Job description
The Opportunity
Our work enables the UK Parliament to run smoothly, function efficiently and operate transparently. When you join us in this exciting new role, you’ll be a key member of our Product Directorate Leadership team helping to drive digital transformation, innovation and improvement across the Directorate.
Designing and seizing opportunities to embed change, you’ll lead on stakeholder engagement for Product, and building partnerships with colleagues from both Houses of Parliament and PDS to make an impact and effect change. You’ll also be accountable for capability building, recruitment and talent pipelines, governance and finance, as well as third party partnerships and commercial arrangements for the Directorate.
With excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, and evidenced experience of collaborating at a leadership level, you’ll have the skills to build new cultures and ways of working while delivering at pace in a sustainable, cost-effective manner. Among your other responsibilities, you’ll:
- provide senior leadership, oversight and strategic direction for multidisciplinary product teams
- lead on embedding and operationalising a new approach to digital and data in Parliament, with a strong focus on continuous improvement, lifecycle management and optimisation of processes and new ways of working
- steer localised ways of working in alignment with wider organisational changes to the digital and data operating model, and foster the necessary cultural changes
- develop and improve our talent and capability strategies to future-proof the Directorate
- create and lead a strategic approach to building and maintaining trust-based relationships across digital colleagues and the two Houses of Parliament
- be accountable for capability building, recruitment, governance, finance, commercial relationships, third party partnerships and creating a diverse talent pipeline
- act as senior champion for user-centric delivery, the blending of Directorate disciplines and working in partnership with colleagues
- act as a role model for PDS’s culture, values, and behaviours
What You Need
If you’ve got experience of providing collaborative leadership across the strategic layer of a department, and can develop the long-term vision, strategy and objectives for a large-scale and complex Directorate, then we want to hear from you. You should also have:
- the ability to build open, collaborative, and trusted relationships throughout a complex organisation
- the skills to manage and influence senior stakeholders, build effective working partnerships with third party suppliers, and deliver value for money
- an established track record of seizing opportunities to continuously improve a team
- excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex information clearly across a wide range of organisational, technical and political boundaries
- the skills to build healthy, high-performing teams
- the ability to work inclusively and act as a motivating coach and mentor
- the ability to focus on outcomes while challenging and improving processes
- an understanding of the importance of adding value, and the skills to influence and make positive change
- the ability to pass security clearance, backed by the right to work in the UK
About The Team
The Product Directorate team is made up of 65 people and has multidisciplinary representation from development to content design, user research to testing – and plenty in-between. You’ll be working with a smart and creative professionals committed to unlocking digital for Parliament, delivering for users and supporting a thriving democracy. We’re a new directorate in PDS and when you join you’ll have the opportunity to shape your role towards the things you’re passionate about as you work to transform the ways we work.
About Us
UK Parliament is steeped in history and tradition. It is an important part of UK life and we need to ensure as many people as possible can engage with its work. This is why we are at the start of a huge transformation programme powered by technology. The Parliamentary Digital Service (PDS) works with the House of Commons and the House of Lords with all their IT and digital needs. We are here to realise the digital ambitions of a modern Parliament and welcome you to join us in building a digital democracy.
Our Package
Please refer to our Candidate Information Pack for a full list of our benefits which include:
- up to 35 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays
- generous maternity pay policy up to 6 months full pay
- great pension scheme options (contributory and non-contributory)
- on-site subsidised gym, nursery, catering, post office, travel office and GP
- flexible options including hybrid working and family friendly policies
How To Apply
Please make sure you're clear on the requirements of the role. These can be found in the Job Description and Candidate Information Pack. You will need to upload your CV to show how you meet up to the first five criterion. Our application process is anonymous, so please remove any personal information from it.
Apply By: 14th June 2023 at 23:55
Interviews: 30/06/2023 & 3/07/2023
Format: Presentation + Panel Interview (Remote)
Our Culture
For our people, we provide an amazing opportunity to bring their talents to an institution that sits right at the heart of society in the UK. We are helping to change UK Parliament and strengthen democracy. What matters here is your potential for growth and your commitment to playing your part in our ongoing success.
We are passionate about providing an environment which promotes inclusion, diversity and equality. Regardless of your age, gender, ethnicity, beliefs or any of the other things that make you, you. We welcome applications from people who feel under-represented in the workforce. This includes those who may feel disadvantaged because of their socioeconomic circumstances.