Home Office Hiring for DDaT – Product Manager – Digital Career Development Programme at Sheffield Full Time

Details

Reference number

208823

Salary

£24,883 – £31,519

National: £24,883 – £27,372 London: £28,654 – £31,519

Grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Fixed Term

Length of employment

18 months

Business area

HO – Digital Data and Technology

Type of role

Information Technology

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of posts

6

Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits

Things you need to know

Apply and further information

Location

Croydon Lunar House / Manchester – Soapworks / Sheffield Vulcan House

About the job

Summary

The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office has been at the front line of this effort since 1782. As such, we play a fundamental role in maintaining the security and economic prosperity of the UK. The Home Office leads on immigration and passports, refugee protection, counter-terrorism, policing, fire services, and crime and drugs policy.

Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) enables the Home Office to keep the UK safe and secure. We design and build the services that help people apply for visas or passports; support policing and counter-terrorism operations; and protect the UK’s borders.

This is an exciting time to be at the Home Office. You’ll have a chance to shape the future and support our mission to deliver exceptional public services that work for everyone.

Our work is guided by these principles:

• We put user needs first
• We value delivery and outcomes over process
• We work in the open

Our flexible working policy ensures a healthy work-life balance. We also nurture talent and offer a broad range of learning and development opportunities that will help you flourish in your role.

We work hard to maintain a positive working culture and are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. We value diversity and provide an open, inclusive and supportive environment to help you do your best work.

You can keep up-to-date with our work on the Home Office DDaT blog.

Job description

We’re looking for Product Managers to join our successful Digital Career Development Programme and contribute to delivering better services at the Home Office. We are offering roles in Sheffield, Manchester and Croydon. A candidate’s choice of location will be considered but may not be guaranteed.

Over 12 months, you will work in multidisciplinary delivery teams, alongside researchers, designers and developers, to deliver word-class, user-centred services for the public and civil servants.

A Product Manager uses their knowledge of user needs and business goals to frame and solve problems and set priorities for delivery teams. They are responsible for the overall vision and quality of the product being delivered. They identify opportunities for improving business outcomes and enhancing benefits, looking to continuously improve the quality, capability and efficiency of the product. In addition, they build a shared understanding between the development team, stakeholders and end users about what the product does and how it achieves the outcomes it needs to achieve.

On the Programme you will have exposure to multiple products in order to learn about basic product management techniques. You will undertake a similar role to an Associate Product Manager but may do so under greater supervision and with the support of this learning programme.

You’ll collaborate with people who value research and design, to create work you’ll feel proud of – all supported by a learning and development plan to help you grow both as a product manager and an effective leader.

We are looking for people to join our teams for this 18-month contract, which combines development activities, structured learning and charity projects. At the 12-month point, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a permanent role and promotion with the Home Office. This structured programme is an excellent opportunity to learn from experienced Product Managers and begin your own career as a Product Manager in government.

Online Event

We will hold an online event during June – before the adverts close – to provide an opportunity to hear more about the Programme and ask questions. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] – please specify the role you are interested in.

This post is being offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis in order to complete a finite piece of work.

Responsibilities

As a Product Manager on the Programme your main day to day responsibilities will be to:

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team building and improving products and services for the public and internal staff.
• Learn about a product lifecycle (e.g. discovery, alpha, beta, live).
• Work with your Senior Product Manager to produce roadmaps, release plans and lifecycle plans for the delivery and maintenance of the product.
• Learn to represent users throughout the delivery process and to use their feedback to inform continuous improvement.
• Engage with stakeholders to understand their goals and learn to balance these with the needs of the users.
• Contribute to the wider community of product managers in government.

Essential Criteria

You will be someone who:

• Has a passion for product and solving problems to deliver value to users.
• Has strong analytical and people skills.
• Is a proactive person who seeks out new learning opportunities.
• Is comfortable with uncertainty and is resilient.
• Shows emotional intelligence and builds empathy when working with others, using appropriate communication skills for different audiences.
• Has excellent organisation skills and a strong attention to detail.

Desirable Criteria

You may also:

• Have some knowledge of working in an agile environment.
• Have some understanding of the Digital Service Standard: Click here to visit the site.

Behaviours

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

Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Our assessment will consider, in turn assuming success at each stage the following:-

• Sift
• Telephone interview (if numbers require)
• Video panel interview

Sift

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

• A CV detailing job history/qualifications
• A Statement of Suitability (personal statement) (maximum 500 words)

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

Please note your Statement of Suitability should explain why you want to join the product management development programme and what skills or experiences you bring to the profession and team, and how you meet the Essential Criteria as set out in the job advertisement.

The sift will be held on the statement of suitability (personal statement).

The CV will not be scored.

Sift and interview dates

The sift will take place form 15th June 2022.

Telephone Interview

If an exceptional number of candidates pass the sift stage, candidates will be invited to a telephone interview to assess elements of your experience.

Telephone interviews are scheduled to be held week commencing 4th July 2022.

Video Panel Interview

Candidates who pass the telephone interview will then be invited to the final stage of the process – a video panel interview. Our final assessment will consider your Experience, Behaviours and Strengths and may consider evidence from all elements of the assessment. You will also be asked to complete an exercise or presentation, which will assess your experience. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

Interviews are intended to take place on the weeks commencing 25th July 2022 and 1st August 2022. Please note, if telephone interviews are not required the date of the video interview will be brought forward.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advertisement. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Further information

Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement.

If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

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.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home 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. Determine your eligibility at here

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is 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 [email protected] 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

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

Feedback

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

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:
UK nationals

nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

nationals of the Republic of Ireland

nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service

relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service

certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 :
Home Office Resourcing Centre

Email :
[email protected]

Recruitment team :Email :
[email protected]

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.