Product Manager

Job summary

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The Unity Programme is bringing together a shared service for HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Transport and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. Unity Technical Services (UTS), sitting within HMRC CDIO, is responsible for delivering and operating the new technology for the multi-department Finance, HR and Procurement shared service capability.

UTS is looking to recruit a Product Manager to work within our finance and procurement workstream.

Working alongside the Senior IT Product Manager for the Finance and Procurement portfolio, providing leadership and strategic direction for the Record to Report and Order to Cash (R2R/O2C) product.

You will work with your Senior IT Product Manager to define and execute the R2R/O2C product strategy, in line with Finance and Procurement portfolio strategy and Shared Services strategy, to support the needs of HMRC, DfT and MCHLG. You will lead a multi-disciplinary agile team and will define the product vision and future roadmap for R2R/O2C, working with suppliers and internal delivery teams to deliver customer value.

You will also support delivery and operations for R2R/O2C products:

Understanding holistic business requirements, handling build and run activity through discovery, alpha, beta and live states. You will actively collaborate with business and technology operations, other product teams, and IT functions, and align with security, privacy, compliance and other governance requirements are built into the core of any new/changed R2R/O2C services and conform with over-arching security, risk and governance frameworks and standards.

Job description

As a Product Manager you will be responsible for ensuring that a product is of high quality and delivers value. You’ll manage products through various phases of the product lifecycle, from discovery, development and build, to live running. You’ll balance the goals of the organisation with the needs of end users, and the skills of the product team to scope and build the right products and prioritise how to iterate them over time. Additionally, you may be involved in recruiting and managing personnel within the product team, ensuring they hire the right individuals that are supported and developed.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities:

Set the product vision, strategy and scope: Define how the product will work to support the organisation or service’s goals and set the scope for what the product will initially do as an MVP, to how it will continually improve or the organisation and end user needs change for a large product or service.

Stakeholder management: Engage with stakeholders to understand their goals from the service and product, secure their buy-in for the product vision and roadmap, and maintain good working relationships, including managing negotiations over the scope and timelines for product development.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary product teams: Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, which could include user researchers, service designers, business analysis, and software engineers, to shape and build the product.

User Insight Integration: Work with performance analysts and user researchers to gather customer insights on products for iteration and improvement.

Develop and maintain the roadmap: Prioritise the order in which high level features and functionality is built and released, based on what is most valuable to build first, and communicate this through road mapping. Get buy in for the roadmap from key stakeholders and maintain the roadmap, prioritising and adding enhancements to the product over time to continually improve the product.

Develop and maintain the backlog: Identify the team tasks (“user stories”) to build the functionality on the roadmap and create a backlog of user stories. Implement the relevant processes such as sprint planning or kanban, so the team is regularly working through the backlog to build and release features and maintain the backlog to a high-quality standard.

Build and maintain products to a high-quality standard: Collaborate with colleagues such as designers, user researchers, BAs or engineers to create products that are highly reliable, usable and accessible for users with accessibility needs, in line with the government service standards.

Track and improve product performance: Product managers should be able to define how the product will support the organisation’s goal, how that success will be measured (by defining the objectives and key results), and measure progress against these. The Product Manager should be able to identify improvements and iterations based on feedback to make products more successful.

Option Evaluation: Collaborate with area leads to assess development options for products or services, including high-level financial implications.

Community Engagement: Actively participate in the product management community of practice through initiatives, sessions, talks, or activities that help other product managers.

Support and develop other product managers: this can be through line management, coaching or mentoring more junior product managers or supporting peers. This role offers excellent career progression opportunities.

Many of our successful product managers go on to secure roles such as Lead Product Manager, Service Owner, or other specialist product roles across HMRC - giving you room to grow, develop and shape your long‑term career.

Essential Criteria:

• Demonstration of strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including experience of building and maintaining positive stakeholder relationships.
• Experience of leading a product team or project team to deliver its stated outcomes.
• Ability to define and adapt product scopes based on new insights.
• Experience of understanding problems within a service, product or process, and finding a positive solution to resolve the issue.
• Experience of being able to prioritise work based on what is valuable to do first and getting buy in from stakeholders for any associated project plans/ rollout plans/ roadmaps.
• Experience in backlog management and prioritisation.
• Ability to collaborate with other professions and skillsets, particularly in digital product contexts. Skills in accessibility compliance and the ability to ensure products meet necessary standards.
• Research and analytical skills to assess user feedback and integrate insights into product development.
• Experience of working with user researchers/content services or interaction designers.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge of user research, or service or interaction design, or software engineering practices and how to apply them to design better products.
• Working knowledge of SAP/S4HANA including integrations with Line of Business and banking systems.
• Functional knowledge and experience of end-to-end R2R/O2C processes and technology implementations.

Additional Location information - Transitional sites:

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

If your location preference is for the following site, it’s important to note that this is not a long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

This site is:

• Telford Plaza, Telford - moving to Parkside Court, Telford.

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRChear from our insiders or visitThinking of joining the Civil Service.

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.

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV, to include your Job History, with a short description of your jobs/roles, duties and any key achievements.
• A 750-word Personal Statement, describing how your skills and experience would make you suitable for the role, referring to the Person Specification, and how you meet the Essential Criteria.

Please also provide a statement (max 250-words) for the Desirable Criteria, if applicable to you, on your application form. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at sift or interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the Personal Statement.

At full sift your CV and Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be asked Behaviour-based questions on Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at pace, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions.

Interviews will take place via video link (Microsoft Teams).

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to downloadthe HMRC app and sign up for an account:

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You’ll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

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

• Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.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.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers

This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you can travel to.

Terms and Conditions

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

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.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

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

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK.

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.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 : Jake Austen
• Email : jake.austen@hmrc.gov.uk
• Telephone : 03000536516

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns, unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.