Technical Lead Product Manager

Job summary

We are looking for a Technical Lead Product Manager to work within the Digital Development and Operations Team, which is part of UKHSA Chief Data Officer (CDO) Group.

The CDO Group mission is to enable UKHSA to make the nation’s health secure through safe and innovative digital capabilities and by the transformation of public health data, analysis, insight and surveillance. In Digital Development and Operations, we do this by delivering services which meet and maintain the Digital Service Standards Service Standard - Service Manual - GOV.UK.

We proactively partner, across UKHSA and beyond, to influence, design and deliver digital and technology products and services that underpin Agency objectives, and provide tangible, valued business and citizen health outcomes.

As a Technical Lead Product Manager, you will be responsible for a product portfolio, and the delivery of product quality and value. You will work with teams to identify, implement and improve strategies and tactics for their products and engage with senior stakeholders including Director Generals, Permanent Secretaries, and Ministers. You will be a member of the Digital leadership team, provide product leadership and direction across multiple teams, and contribute to the development and execution of digital and technology strategies.

Job description

• Lead a large/diverse product portfolio using evidence to guide product decisions, set priorities and ensure the portfolio aligns to UKHSA’s strategic objectives
• Oversee/support multidisciplinary product teams to turn strategic vision into reality - delivering, operating and continuously improving products to meet evolving user needs
• Ensure services/products have a clear strategy and roadmap that deliver the vision/outcomes/benefits aligning priorities to user and business needs for maximum value and efficiency
• Direct/lead senior stakeholder relationships to resolve issues, drive outcomes and ensure appropriate governance, assurance, resources and funding exist
• Provide leadership across the organisation in digital, championing product-led, agile ways of working
• Work closely with the leadership team and Heads of Profession to ensure alignment with digital standards, contribute to the strategy and support cross functional collaboration and integration
• Support recruitment, provide coaching and mentoring to build/strengthen product management capability across the organisation, identifying learning and development opportunities for people/teams
• Strategic awareness of trends and changes in user behaviour, policy and technology initiatives such as AI and implications for successful delivery of government digital services
• Work closely with Commercial to produce Statements of Work (SOW), evaluate suppliers and support procurement exercises

Technical Specialism – Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS)

Technical Lead Product Managers within UKHSA may be aligned to strategic operational platforms that support national health surveillance and the delivery of public health services.

In this role the Technical Lead Product Manager will provide product leadership for the Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) — the national laboratory surveillance platform used to collect, process and analyse laboratory testing data across England to support public health monitoring and response.

The post-holder will work closely with platform engineering, data engineering, epidemiology, laboratory stakeholders and operational teams to ensure the system supports reliable, secure and scalable processing of laboratory data and enables effective surveillance across the organisation. In addition to the core responsibilities of the Technical Lead Product Manager role, the post-holder will:

• Define and evolve the product vision, strategy and roadmap for SGSS in alignment with UKHSA’s surveillance and data strategies
• Ensure the platform supports secure, reliable and scalable ingestion and processing of laboratory test data from NHS and partner laboratories
• Work with engineering and data teams to ensure robust data pipelines, validation processes and quality controls for surveillance data
• Champion the needs of internal users, including epidemiologists, analysts, public health specialists and operational teams who rely on SGSS data for monitoring and decision making
• Ensure the platform supports timely and accurate surveillance reporting, enabling effective monitoring of infectious diseases and public health threats
• Support the modernisation and evolution of the SGSS platform, including integration with other UKHSA data platforms and digital services
• Work with governance, privacy and security teams to ensure the system complies with data protection, information governance and regulatory requirements
• Define and track service reliability, system performance and user adoption metrics to ensure the platform continues to meet operational surveillance needs

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• A degree-level qualification or equivalent in a relevant subject such as Digital Product Management, Computer Science, Information Systems, or Business Technology
• In-depth experience in digital product management
• Experience of applying service standards and best practice frameworks, such as the Service Standard - Service Manual - GOV.UK, to products and services and leading teams through independent assessments of such compliance
• Experience leading supplier engagement, contractual oversight, and outcome delivery via SOWs
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence at all levels - shaping the strategic direction of your team, influencing directorate plans and organisational outcomes
• Understanding of platform ecosystems, including APIs, data pipelines, infrastructure automation, and shared services
• Experience defining platform adoption strategies, internal user enablement, and measuring platform value
• Experience producing business cases, value assessments, and benefit realisation plans

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working within UK central government or ALBs aligned to GDS principles
• Ability to deliver against KPIs and OKRs in a fast-paced operational environment
• Active member of a product community or thought leadership group

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,797, UK Health Security Agency contributes £20,509 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 with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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 Success Profiles - GOV.UK and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical Skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 8 Essential Criteria in this job advert. You will be required to complete:

• An Application Form (‘Employer/Activity history’ section on the application)
• A 1500 word Supporting Statement - do not exceed 1500 words as we will not consider any words over this amount

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the Essential Criteria listed in this advert.

You will receive a joint score for your Application Form and Supporting Statement. The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV – please note you will not be able to upload or email us your CV. Please complete the Application Form in as much detail as possible.

Longlisting

In the event of numerous applications, we may longlist into 3 piles of:

1. Meets all Essential Criteria
2. Meets some Essential Criteria
3. Meets no Essential Criteria

Only 'Meets all Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following Essential Criteria:

• Experience of applying service standards and best practice frameworks, such as the Service Standard - Service Manual - GOV.UK, to products and services and leading teams through independent assessments of such compliance
• Experience leading supplier engagement, contractual oversight, and outcome delivery via SOWs
• Understanding of platform ecosystems, including APIs, data pipelines, infrastructure automation, and shared services

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/successful candidates.

If successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single face-to-face interview at UKHSA London Canary Wharf. Interview date(s) to be confirmed.

Remote interviews may be available in exceptional circumstances.

The Behaviours being tested at interview stage will be:

• Communication and Influencing - Lead Behaviour
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership

You will be asked to prepare and present a presentation to assess your Technical Platform Product Management experience. Further details will be sent prior to interview.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Please note: The Digital and Data Directorate, where this role sits, is reviewing its Target Operating Model. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future changes. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants. This role may also be available as a loan (for existing Civil Servants only) or secondment arrangement, subject to business need and agreement from the hiring manager and, where applicable, the employee's home organisation.

Reserve List

If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Salary Information

Civil Service: Grade 6
Inner Grade 6: £75,104 - £85,436
Outer Grade 6: £72,950 - £83,443
National Grade 6: £70,797 - £81,450
Please be aware that the salary is based on office location and is per annum, pro-rata.

This role attracts a Market Pay Supplement up to £10,000 to be reviewed 31/03/2027 and is based on a capability assessment.

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our core HQs in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London Canary Wharf.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

Incident Response Activity

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.

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

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 : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel 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 UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v8360361