Associate Service Owner

This role is available across our London, Bristol and Manchester locations. The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government. Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government by:

• joining up public sector services
• harnessing the power of AI for the public good
• strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
• elevating leadership and investing in talent
• funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
• committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government. We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol. The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale. Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You will solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.

Join Government Digital and Cyber Capability, where our mission is to ensure the government possesses the necessary talent to drive digital transformation and overcome the challenges ahead. We’re dedicated to enhancing the government’s capacity to attract, recruit, nurture, and retain top-tier digital and data professionals. As part of the team, you will help shape the future of digital strategy and capabilities, providing vital insights that support cross-departmental policies, standards, and strategies. We’re entrusted with devising strategies and delivering results for a community of 30,000+ digital innovators, aspiring talent, and the broader civil service. Our commitment extends to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and dynamic culture where individuals thrive and excel.

We are responsible for:

• Delivering the cross-government Blueprint for modern digital government
• Digital, Data and Technology Strategy and Standards, like the Technology Code of Practice, the Service Standard and Open Standards
• Cross-government performance and assurance, including Spend Controls
• Government Digital and Data Capability Framework

This is a rare opportunity to transform the way government delivers services. As an Associate Service Owner in the Capability Frameworks team, you will run and continuously improve world-class services based on user needs. You will also work with the Senior User Researcher to gather user requirements and the Senior Content Designer to ensure the frameworks have consistent content, and deliver value through the life cycle. This role will also have line management responsibilities.

We’re looking for someone who’s experienced in transformational and high-growth service delivery. You’ll be someone who is guided by the fundamental principles of putting user needs first, focusing on positive user experience and outcomes over process, and being open and transparent. The essential skills for this role are:

• extensive understanding of delivery of services, and product management
• leadership in successful design, delivery, iteration and operation of high quality products and services which maximise opportunities offered by digital technology
• experience of creating effective, prioritised product descriptions and delivery plans to meet user needs in a cost-effective way. This includes estimating the costs and benefits of items on your roadmap
• adept at translating complex aims and needs into compelling vision statements with clear and manageable plans - communicating these in an open and transparent way through a variety of channels
• confident in managing the expectations of stakeholders with conflicting needs and demands, engaging with senior stakeholders
• experienced in assessing risks, scoping resource requirements and managing budgets and operating costs to ensure value for money and sustainable development of teams and services at scale
• proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary agile delivery teams to deliver excellent new products and iterations to existing products to meet user needs. This will include advocating for your product, and includes line management

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible. DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.