Product and Strategy Lead (Test, Learn and Grow)

Job summary

About the team

The Public Sector Reform Test, Learn and Grow (PSR TL&G) team is at the heart of the UK government’s initiative to drive innovation and reform in public service delivery. With the £100 million PSR Innovation Fund, our team collaborates with local authorities and government departments across the United Kingdom and with the Devolved Governments to design, test, and grow innovative solutions that enhance public service outcomes. By employing a "Test & Learn" approach, we focus on creating evidence-based improvements while relieving pressures on public services. Our work involves piloting foundational programmes and place-based initiatives to accelerate mission delivery, support preventative measures, and foster a collaborative environment that encourages continuous improvement and innovation in public services.

About the role

As a product and strategy lead, you’ll manage the day to day running of an “Accelerator”—a place-based project with public sector partners to prototype solutions to complex policy issues. Our current accelerator portfolio includes work on economic inactivity, SEND, early years, violence against women and girls, neighbourhood health and AI in public service delivery. You’ll lead the team with core responsibilities of stakeholder management, delivery planning, determining the right approaches for the team to take and supporting innovative ways of working to deliver the right outcomes. You’ll help the team work to timelines to deliver what’s been agreed with local partners and stay connected to related work streams across central government and the wider public sector.

This role is mapped to the Product Manager role in the Government Digital and Data framework. We’re looking for candidates who are confident navigating complex policy challenges and can identify strategic opportunities to leverage change. This role will require travel within the UK to work closely with local partners.

Job description

Main responsibilities

You will:

• lead a multidisciplinary Accelerator team to deliver solutions aligned with the scoping agreed with local partners, through test and learn cycles
• define, explain and iterate an evidence-based vision for solutions that are compelling to your team, stakeholders and end-users
• collaborate with team members to create prototypes to test assumptions or approaches
• identify assumptions and risks behind possible approaches and include these in your planning
• lead on delivery planning for you team maintaining a roadmap and strategy, and develop and prioritise a backlog
• make decisions based on evidence and value for money
• use theories of change and evaluation to evidence the Pioneer as well as the wider programme goals
• share insight with the wider team and Head of Product and Strategy to ensure the programme strategy can adapt and have the best chance of success
• work in the open and share often

Additionally as a Senior Product and Strategy Lead you will:

• lead a team working a higher degree of uncertainty working out the most important research and insight and partnership needed to inform your plans
• create longer term plans that address dependencies and other risks, while also being responsive to change
• have an advanced knowledge of the value other professions can bring to a multidisciplinary team’s work, and ensure successful collaboration
• line manage, coach and mentor product and strategy leads
• champion best practice and the latest in product management tools/techniques

Person specification

Skills and experience

It’s essential that you have experience in:

• • Leading multidisciplinary teams
    • leading a team of experts in user centred design, analysis, policy, delivery, behavioural insights etc to develop and test solutions to complex challenges
    • supporting effective decision-making and being the escalation point for your team
    • developing a clear plan and narrative for the work
  • Product management and Strategic ownership
    • navigating complex policy / delivery landscapes to spot opportunities to leverage change by adapting or developing products / solutions / services
    • successfully developing and testing products / solutions / services
    • can identify, communicate and work with a range of stakeholders to develop products / solutions / services that meet the needs of different audiences
    • can challenge constraints and troubleshoot blockers
  • Agile and lean practices
    • have proficiency in agile product management techniques, such as: roadmaps; prioritisation; using research, analytics and insight to inform decisions; planning at different horizons
• • Stakeholder relationship management
    • successfully manage a range of stakeholder relationships to successfully deliver products, solutions or strategies that meet user needs and deliver government outcomes
    • can reconcile strong differing opinions using evidence or research
    • can work influence and challenge senior stakeholders when needed

• • Evidencing and evaluating
    • can use data and analytics to spot problems with, and evaluate success of, solutions, product, or strategies
    • can use theories of change and set, monitor and report on measurable objectives

• • Inclusivity
    • support equity and inclusion for our delivery work as well as for our teams and programme
    • incorporate a wide variety of views from underrepresented groups into product and policy work

For all levels, it’s desirable that you have:

• experience of working directly with local authorities or other place-based providers including the Voluntary Community Sector (VCS)

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,204, Cabinet Office contributes £16,571 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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 and Experience.

In the Civil Service we use our Success Profiles framework to outline expected behaviours and we will use these as part of our wider assessment during the interview process.

For this role, the following Behaviours are the most relevant:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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 Product Manager/ Senior Product Manager role:

• Agile and Lean practices
• Applying user-centred insights
• Product leadership
• Product management
• Stakeholder relationship management

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and 750 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Important tip - please ensure that your Personal Statement includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “main responsibilities” section above

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your 60 minute interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

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.

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

Any move to 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

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 via Cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need 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.

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

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Feedback

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.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Jessica Hunt
• Email : jessica.hunt@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)