Product Owner - 29678

Job Description

We are committed to having an inclusive workforce and welcome applications from candidates that would enhance our diversity.

Do you have experience of leading the design, build and delivery of complex products and services? We are looking for a product owner to lead a programme of Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) products to support the Environment Agency’s aim that HSW is the priority in everything we do.

As a Product Owner, you will work across multidisciplinary teams in an agile and user centric way. You are responsible for the quality of products and services developed, ensuring they meet the needs of users and the organisation. You will own the design and iteration of products and support delivery teams with knowledge of user needs and business goals. Solving problems for our users and stakeholders.

You will be passionate about working collaboratively and building trust with stakeholders.

You will:

• Be accountable for the successful delivery of user centred products, owning the product vision and roadmap from inception through to delivery.
• Manage competing priorities, adapting products and services where needed to meet users needs, ensuring we build the right things at the right time.
• Use product management principles and approaches to capture and translate user needs into deliverable outcomes for users. You will define the minimum viable product and agree and amend priorities where appropriate.
• Monitor service quality with interested parties and communicate the achievement and performance of your products to stakeholders.
• You will use your subject matter expertise to understand and communicate constraints and to manage expectations with colleagues across the organisation.
• Be an ambassador for the products internally and externally, being the primary contact for queries.
• Actively engage in user research sessions to get first-hand feedback and take a data driven approach to prioritisation.
  
  
  

The team

The Data Systems and Information team are a small friendly dispersed team of professional specialists. We work in the wider Health Safety and Wellbeing team which sits in the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance directorate of the Environment Agency. We have circa 13,000 users, whom we provide digital and data services too. We want to develop intuitive user centred systems that provide high quality data that is used to reduce our HSW risks.

Experience/skills Required

• Experience of digital projects and project management techniques including experience and understanding of user-centred design, technology and data perspectives and applying an agile methodology.
• Experience of utilising and driving product insight to ensure that products benefit from relevant innovations, remain future proof and aligned to moving technology and best practice, focused on user needs, continuous improvement, efficiencies and return on investment.
• Ability to make informed decisions based on user need, available technology and value for money.
• Ability to understand and identify problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution. You can classify and prioritise problems, document their causes and implement remedies.
• Driven and self-starting.
• Knowledge of Health, Safety and Wellbeing is desirable
• Knowledge of GDS Service Management is desirable
• An appropriate recognised management qualification equivalent to a degree qualification and/or significant relevant equivalent experience is essential.
  
  
  

Contact and additional information

Please note that your answers to the capability questions will be used to determine interview selection.

We are a national service and some travel will be essential for engagement with stakeholders. We are adopting activity based working, so you will be based in one of our offices with potential for some home working activities.

Interviews are planned for week commencing 11th November, these will be capability based with a short presentation and held by Teams.

Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties. 

For further information on this role, incident response, the employee benefits and the work of the Environment Agency, please download the candidate pack.

You can address specific role-based question to [email protected]

Length of contract

Up to 12 months

Competence 1

Achieves Results

Description

Achieves results Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets.

Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results:

Please tell us about a time you have led a project to deliver quality user centred outcomes.

Competence 2

Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description

Takes decisions and solves problems Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions:

Please tell us how you have analysed user problems and developed solutions to address these?

Competence 3

Communicates Effectively

Description

Communicates Effectively Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Please tell us about a time you have communicated complex ideas effectively to a variety of stakeholders and the result achieved?

Competence 4

Programme and Project Management

Description

Programme and Project Management Selects, plans and manages contractors, programmes or events to achieve a set of Environment Agency objectives cost-effectively.

Please explain when you have used agile methodologies to deliver a digital solution?

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.