JOB SUMMARY

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’ll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need
Public sector data has the potential to radically transform people’s lives through boosting economic growth, underpinning groundbreaking research, improving the delivery of public services and fuelling cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) development and applications across the economy.
The National Data Library is a high profile, ambitious, manifesto commitment which intends to realise this potential through responsibly unlocking the highest-value public sector data for use by businesses, academia and the public sector.
We are looking for a dynamic, passionate and experienced Head of Products and Services to lead the design, development, and delivery of user-centric data products and services within the National Data Library.
The Head of Products and Services job is a key leadership role in the delivery of a high-priority manifesto commitment that will impact tens of millions of people every day – join us if you want a challenge with purpose!

JOB DESCRIPTION

As the Head of Products and Services for the National Data Library, you will be responsible for:

• A clear product vision, with a focus on iterative product development that meets user needs and delivers incremental value, while working toward measurable objectives and data driven outcomes.
• Providing direction and leadership for multidisciplinary product teams working across different stakeholder groups to design, develop, and deliver user-centric data products and services.
• Developing and driving an everyday culture of experimentation across all product teams, balancing experimentation of innovative experiences with operational efficiencies.
• Lead engagement with key stakeholders by running demos, blogging, speaking at conferences and facilitating workshops.
• Be a visible leader who takes responsibility, while supporting the wellbeing and professional development of your team and the wider product community within the department.
• Support the NDL Deputy Directors in the implementation of strategic initiatives and delivery of operational challenges
• Maintain knowledge of the changing digital, data and technology landscape and the opportunities they provide to improve the delivery of public services in the UK

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

As the Head of Products and Services for the National Data Library, you will be responsible for:

• A clear product vision, with a focus on iterative product development that meets user needs and delivers incremental value, while working toward measurable objectives and data driven outcomes.
• Providing direction and leadership for multidisciplinary product teams working across different stakeholder groups to design, develop, and deliver user-centric data products and services.
• Developing and driving an everyday culture of experimentation across all product teams, balancing experimentation of innovative experiences with operational efficiencies.
• Lead engagement with key stakeholders by running demos, blogging, speaking at conferences and facilitating workshops.
• Be a visible leader who takes responsibility, while supporting the wellbeing and professional development of your team and the wider product community within the department.
• Support the NDL Deputy Directors in the implementation of strategic initiatives and delivery of operational challenges
• Maintain knowledge of the changing digital, data and technology landscape and the opportunities they provide to improve the delivery of public services in the U

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 60 minute video interview which will feature a short presentation. Details for the presentation will be shared with shortlisted candidates prior to the interviews

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• changing and improving
• making effective decisions
• leadership
• communicating and influencing
• delivering at pac

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for the Head of Product role:

• Agile and Lean practices
• Applying user-centred insights
• Creating value for money
• Lifecycle management
• Managing product outcomes
• Product leadership
• Product management
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Strategic Ownershi