About the job

Job summary

The Online Testing and Assessment Service (OTA) is part of the Platforms, Data and Interoperability unit, within Government People Group in the Cabinet Office.  

Its purpose is to:

• Operate the Government People Groups’ employee servicing platforms. This includes CS Jobs, Online Tests, Learning Platform for Government, Fast Stream Recruitment, Apprenticeships, Workday for FastStream and GCO, Careers Website, SOP and Pensions.
• Provide expert advice and support to departments in the implementation of the GSS Strategy for Shared Services which created the centres in 2022.

OTA is a digital service operating in public beta.  Acting as an internal consultancy to all of the Civil Service, we collaborate with government departments, functions and professions to develop and deliver high quality, customer-focused assessment products and solutions grounded in occupational psychology, psychometrics and digital standards.

Job description

We are looking for a Product Manager to join the Online Tests and Assessments Service (OTA) within the Cabinet Office, to help develop our Online Tests and Assessments offering within the wider recruitment service. You will be responsible for the overall product vision, strategy and roadmap.

Working to support the Service Owner, this Product Manager role will lead on the performance and expansion of the OTA service which currently provides psychometric tests for recruitment across the Civil Service. In 2021-22, over 1 million online tests were completed on the OTA service for roles across the Civil Service. The use of tests has consistently grown year-on-year alongside the range of tests we can offer. The next phase is to replace and expand the current digital service to provide tests and assessments beyond recruitment, such as for learning and development. 

The current service, launched in 2019, uses a software-as-a-service platform with self-authoring capabilities to create and deliver tests. Through this we’ve grown the service from a core 3 adaptive tests to over a dozen including those for the Civil Service Fast Stream and other organisations. These tests are designed to be a reliable, accessible and inclusive way of assessment to help us hire the right people for the right roles. To do this we’ve set ambitious standards that go far beyond what many other test creators expect. 

Your focus will be on a series of Discovery Alpha and Beta projects to expand the service in new directions to meet broader user and business needs. This could include working with the wider public sector to make our tests more widely available or developing new types of assessments.

Responsibilities

• Leading the end-to-end delivery of Online Tests and Assessments including delivery, financial, commercial, input into business cases and team management. 
• Delivering the product vision, strategy and road map. Ensuring that stakeholders and priorities are aligned to this and that it remains achievable. Reviewing quality of deliverables to ensure they meet the standards and strategy. 
• Championing user centred design to ensure that the products and services meet user needs. 
• Stakeholder management, in particular Government Recruitment Service and customer departments. This will include managing challenging relationships and prioritisation decisions.
• Ensuring that the future Online Tests & Assessments service meets digital, recruitment and security standards. This includes acting as a champion for user needs and quality standards.
• Leading procurement activities including specification development, supplier evaluation and selection. 
• Contract and supplier management to maximise their performance, return on investment, and quality of service.
• Owning the overall performance of the service against its purpose. Reviewing analytics and other data to make decisions on improving performance. 
• Owning risks, issues,  assurance, legal compliance and dependency management including contingency planning and horizon scanning. 
• Providing digital expertise to coordinate project teams and assure compliance with digital spend control and digital service standards. Managing at a portfolio level to ensure critical success factors can be measured and benefits communicated to senior boards. Advising these boards on project/programme delivery.
• Leading the delivery team and some direct line management. As this is a growing project there will also be recruitment of permanent staff (and potentially contractors).
• Supporting other roles within the team to deliver the service depending on your previous experience, from business analysis to technical implementation.

Person specification

• Product ownership - You know how to apply tools, terms and concepts in a variety of ways. You can be flexible, consider new ways of working and adapt to change. Ability to work with Service Owners to design and deliver quality digital products that align with Service Vision and Strategy.  
• Agile working - You can identify and compare the best processes or delivery methods to use, including measuring and evaluating outcomes. You know how to help the team to decide the best approach. You can coach and help teams to manage and visualise outcomes, prioritise work and work to agreed minimum viable product (MVP)
• Strategic ownership - You know how to get buy-in from the organisation. You can work with scant information and explain it in abstract terms. You can develop a strategy.  Ability to build business cases and include product development factors in the cost benefit analysis, work with delivery managers to turn the product roadmap into a delivery plan.  Understanding of organisational operations with ability to identify key product and service stakeholders. Ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders to explore business needs and product opportunities.
• Digital, Data and Technology expertise - You can demonstrate a working understanding of design, technology and data principles. You understand the variety and complexity of users’ digital needs and how the product will meet those needs. You know about assisted digital support and can explain why it’s important. You can design services and make decisions to meet users' needs.  In depth knowledge of working with SaaS suppliers to deliver digital products.  Understanding of the GDS Service Manual and of the tools and tech stacks that can be used to design and deliver quality digital products.
• Operational management - You know how to design operational processes for the running and maintenance of products or services throughout their product life cycle. You can redesign operational processes, amend existing processes, and plan and put into operation the stages of a new product or service development. The ability to think creatively and holistically in order to develop a product roadmap that delivers a quality product that meets business objectives.

This role is aligned to the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Capability Framework for the Civil Service. You can view the Product Manager at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-manager 

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement. Further details about what this will entail are listed on the application form. Your Personal Statement (no more than 1000 words) should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience providing evidence of your suitability for this role. Please set out how you meet the essential criteria detailed in the Person Specification. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV.

Selection process

An initial sift will be conducted using the Civil Service Judgement Test, followed by a sift on the CV, Personal Statement, and three Behaviours listed in this advert.  Candidates successful at the sift stage will be invited to interview.

At the interview, you will be assessed on five Technical Skills.  

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – tbc

Expected interview date/s – early March

Interview location - Virtual

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

Any move to the Cabinet Office 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. 

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 25/02/2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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. 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.