Product Manager - Platform Engineering

Overview

Looking for the job of your dreams? If this is the case, you have come to the right place. We're seeking for a skilled individual to join our Digital  Service team!

Access to public services is key. Our mission is to provide users with a safe, easy way to prove who they are and access the services they are entitled to. 

 Sitting in the Cloud and Digital Services division of the Digital Directorate, our work is core to the wider Digital Strategy of the Scottish Government helping valuable public services to be delivered securely, efficiently in an accessible way. As a valued member of the team, your work could be used by millions and benefit everyone across Scotland! 

Our work is a key enabler for wider digital transformation across the public sector. In addition to developing the service, you will play a key role in supporting its wider adoption and success. 

Working at scale and with a wide variety of public service users our work is technically complex, rich in variety and provides a real sense of pride - knowing we help make a positive, tangible difference to people’s lives. 

 OUR APPROACH 

Our success is based on trusting and empowering our teams - encouraging flexibility and freedom that you may find surprising in a public sector setting. 

 We value... 

• An Agile approach where we put users first understanding and meeting their needs through user research and design.
• Continually improving through iteration based on testing, measuring and feedback.
• Innovation – committing to changes in established practice which can improve outcomes.
• Collaboration– working in multi-disciplinary teams, learning from, and supporting each other; debating constructively and committing to solutions.
• Being valued for your perspective and work.
• Being supportive and being supported.
• Diversity in the perspectives we bring to our work and colleagues who we work with.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO WORK HERE?

** Architect **

"Working within Scottish Government gives you the opportunity to develop your career, through exposure to new technologies, whilst working on services that deliver positive change for the citizens of Scotland. There is a strong focus on teamwork as the means to deliver outputs and teams are structured to encourage: flexible working, diversity and assisting your colleagues”

Hear from colleagues discussing Digital Careers at Scottish Government.

Responsibilities

HOW WILL I SPEND MY TIME?

The role will focus initially on technical discovery (related to user needs) and detailed appraisals for various technical components which are required to operationally support and deliver the overall digital solutions for the Identity Platform. You will be expected to be the technical lead for one high priority component, or two medium priority components depending on their scale and complexity.

You will lead and own the following priorities:

• The discovery and initial assessment of technical solutions or services which already exist in the Scottish Public Sector or wider UK Government landscape.
• Engagement, liaison, and continuous dialogue with the Technical Design Authority (TDA) and architecture team, technical teams in public sector organisations and Security and Privacy Design Authority (SPDA) to ensure alignment of service provision and avoid duplication.
• Support the Business Case refresh to support ongoing programme and technical investment decisions. These will be focussed on platform user needs.
• Procurement of technical components and support in conjunction with procurement colleagues.
• Technical oversight and supplier management during delivery of the chosen common (shared) components including cross government working, technical planning, and transition into live service operation.
• Transition into live operation, any common (shared) component, ensuring that design or service documentation is in place and underpinned by appropriate support and maintenance arrangements or a cross-government SLA if applicable.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Product Manager – (Platform Engineering) manage multiple products (platforms) or a single product (platform) that is especially complex, high risk or sensitive. They may line manage associate colleagues within their platforms. They have expert product management skills.
• Reporting to the Service Owner, the Product Manager will be responsible for leading the evaluation, options appraisal, selection, and delivery of common technical (shared) components as part of the overall technical architecture that will underpin the delivery of the programme.
• The Product Manager will have, or develop, an understanding of the current and future landscape for digital public services in Scotland, and provide direct support to the Digital Operations Managers and to the Head of Platforms & Technologies in the form of developing, through the programme, the operational delivery of various technical services which will be vital to the overall technical architecture and design solution.
• The Product Manager will have an awareness of, and understand, agile methodology and how to apply the agile mindset to all aspects of their work. They must have the ability to work in a fast paced, evolving environment and utilise an iterative method and flexible approach to enable rapid delivery.
• The Product Manager must understand users and can identify who they are and what their needs are based on evidence. They must be able to translate user stories and propose design approaches or services to meet these needs and engage in meaningful interactions and relationships with users. An essential part of the role will be building business cases based on user needs.

Additional Duties:

You will report to the C2 Service Owner. This is a technical delivery role responsible for the day-to-day implementation and operations of common (shared) components that will be used by various benefits and associated systems in the overall technical architecture and design solution for Cloud Digital Services (CDS).

You will support the broader programme by engaging with the various Technical Platform Owners & Product owners who are aligned to each of the programme streams within CDS. Work with and manage a range of stakeholders including technical architects, designers, developers, engineers, commercial and financial specialists, and suppliers.

WHAT IMPACT WILL I HAVE?

After a successful year you will have contributed to the establishment of a strong DevOps team supporting the Payments and Identity Platforms. You will have established a model for the efficient BAU running of these key parts of Scottish Government’s transformational platform infrastructure and have identified what areas should be targeted next for development.

COMPETENCIES

• Communications & Engagement
• Leading Others
• Analysis & Use of Evidence
• Leading Others

If invited to any interview or assessment the panel will be looking for evidence of how you meet the above competencies. More details on these are available in the

Person_Specification_Band_C Updated Aug23 (V2)

QUALIFICATIONS

No formal qualifications are required for this role. We would love you to apply if you meet the following essential criteria. If you would like to chat first, please get in touch

Essential Criteria & Qualifications

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

A meaningful and rewarding career, a collaborative culture and support for your career goals, while promoting a healthy work-life balance. We offer a valuable range of benefits to attract, develop and retain the best talent. These include:

• Salary between £56,020 to £69,846, increasing by £57,141 to £71,243 from 1st April 2024
• £5000 Digital (DDaT) Pay Supplement after a 3-month qualifying period ***
• Generous Pension Scheme with employer contributions ranging from 26.6% to 30.3%
• Flexible working arrangements including compressed hours and flexi time, with potential to accrue up to 4 days off a month
• 36 Days Annual Leave - including public and privilege holidays.  This increases to 41.5 days after 4 year service. 

*** Digital (DDaT) Pay Supplement:

This post attracts a £5000 DDAT pay supplement after a 3 months DDaT competency qualifying period. Pay supplements are temporary payments and are subject to regular review.

To learn more about our full range of benefits and opportunities for career growth visit our career's page

REMOTE WORKING

We operate a flexible location policy, with a contractual named base in Scotland of either Atlantic Quay (Glasgow) or Victoria Quay (Edinburgh).

Currently the team is working on a hybrid basis typically spending one day a week at their office. If preferred, you can of course spend more time working at the base office (or an alternative Scottish Government office subject to availability). Discuss preferences with line manager about balance of home/office working as there is flexibility. Commuting costs to the named base office are not reimbursed.

While staff are assigned to the base office, there may be a need for travel to other Scottish Government offices/other locations depending on assigned work.

HOW TO APPLY

The Closing Date for applications is 21/04/2024

To apply please submit the following using our online application process: -

• A CV (no longer than two A4 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, with particular reference to the essential criteria
• A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) explaining why you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria.

When reviewing your application, we will be assessing your career history and achievements against the essential criteria for the role. We are looking for examples of things you have previously achieved or your knowledge in a particular field which are relevant to the role. Please review and download links below for further guidance and support with your application.

USEFUL LINKS

How to Apply - Digital Jobs

DDaT_Recruitment_-_Further_Information

Any questions or issues during the process please email digitalcareers@gov.scot

We are unable to progress applications which fail to provide clear evidence of meeting the essential criteria in their CV and Personal Statement.

Diversity and Inclusion

Delivering a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives, and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and work to ensure a positive recruitment experience where everyone is treated fairly, and with respect regardless of the outcome.

It’s not essential to be in a similar role right now. You may be working in another field or returning from a career break - the experiences you have gained through this can bring fresh perspectives to our teams and work.

What happens if I am unsuccessful?

We greatly value the time and effort taken in applying to Scottish Government. If following interview and completing our full assessment process, you are not successful we may be able to offer alternative positions.

Firstly, candidates meeting all criteria but scoring lower than appointed candidate(s) are placed on a reserve list for 12 months. If a matching role is identified, we are able to offer this position without the need for further assessment. Secondly, on occasion a lower grade post may be offered to suitable candidates. Any offers are made in merit order and in line with Civil Service Commission principles on the basis of fair and open competition.

The Scottish Government is a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via  ScottishGovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot

As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.

Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.

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)
• 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