About the job

Job summary

Would you like the opportunity to manage a team supporting the delivery of the largest high stakes computer-based test in the UK?

Do you have strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adjust your communication style for the audience?

Would you like to make a positive difference to road safety?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity available and would love to hear from you!

Job description

As a Product Manager for Theory Test Content, you will lead a small, geographically-spread team. The team is responsible for the development, assurance and publishing of the questions and video clips for the UK driving and riding theory tests. Your role as manager will be critical to ensuring that the tests meet the needs of customers and stakeholders. You will work closely with the Head of Theory Test Content & Policy to ensure that the service is accessible to all Theory Test customers. You will get the opportunity to use creative thinking to craft the future of our products, leading the way in implementing a range of potential improvements.

The driving and riding theory test is the world’s largest computer based test. Every year more than 2 million tests are conducted in Great Britain. The DVSA administers this test, in line with EU and UK legislation, and best practice in road safety.

You will work with various stakeholders, including road safety organisations and accessibility advocates.

This role will provide you with opportunities to travel within Europe up to twice annually, where you will exchange ideas and expertise with subject matter experts from other European countries.

Your key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Working with the Head of Theory Test Policy, develop the vision of the Theory Test products and ensure it is effectively communicated to the immediate and wider service team and relevant key stakeholders. The wider service team will include representatives from Operations, Driver & Rider Policy, Human Resources, Publications, and Finance.
• Using information and concerns from customers to improve systems and troubleshoot potential issues.
• Defining the standards, quality expectations, service levels and any required process specifications for the product(s) ensuring that operational or delivery staff and/or third-party partners understand what is required of them to enable them to deliver often complex requirements.
• Demonstrating leadership by providing guidance to staff to support the delivery of objectives. Managing and engaging with honesty and integrity, and upholding the reputation of the Agency, Department and Civil Service.

For more information about this role, please see the attached candidate pack.

Person specification

About you

You can build strong working relationships with a variety of stakeholders. You have experience of working in a service environment and are passionate about providing a great customer experience. You take feedback on board, deal with complaints sensitively and professionally, and strive to consistently look for ways to improve in order to maintain a high-quality service.

You are able to manage and delegate tasks as well as organise and prioritise workloads to maximise productivity.

You are a confident communicator, with the ability to modify your style to suit a range of audiences. You have excellent drafting skills and can communicate clearly and concisely in plain English, and draft documents that can be easily understood by the reader.

You have detailed knowledge of the products and the capabilities required for the Theory Test Service, including related policies and processes. You are experienced in the interpretation of policy and using this information to design and implement products.

You will be technically-minded with the potential to understand development processes and learn new software essential to your role.

We would encourage you to apply if you have previous experience in leading others and are passionate about motivating and developing your team. If you have not worked as a line manager previously, we will support you in developing these skills.

It is essential that you have a full clean UK driving licence Category B. You must also have a current passport as the role involves occasional travel within Europe.

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

About Us 

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• Make roads safer
• Improve services for our customers
• Make road transport greener and healthier
• Harness the potential of technology and data
• Grow and level up the economy

To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website. 

Additional Information

This role can be based in Bristol/Swansea/Nottingham/Newcastle/Birmingham - Garretts Green, or Leeds. Your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards this. 

The ability to travel is essential. Limited travel in Europe will be required, this is likely to be twice annually.

There may be an occasional requirement to work late evenings or weekends to support service improvement activities – you will be paid overtime/granted TOIL to cover this work as agreed.

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday 
• Latest IT and Tech devices 
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing 
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers
• For more information see visit our careers page 

 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

How to Apply 

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following: 

• Detailed and in-depth technical knowledge of the products and the capabilities required for the Theory Test Service, including the policies and processes related to the Service.
• Excellent drafting skills and an understanding of the principles of Plain English and how to apply them.
• Experience of interpretation of policy and using this information to design and implement products.
• Experience of working within a service environment.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 1000 words. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: 

• An interview and presentation

The sift is due to take place on 8th and 9th August 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held on 22nd and 23rd August 2024.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates. 

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events. 

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the candidate pack attached, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful. 

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.  

You can read more about Success Profiles here. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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.