Lead Product Manager

Job summary

The MOD's digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting-edge data science, automation and cyber security solutions, to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad.

Our mission also goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving innovation that impacts lives across the globe.

▶ Watch to find out more about what we do.

Job description

We’re seeking a Lead Product Manager to support development of the enterprise architectural principles, policies, standards, procedures and guidance, for cutting-edge Battlespace Data & Information Capability.

You’ll develop and champion innovation, that drives excellence in Decision Advantage across the organisation.

Acting as the key product management expert for Battlespace Data & Information Architecture, Technology and Tooling for Defence, you’ll enable the Enterprise Data and Information Architecture (EDIA) Battlespace Team to understand how to derive maximum value from its outputs, including policy, standards and reference materials.

You’ll work collaboratively within the NAD Group, wider MOD and industry, to understand how the team’s products can be developed and improved, aligning with the strategic intent, facilitating faster and more reliable implementation of interoperability standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagement with development teams across Defence, including industry, to understand and advocate for the needs of the implementers of standards and communicate and advocate for those needs to the EDIA Battlespace team.

• Monitor the stakeholder environment across Defence, to understand how the team’s products integrate with related work.

• Monitor the benefits and business value of the team’s outputs, ensuring outcomes are aligned with the team’s vision and strategy.

• Ensure the teams products are available to the relevant users, with the lowest practicable friction.

Person specification

Please ensure that your application demonstrates the essential criteria below:

1. Proven ability to develop strategies, aligned to overarching organisational strategy, driving the development and success of digital products. (personal statement)

2. Experience of information systems and business applications, including requirements gathering, system implementation, system integration and supplier engagement. (personal statement)

3. Experience of managing change in a digital environment, supporting planning, delivery and implementation.

4. Proven ability of stakeholder and supplier engagement and management.

Additional information

We have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing learning and development tailored to your role, professional skills development, access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning and the ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications, supported by MOD.

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station, which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

This role can be based at Abbey Wood, Bristol or MOD Corsham. Work location will be agreed once the successful candidate has been selected.

Dependent on the business need, there will be a requirement to travel to meetings within the UK (or potentially occasional overseas visits) with some overnight stays.

If not already held, successful candidates will be required to undergo DV clearance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Stakeholder relationship management
• Strategic ownership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Our benefits include:

• Learning and development tailored to your role with a dedicated minimum of 5 days per year
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (by 1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of five years’ service
• Ability to roll up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to eight public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Parental and Adoption Leave
• Discounts on a range of services within and external to the civil service – Defence Discount Service, Civil Service societies for Sports and Leisure, Healthcare, Insurance, Motoring, Company discounts with Virgin, Vodafone, and Microsoft Office.
• In year rewards and ‘thank you’ schemes such as vouchers and gift cards
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Please see Benefits Leaflet for more detail

Equality and Diversity

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.

Defence operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing.

Defence is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way it conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts are/will be subject to review and potential changes, as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout the transformation programme, Defence is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with personnel and Trade Unions.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

At application, candidates will be required to provide:

• A CV detailing your job history and previous skills and experience. Review the essential criteria above and evidence how you meet them with clear and relevant examples.
• A personal statement (no more than 500 words). Applicants should use their personal statement to demonstrate how their skills, knowledge and experience align with essential criteria 1 & 2, as detailed in the Person Specification.

The sift will be conducted on your CV and personal statement.

Interviews

We’ll assess you against these behaviours, technical skills & experience during the interview process:

Desktop exercise

• You will be asked to complete a desktop exercise; details will be provided at interview.

Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical Skills

• Stakeholder relationship management
• Strategic ownership

The Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework used in this vacancy can be found at: Lead Product Manager - GOV.UK (Product manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework)

In the event of a tied score at interview, the order of merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed Behaviours and Technical Skills, in the order listed above.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : NAD Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : alexander.penny102@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : NAD-TalentAcquisition@mod.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: NAD-Recruitment-Complaints@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Defence Digital Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 10MB)DDat Framework Opens in new window (docx, 12kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information Pack (2) Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)