About the job

Job summary

The Government Digital Service is part of the Cabinet Office. We work at the very centre of government to make user-focused digital transformation happen. 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, which are to:

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

Effective identity assurance is central to digital transformation and GOV.UK One Login enables you to prove who they are online, with the necessary level of confidence to access and use particular services. Our technology stack runs on AWS, using serverless compute and storage products. Backend services are written in TypeScript/Node.js and JVM technologies. 

GOV.UK One Login represents a once in a career opportunity to work on a software product that will be used by the majority of the people living in the UK. It's a dynamic and challenging environment that will offer you career satisfaction as well as a chance to develop and enhance your skills.

There are two apps with identical functionality for iOS and Android.  The One Login Identity Checking app has been live since August 2022 on iOS, and since November 2022 on Android. The app has been downloaded 4.4m times and there are currently around 330k app journeys per month, although that number will increase as more government services are onboarded to One Login.

The GOV.UK One Login programme is in the process of adding functionality to enable the user to complete the entire One Login account creation/sign-in and identity proving journey in the app and to allow the user to maintain a persisted logged in status. This functionality is a key enabler in extending functionality further  to create a more personalised user experience through a new, strategic ‘GOV.UK’ app that will include the existing One Login Identity Checking functionality.

If this sounds like the next role for you on your career journey then we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more at the GDS Blog.

Job description

As the Head of Product for One Login App, you’ll be responsible for growing and leading the high performing product teams in the One Login directorate. In this role, you will be responsible for delivering critical government products and services to key stakeholders: citizens and government departments. These products operate at significant scale, are impactful through supporting citizens across every interaction with government, and are built collaboratively with government department partners to ensure these interactions are as simple and efficient as possible. 

Reporting to the Deputy Director for Product, you will develop a sustainable and engaged product community within the One Login app teams, who work together towards a common goal through strategic objectives and shared community goals, sharing learning and ideas openly. You’ll also be a key member of the One Login Senior Management Team, leading on initiatives taking place across the directorate.

You’ll thrive using agile methods and enjoy working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. Above all, you’ll want to make government better, which may sometimes involve challenging the status quo.

As a Head of Product, One Login App, you will:

• contribute to a clear One Login app product vision, with key focus on balancing operational and iterative product development with innovation that meets or exceeds our growth strategy
• develop and drive an everyday culture of experimentation across the One Login app product teams, balancing experimentation of innovative experiences with operational efficiencies
• provide ongoing direction and leadership for multi-disciplinary One Login app product teams in running, supporting and continuously improving products, so that they meet user needs while working toward measurable objectives and data driven outcomes
• lead on OKR development and product roadmaps for the One Login app that support both strategic development and operational delivery
• be a visible leader who takes responsibility, while supporting the wellbeing and professional development of the product community in the One Login app teams
• support One Login’s Deputy Directors in the implementation of strategic initiatives and delivery of operational challenges

Person specification

We are looking for a person who thrives on challenges and is passionate about making a difference. If you are pragmatic and keen to deliver great products that have a big impact, then this could be the place for you. 

The Head of Product for One Login App is a key leadership role that offers the opportunity to shape and evolve our product strategy, supporting teams to make good decisions and deliver a service that ’simply works’ and is inclusive by default.

We’re interested in people who have experience of developing, launching and iterating products in the following areas:

• web and mobile user experiences, at scale
• proactive and / or personalised products that support complex digital interactions 
• resilient, secure platforms

To do this, you will have:

• strong product management experience with a track-record for launching and evolving great digital products with multiple teams in multi-disciplinary agile environments
• created and developed product strategy for your products and direct the work of delivery teams through all phases of delivery, from discovery to continuous improvement in a live setting
• assessed products and services and given constructive feedback and guidance on priorities and improvements
• engaged with senior stakeholders, including suppliers, coordinating activity across a number of organisations toward common objectives
• set, monitored and reported measurable performance targets for teams and products
• experience recruiting, coaching and line managing product managers, identifying learning and development opportunities for individuals and teams
• familiarity with working with suppliers through the end-to-end procurement process
• been in a role with a focus on operational maturity and ensuring a consistent approach to user and technical operational support

If you meet a few of those criteria but think that you might not meet every last one then don’t let that stop you from submitting an application.

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 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:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 90 minute face-to-face interview. Candidates invited to the interview will be asked to give a short presentation. Full details of the presentation will be made available to all shortlisted candidates at a later date.

Depending on how many applications we get, we may carry out an initial sift against the lead criteria which is a; 

• strong product management experience with a track-record for launching and evolving great digital products with multiple teams in multi-disciplinary agile environments

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: 

• changing and improving
• making effective decisions
• delivering at pace
• leadership
• communicating and influencing

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

• DDaT perspective
• Financial ownership
• 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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

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.