Scottish Government Recruitment
Product Lead (Fixed Term Appointment)
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Job Title
This is a Fixed Term Appointment opportunity for 23 months with the possibility of permanency depending on business requirements.
About the Role
Social Security Scotland is seeking an ambitious and motivated individual to join our Fraud and Error Team as a Product Lead.
Working within a small, collaborative team, you will lead the delivery and continuous improvement of products and services that support the delivery of key Fraud and Error initiatives in line with a 5 year plan, specifically the delivery of the new Monetary Value of Fraud and Error system.
You will work closely with colleagues across Operations, Policy and Digital teams, as well as external stakeholders, to ensure products deliver value, meet user needs and support organisational priorities.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building strong stakeholder relationships and driving successful product outcomes. While there are no line management responsibilities, you will provide leadership across product delivery, influencing decisions and helping shape the future of fraud and error services.
This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a critical service area while developing your experience across a diverse portfolio of strategic and operational work, supporting Social Security Scotland's commitment to delivering services with dignity, fairness and respect.
Product Leads manage multiple products or a single product that is especially complex, high risk or sensitive.
At this role level, you will:
- Have expert product management skills
- Potentially be involved in elements of programme management activity
- Be involved in hiring associates, product managers and contractors
Responsibilities
- Lead product delivery across the full product lifecycle, identifying the most effective delivery approaches, evaluating outcomes, and ensuring work remains aligned to agreed priorities, scope and business objectives.
- Develop and maintain product strategies and business cases based on user needs, ensuring benefits are realised and measurable outcomes are linked back to organisational priorities.
- Apply a strong understanding of design, technology and data principles to deliver user-centred solutions, including identifying and implementing appropriate assisted digital approaches.
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and Government Digital and Data colleagues to design, develop, integrate, launch and continuously improve products and services.
- Establish, redesign and embed operational processes to support the delivery, maintenance and continuous improvement of products and services throughout their lifecycle.
- Navigate competing stakeholder priorities and complex delivery considerations, identifying risks and constraints early, assessing their potential impact, and making robust recommendations to support informed decision-making and successful delivery outcomes.
- Use product management expertise to make informed decisions on priorities, delivery approaches and lifecycle progression, recognising when to accelerate, adapt, pause or stop activity.
- Champion user-centred design by setting clear objectives for user-centred design activities, ensuring product decisions are informed by user needs and a robust evidence base, and driving services that meet the needs of all users.
- Analyse and communicate complex problems, placing them in a wider organisational context, developing solutions and building problem-solving capability within teams.
- Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, securing engagement and buy-in, providing clear recommendations and adapting approaches to different organisational and delivery constraints.
- Support Agile delivery practices, helping teams visualise outcomes, prioritise work, manage dependencies and deliver value through minimum viable products and iterative improvement.
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Qualifications
Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here. [https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/]
For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:
Experience:
- Proven experience in Agile and Lean delivery practices, selecting and adapting the most effective approaches, evaluating outcomes, and delivering successfully within complex or constrained environments.
- Product and service delivery experience, including integrating products with other services, managing delivery across the project lifecycle, and engaging and collaborating with stakeholders at all stages.
Behaviours:
- Changing and Improving - Level 3
- Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here. [https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/pages/behaviour-levels/]
Technical / Professional Skills:
This role is aligned to Senior Product Management within the Government Digital and Data Profession.
Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Product Manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework [https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/product-manager#senior-product-manager]
These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage.
How to Apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the Experience and Behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/introduction/] for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and Supporting Statement on the first Experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.
Please note, there may be a telephone interview prior to the final interview stage.
Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to a competency based interview which will assess the Experience and Behaviours, and a technical assessment comprising a short presentation which will assess the Technical Skills.
Full details of the interview and assessment process will be shared with shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.
We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.
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Expected Timeline (subject to change)
- Sift - week commencing 12th October
- Interview – week commencing 26th October
- Location – via Microsoft Teams
Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.
About Us
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here. [https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/]
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/what-we-offer]
As part of the UK Civil Service, [https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/about-us/] we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/nationality-requirements/]
Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Security Checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions). This post also requires the successful candidate to clear additional National Security Vetting clearance (Security Check). Further information regarding National Security Vetting clearance can be found here - United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant]
Equality Statement
Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot [Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot].
Find out more about our commitment to diversity [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/an-inclusive-organisation] and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/requesting-adjustments-2] for anyone who needs them.
Right to Work in the UK
Social Security Scotland is an approved sponsor under the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Please note that UK immigration guidance, including skill and salary thresholds and eligible occupations, is reviewed regularly and subject to change. If you require visa sponsorship, you should check the latest criteria to confirm whether this role meets current requirements before applying. You can find further advice at Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.
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