Product Strategy Lead (VAWG Accelerator)

Job summary

About the team

The Test, Learn and Grow programme (TLG) is at the heart of the UK government’s initiative to drive innovation and reform in public service delivery. The programme - announced in 2024 - aims to support collaboration between central and local government, specifically to design, test, and grow innovative solutions to complex challenges and enhance public service outcomes. By employing a "Test & Learn" approach, we focus on creating evidence-based improvements while relieving pressures on 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. This role is on the programmes VAWG reduction accelerator - in partnership with Islington and 5 other London boroughs - to reduce violence against women and girls.

This role is mapped to the Product Manager role in the Government Digital and Data framework. However, the products / solutions we are developing may not be digital. 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’ll lead a multidisciplinary team to design, test and scale ‘products’ or ‘solutions’ to reduce VAWG.

We are looking for someone who:

• is confident applying evidence-based and strategic thinking to develop and grow products that support social impact;
• will work effectively with stakeholders (in central and local government, VCS etc) to foster interest in the accelerator and TLG ways of working;
• will apply agile ways of working to help the team build momentum and deliver the right outcomes.
• will work sensitively and effectively within and outside the team.

On a day-to-day basis this involves:

• Leading a multidisciplinary Accelerator team to:
  • define, explain and iterate an evidence-based vision for solutions that are compelling to your team, stakeholders and end-users
  • deliver solutions through test and learn cycles
  • make decisions based on evidence and value for money
• Leading on delivery planning for you team maintaining a roadmap and strategy, and develop and prioritise a backlog
• Working in the open, by sharing insights with the wider team, partners and senior leaders
• Line managing, coach and mentor associate product managers and supporting a product and strategy community of practice across TLG.

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
• be 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
• successfully developing and releasing products, strategies, or solutions
• can identify, communicate and work within constraints, and challenge the validity of constraints while ensuring the team can still deliver high quality work

Agile and lean practices

• have proficiency in agile product management techniques, such as: roadmaps; prioritisation; MVP definition; 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

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

Experience working on reducing VAWG is helpful but not essential.

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

Technical skills

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

• Agile and Lean Practices
• Applying user-centred insights
• Product Leadership
• Product Management
• Stakeholder Relationship Management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,988, Cabinet Office contributes £18,247 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).

• 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

The standard selection process for roles in the Cabinet Office consists of:

• A simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “skills and experience” section above
• A 60 minute video interview

Selection process

In the Civil Service we use our Competency 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 competencies 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

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – TBC

Expected interview date/s – TBC

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

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

Further Information

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 : Jess 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 (2) Opens in new window (docx, 94kB)Cabinet Office Employee Offer (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)