About the job

Job summary

Product Management is responsible for the development, end to end management and quality of all the FCDO’s Information and Digital Directorate’s (IDD) products and services. Product Teams will be responsible for providing End Users with the Products and Services required to meet their business objectives. Product Management includes:  

• Digital Workplace Products: Desktop and Applications  
• Infrastructure Products: Networks and Hosting  

The Network Product Owner is a role within the Product Management function within IDD, reporting to the Head of Infrastructure Product for the Networks Product portfolio which they own.  They are accountable for adherence to all appropriate policies and processes and the quality of the products and services within the Network Product portfolio.  They will have oversight of one or more Product Teams working with multi-disciplinary business areas and stakeholders.

Job description

The successful candidate is responsible for the products and services within the Networks Product portfolio, key responsibilities include:  

• Overseeing the vision, strategy and road-map for Networks Product portfolio, ensuring alignment to the long-term visions and objectives of the Head of Infrastructure Products as well as the needs of the business.   
• Overseeing the overall quality of the Networks products and services, including continuous service improvement, ensuring that they meet the needs and expectations of the wider business.   
• Providing leadership and direction to Networks Product Teams, supporting the handling of major operational issues, overseeing programme management activities to ensure alignment to the agreed Service Level/Operational Level Agreements and the necessary business and IT Service Management processes.    
• Working with other Product Owners as well as engineering leads and network engineers.   
• Identifying opportunities to exploit and enhance hybrid cloud services.  
• Representing Networks Product Teams at key governance forums, reporting on progress and operational issues, escalating to the Head of Infrastructure Products as appropriate.    
• Owning the budget and allocation of funding for the Networks Product portfolio based on priorities set by the Head of Infrastructure Products, inputting into agile business cases as needed.   
• Endorsing and communicating the benefits and performance of the products and services, working with Senior Service Partners to ensure continuous alignment to business needs.   
• Supporting Product Teams through SME insight as a recognised expert, remaining abreast of industry best practice and cascading ways of working for Agile and Lean practices, supporting and challenging Network Product Teams to use the right approaches within their work. 

Line management responsibilities will include: 

• Oversight of direct reports and line management duties throughout their team.   
• Managing team prioritisation and utilisation.       
• Leading recruitment within the Networks Product Teams.      
• Demonstrating role model values of diversity and inclusion, leadership and embracing change within the team, engaging and maintaining the commitment of staff.      
• Developing a supporting environment for staff, promoting a culture of constructive feedback, learning, development and flexible working.     
• Building an open and collaborative culture within the Networks Product Teams.    

Candidates who secure a role that is considered specialist/technical, may be required to affiliate to the relevant specialist network, if not already a member.  

Person specification

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the skills outlined in the Lead Product Manager role-level, in particular:  

Lifecycle Perspective (Relevant skill level: expert)  

• Develop sustainable support models. 
• Successfully lead teams through the full product life cycle. 

User Focus (Relevant skill level: expert)  

• Bring insight and expertise in how user needs have changed over time to ensure they are met by the business. 

Product Ownership (Relevant skill level: expert)  

• Implement new ways of working. 
• Start to define and create approaches. 
• Coach others. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,000, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £14,310 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates will be assessed using Success Profiles, please refer to the attached Job Profile at the bottom of this advert for additional information.

Application:

To apply for this job, please complete the online application process via Civil Service Jobs. As part of this process you’ll be asked for:

An anonymised CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last three years.

A 500-word Personal Statement explaining your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the ‘About You’ section of the Job Profile.

A 250-word statement for each Behaviour, explaining how you meet the required criteria as outlined in the Success Profiles framework. Please note if International Competencies are listed to be assessed at sift, these will be located within the Technical Skills section of the application form, rather than the Behaviours section. You will still need to provide a 250-word statement explaining how you meet the required criteria. 

If selected for interview this will be arranged directly with the hiring manager. Interviews and additional assessment activities will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the Job Profile.

The successful candidate will be asked to obtain the required security clearance (as outlined in the Job Profile) prior to starting in the role. Failure to get the required level of security clearance will result in the job offer being withdrawn.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.