B3 Product Lead in Social Security Scotland

Join Social Security Scotland as a Product Lead and help shape the future of vital public services.

Within our Digital Directorate, the Apps & Platforms team plays a critical role in delivering secure, resilient and scalable technology that underpins our national services. Working at the heart of our Digital Delivery Management function, you’ll be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team that partners with internal specialists and external suppliers to design and run the platforms that support everything from benefit applications, client communications to data sharing and reporting.

As a Product Lead, you’ll take ownership of key platforms, driving their ongoing development and performance as live services. You’ll work closely with technical and service management, product colleagues to ensure the platforms continually meet user needs, delivering meaningful improvements to the experience of both citizens and staff. This is a unique opportunity to combine product thinking with technical insight to make a tangible difference at scale.

Product Leads manage multiple products or a single product that is especially complex, high risk or sensitive.

At this role level, you will:

• Line manage Associate Product Managers and Product Managers.
• Have expert product management skills.
• Potentially be involved in elements of programme management activity.
• Be involved in hiring associates, product managers and contractors.

Responsibilities

• Identify and apply the most effective delivery approaches, using data and evaluation to measure outcomes, inform decisions, and support the management of allocated resources.
  
• Support teams to prioritise work, visualise outcomes and maintain focus on agreed scope, MVP and delivery within financial limits.
  
• Develop and deliver strategy for your Platform, ensuring alignment with wider organisational objectives.
  
• Design, implement and continuously improve operational processes across the full product lifecycle, including the introduction of new services.
  
• Act as the escalation point for complex operational or project issues, proactively anticipating risks and overcoming constraints to ensure successful delivery.
  
• Understand and clearly articulate problems in their wider organisational context, helping others to do the same and make informed decisions.
  
• Collaborate effectively with Digital, Product and operational delivery teams, as well as wider Government Digital and Data communities.
  
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders —challenging constructively, securing buy-in and driving adoption.
  
• Develop and manage stakeholder engagement throughout delivery, ensuring the right people are involved at the right time.
  
• Promote the value of products and services, ensuring integration with other systems and maximising organisational benefit.
  
• Apply product management expertise across all lifecycle stages, recognising when to progress, adapt or stop activity as needed.
  
• Use a range of tools, techniques and agile approaches flexibly, adapting to change and working effectively with limited or ambiguous information.
  
• Collaborate with user researchers to ensure user needs are understood and represented in decision-making.
  
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of design, technology and data principles to inform product direction and delivery.

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.

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience

1. Experience integrating technology products with other services while managing stakeholder engagement at key stages of delivery, to ensure alignment and successful implementation .
   
2. Ability to clearly define and articulate complex technical problem statements, supporting others to develop shared understanding and inform decision-making
   

Behaviours

• Changing and Improving (Level 3)
• Leadership (Level 3)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.

Technical Skills
This role is aligned to Senior Product Manager 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

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 a Supporting Statement (of no more than 750) which provides evidence of how you meet the Success Profiles above. Both the CV and the Supporting Statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role

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 for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

An initial sift may be completed using the CV and Supporting Statement against the first Experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.

Successful candidates 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, where a large number of applications are received, it may not be possible to give feedback to candidates who are not invited to interview or assessment. Feedback will be available on request to all candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift - week commencing 9h November
Interview – week commencing 23rd November
Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

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.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

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.

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.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. 

Further Information
This role is only available to those currently employed by Social Security Scotland, Scottish Government Main or Common Citizenship organisations, who have passed probation and have been recruited via Fair and Open means.

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Apply before 23:55 on 9th November 2026

Contact Name - Resourcing Team
Contact e-Mail - recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot