money.
• Work within internal vendor management processes, including assessment activities.
• Build effective relationships with business stakeholders, IT colleagues, and Group teams.
• Represent the API function in governance and design discussions.
• Provide line management and professional oversight for the Solutions Architects.
• Support possible team growth as Digital Platform adoption increases.
• Coordinate with finance teams on cost control, budgeting, procurement, purchase orders, and invoices.

Requirements

• Background as a Product Manager or Product Owner in an IT or digital environment.
• Experience delivering applications, platforms, APIs, or integration capabilities.
• Solid knowledge of API fundamentals, including SOAP, REST, synchronous and asynchronous patterns, and integration approaches.
• Experience working inside enterprise IT governance structures.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication ability.
• Experience working alongside architecture, security, and engineering teams.
• Comfort with agile delivery frameworks and practices.
• Experience building, implementing, maintaining, and leading an information security control assurance programme.
• Ability to influence technical colleagues and senior executives through negotiation and stakeholder management.
• Good analytical thinking.
• Strong understanding of GDPR and ISO27001.
• Product Owner or Product Management certification such as CSPO, PSPO, or SAFe POPM is an advantage.
• Agile certification such as Scrum, SAFe, or an equivalent credential.
• Experience of governance forums such as ARB, CAB, and technical review boards.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.
• Professional approach when working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking ability.
• Ability to manage several projects at the same time in a busy, deadline-driven setting.
• Proactive, self-driven mindset.
• Leadership qualities, coaching approach, and commitment to developing others.

Benefits

• Hybrid working pattern with 2 days in the office and 3 days from a location of your choice.
• Access to car schemes for you and your family for Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
• Pension scheme with up to 6% employee contribution and 15% employer contribution.
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing with service, plus a holiday purchase option.
• Private medical cover for single, partner/spouse, and dependent children, including a digital GP service.
• Group income protection with Aviva, including support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Eye tests.
• Onsite gym, sports and social club, and flu jabs.
• Monthly wellbeing hour and year-round initiatives promoting wellbeing, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Dress-for-your-day policy.
• Eco HQ, free parking, and restaurant facilities.
• Two volunteering days each year.
• Reward Gateway voucher discounts.
• Flexible working scheme, with conversations welcomed during interview.
• Regular one-to-ones with your manager and quarterly personal development reviews.
• Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including LinkedIn Learning.
• £250 contribution toward learning something new outside work.
• Annual events such as summer party, BBQ, Christmas party, and Countdown to Christmas activities in December.

Recruitment and accessibility

Toyota Financial Services states that it is a Disability Confident Employer and welcomes disabled applicants through its recruitment process. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria and wish to apply under the Disability Confident scheme may progress to the next stage by including this information in their application.

The company is open to making reasonable adjustments to the process on a case-by-case basis to support accessibility needs. Examples mentioned include sharing interview questions in advance, arranging a time and location that works best, and allowing extra time for assessments and interviews.

Work pattern and location

This is a full-time, onsite role based in Epsom, England, United Kingdom. The benefits mention a hybrid arrangement of 2 days in the office and 3 days from a location of your choice.