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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product teams to develop innovative digital solutions for government services.
- Company: Join the Government Digital Service, shaping the future of digital governance.
- Benefits: Full-time role with competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public services while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and agile methodologies required.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor and lead teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Join to apply for the Lead Product Manager role at Government Digital Service. The GDS is the digital centre of government, responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government.
Job Summary
We are hiring Platform Product Leads across two Directorates:
- GDS’s central Technology & Security team: enabling developers across GDS
- One Login’s platform teams: enabling teams within a flagship programme
Responsibilities
- Be responsible for a product portfolio and oversee multiple Platform Product Managers and their teams.
- Reporting to a Head of Product or a Deputy Director, guide prioritisation across products and ensure alignment with the organisation’s goals and strategy.
- Own and develop a product vision, strategy and roadmap for your Platform products and product teams.
- Own your teams’ “front door”, shaping incoming requests from stakeholders, and ensuring effective prioritisation decisions.
- Lead your teams to set clear, measurable, outcome‑oriented goals (OKRs), balancing user‑facing benefits with reliability, security and other service level considerations.
- Guide your teams to identify risky assumptions and carry out continuous internal discovery (quantitative and qualitative) to de‑risk product decisions efficiently and ensure that teams release value to users early and often.
- Champion your products with internal teams, developing trusted relationships and securing adoption, to drive measurable benefits to productivity, reliability, security and costs.
- Help your products move through the product lifecycle (Discovery, Alpha, Beta), setting appropriate goals for user experience, reliability and security (e.g. via SLOs), managing stakeholder expectations, and maturing your products over time.
- Partner with Directors and Heads‑of to evolve the overall platform strategy, bringing expert insights from users, thoughtful application of technology (including AI) and industry best practices in order to solve users’ problems.
- Coach, line manage and mentor your Product Managers, as well as others in the wider organisation.
- Champion our work across government and in the wider industry, providing thought leadership in both Platform product management and the best practices of your users.
Person Specification
- Product managing digital products in a fast‑paced environment, working with multidisciplinary, agile teams, from discovery to delivery, and continuous, data‑led improvement.
- Developing and improving a product’s operational maturity as well as ensuring a consistent approach to user and technical operational support – anticipating and mitigating problems before they arise and helping others think similarly.
- Engaging with stakeholders, senior leaders and internal teams through a range of channels to identify a common set of needs and priorities, or to explain what you are doing and how you are doing it in clear and compelling ways.
- Using these skills to develop and agree tactical and long term plans, supporting necessary decisions.
- Modern technologies used in delivery of cloud‑based software products (especially AI) – and an ability to explain the purpose and constraints of these technologies to non‑technical people.
- Developing and selling a product and commercial strategy to secure funding and support for the product.
- Hands‑on delivery and iteration of products, working with multiple teams in an agile delivery setting – from discovery to continuous, data‑led improvement in a live setting.
- You should be comfortable using user insights to make strategic decisions to provide the best user experience.
- Ideally, you will also have experience recruiting, coaching and line management of product managers, identifying learning and development opportunities for individuals and teams.
SC clearance required – 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.
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Product Management
Industries: Government Administration
Lead Product Manager in London employer: Government Digital Service
Contact Detail:
Government Digital Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at the Government Digital Service on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into GDS’s projects and values. We should be ready to discuss how our experience aligns with their mission of modernising digital government. Show them we’re not just a fit, but the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a mate to do mock interviews with us. Focus on articulating our product management experience and how we’ve led teams to success. The more comfortable we are, the better we’ll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email can keep us fresh in their minds. Let’s reiterate our enthusiasm for the role and how we can contribute to their goals. It’s a small step that can make a big difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Product Manager role. Highlight your experience in product management, especially in digital environments, and showcase how you've led teams and projects that align with our goals at GDS.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about digital government services and how your skills can help us achieve our vision. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Lead Product Manager, you'll be guiding teams and making strategic decisions. Make sure to highlight your leadership experience in your application. Share examples of how you've coached and mentored others, and how you've driven product success in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s straightforward and ensures your application goes directly to our hiring team. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Government Digital Service
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the products you’ll be managing. Understand their current status, user feedback, and how they align with the government’s digital strategy. This will help you speak confidently about your vision and how you can enhance the product portfolio.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Highlight your experience in coaching and mentoring product managers, as well as how you've guided teams through the product lifecycle. This will demonstrate your capability to manage multiple teams effectively.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve engaged with stakeholders in previous roles. Be ready to discuss your approach to identifying needs and priorities, and how you’ve communicated complex ideas clearly. This is crucial for a role that requires collaboration across various teams and levels.
✨Emphasise Data-Driven Decision Making
Be prepared to talk about how you’ve used data to inform product decisions. Discuss specific instances where you’ve identified risky assumptions and how you’ve conducted internal discovery to mitigate those risks. This aligns perfectly with the role's focus on continuous improvement and user-centric design.
