We're looking for 2 Product Managers to lead multi-disciplinary teams through all stages of the product life cycle in the Children and Families Digital Delivery portfolio and Regional Services Division.

• In the Children and Families Digital Delivery portfolio we work closely with policy teams to research, design and build services that help families have the best start in life.
• As part of the Regional Digital Services Division, you will be transforming the way government works for schools, trusts and our colleagues in DfE.
• At DfE, we want to deliver quickly and prove we add value, but we want to do so in a way that's sustainable and inclusive. You’ll make sure we build things the right way, keeping up to date with the latest technologies and trends, whilst delivering working software early and often.
• You’ll work to help define, deliver and measure digital products and services for our users. You will ensure our products meet the needs of our users and deliver real value to the organisation. You will be supporting teams to follow agile, user-centred methods.
• You’ll be working with a team of talented user researchers, developers, designers, analysts, agile, and content specialists who share a vision for making better government through the smarter use of technology.

As a Product Manager, you will:

• Understand and identify the problem to solve, working closely with stakeholders, users, technical, policy and operational experts.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver solutions iteratively through multiple delivery phases.
• Develop an expert understanding of the users’ needs and champion these in the delivery of your product.
• Define and iterate a product vision, providing clarity for your team and stakeholders.
• Develop and prioritise a product roadmap and backlog, setting clear direction, making decisions based on data, up-to-date evidence and changing priorities.
• Set measurable goals for your product in line with portfolio and DfE outcomes.

We are looking for an individual with strong interpersonal skills who enjoy working in a demanding, high profile agile environment. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about agile working, who cares about technology and who knows how to make projects succeed. 

You will be bright, empathetic, and persuasive. You will have a strong interest, and ideally a background, in digital technology.

We are looking for someone to demonstrate their experience against the following essential criteria:

• Agile working: Is aware of agile methodology and how to apply the agile mindset to all aspects of their work.
• Lifecycle Perspective: Understands the different phases of product delivery and is able to contribute to, plan or run these
• Operational Management: Able to manage the operational process of designing and running a product or service throughout its entire life-cycle.
• Problem Ownership: understands and identifies problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution.
• Product Ownership: Captures and translates user needs into deliverables.
• Strategic Ownership: Focuses on outcomes, not solutions. Is bold - develops ambitious visions and strategies. Gets the organisation and team to buy-in.
• User focus: Understands users and can identify who they are and what their needs are based on evidence.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/product-manager-skills-they-need

Desirable skills

• Experience of working closely with policy teams
• Experience of service assessments and delivering to the Digital service Standard

Desirable Experience will only be assessed in the event of a tie to make an informed decision.

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t think you have 100% of the required experience – we know that some groups of people can be less likely to apply if they don’t think they have the required experience than others.

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Agile working
• User focus:
• Product Ownership
• Lifecycle Perspective
• Operational Management

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities. 

We work for the whole population, and we can only do that by being an inclusive and diverse organisation. We are passionate about maintaining an open and positive working culture. 

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer/promotion policies. 

At the Department for Education we offer

• We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. 
• Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 
• Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered. 
• Learning and development tailored to your role and a personal L&D budget.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
• A wide variety of staff support networks including a Women's Network, BAME Network, Wellbeing Network, and many more.
• As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
• Paid special leave for volunteering.
• Sports & activity groups including gym membership discounts.
• Cycle to Work scheme and loans towards bicycle purchase.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.