About the job

Job summary

GDS exists to help government make brilliant public services that empower people in the UK. We work at the very centre of government to drive digital transformation, focused on users. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

Our teams are organised around delivering on our priorities. These are:

• making it easier for people to find what they are looking for on GOV.UK
• building common service platforms to make it simpler and cheaper to build quality digital services
• promoting agile, user-centred design practices both in the UK and across the world

The GOV.UK strategy is focused on growing the reach and impact GOV.UK has for users. A key part of the GDS GOV.UK strategy is in the development and delivery of the first GOV.UK App creating a more persistent, personal and proactive way to support users.

The delivery of the GOV.UK App is underway, with a growing team focussed on version 1. We are looking for a highly experienced Head of Product to join the team, continuing the planning and definition, building the necessary momentum to shape and deliver the vision.

Job description

You will lead the development and delivery of the GOV.UK app, heading up a team of cross-discipline practitioners and working across GDS and government departments to deliver on the app vision.

You’ll also be joining the Senior Management Team of GOV.UK, representing the App, and ensuring that the delivery aligns with relevant and appropriate delivery across GOV.UK and GDS.

As a Head of Product for GOV.UK App, you’ll:

• be responsible for delivering and articulating a clear vision, achievable goals and measurable objectives for GOV.UK app, providing direction and leadership for the multidisciplinary product teams responsible for the GOV.UK App
• delivering the GOV.UK App to citizens 2024/2025, developing the product strategy and roadmap, iterating these to meet user needs and delivery milestones
• work with colleagues and teams from across GDS, specifically GOV.UK One Login, who are providing a critical part of the infrastructure
• lead engagement with key cross-government stakeholders, users and partner organisations enabling seamless delivery of integrations, meeting user and business needs.
• maintain knowledge of the changing digital and technology landscape and the opportunities they provide to improve the delivery of public services in the UK
• support the Deputy Director across development and implementation of strategy and operational delivery

What you will be working on

• realising and building on existing planning towards delivery of the BETA GOV.UK app, delivering version 1 to forecast timelines
• develop the core features of the GOV.UK App future proposition towards launch of V1, and rapid iteration once in BETA, including technical and architectural oversight of publishing and integration planning
• continue to develop and deliver the launch Proposition Vision based on the principles, that brings to life how the future GOV.UK App will:
• deliver the Initial Prototypes to be tested with users and make recommendations and adjustments accordingly
• implementation and Technical Planning. Manage change to the GOV.UK operating model and technical requirements together with an implementation framework.
• commitment and focus on the development approach, completing the initial round of service testing to validate the priority features and partnerships for development.

Person specification

The Head of Product GOV.UK App is a key leadership role that offers the unique opportunity to shape and evolve the first GOV.UK App.

For this role, it is vital that you have clear and demonstrable experience of developing apps in a leadership role. There will be other roles within GOV.UK app that require less specific experience or have opportunity to learn new skills in post but for this role we only want to hear from you if you: 

• have demonstrable and significant experience in App development and delivery, at scale
• have significant experience in publishing platforms, content lifecycle and multi-platform development
• have demonstrable experience in developing and delivering products at critical pace in parallel with iterative development, maintaining focus on both
• have strong product management experience with a track-record for shipping and evolving great digital products by working with multiple teams in an agile delivery setting
• create and develop product strategy to secure support for your products and direct the work of delivery teams through all phases of delivery - from discovery to continuous improvement in a live setting
• assess products and services and give constructive feedback and guidance on priorities and improvements
• have great working relationships with a variety of disciplines involved in digital delivery, including engineering, service design, performance analysis and delivery management
• engage with senior stakeholders, including suppliers, coordinating activity across a number of organisations toward common objectives
• have experience recruiting, coaching and line managing product managers, identifying learning and development opportunities for individuals and teams
• possess familiarity with working with suppliers through the end-to-end procurement process
• have been in a role with a focus on operational maturity and ensuring a consistent approach to user and technical operational support

Ideally, you would also have experience of working in a government setting, with government departments at a national or local level.

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

 

 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• application screening process: please submit a CV of no more than 2 sides of A4 and a cover letter not exceeding 750 words. Submissions that exceed these parameters may not be considered. Important tip - please ensure that your CV and cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above, particularly the App experience. If this is not included then your application will be sifted out of consideration for this role.
• a 15 minute phone interview with Deputy Director, GOV.UK with opportunity to ask any questions about the role, organisation and strategy. This will not be assessed.
• a 30 minute video chat with the Director of GOV.UK, giving an opportunity to talk about wider strategy. This will not be assessed.
• a 75 minute in person interview including 10 minute verbal presentation.

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

• making effective decisions
• leadership
• communicating and influencing
• managing a quality service
• delivering at pace

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework for the Head of Product role: 

• Agile working
• Financial Ownership
• Government Digital and Data perspective
• Life cycle perspective
• Operational management
• Problem management
• Product ownership
• Strategic ownership
• User focus
• Working within constraints

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.