Product Owner SPM

Within Social Security Scotlands Chief Digital Office the Technologies & Platforms branch oversees the organisations internal Digital Delivery Management and Product Ownership functions. These functions ensure Social Security Scotland can design build and run scalable secure and user-centred digital systems at enterprise level.

As we continue to scale our strategic use of Social Programme Management (SPM) we are recruiting a Product Owner (SPM) to lead the definition assurance and delivery of SPM Core capabilities across the organisation.

This role sits within the SPM Design Team with end-to-end responsibility for SPM design control and strategic development. The team owns and maintains the SPM Blueprint optimises SPM design structures and safeguards the SPM product for both operational colleagues and end-users across Scotland.

The SPM Product Owner will lead the strategic direction roadmap and delivery of the core SPM product working closely with senior leaders within the Division delivery partners and technical specialists. You will lead a team of SPM Technical and Business Architects and directly support the delivery of a Scrum team focused on high-priority SPM Core development.

The post-holder will ensure the SPM product aligns to enterprise architecture adheres to the SPM Blueprint and supports Social Security Scotlands wider business capability needs. This is a significant leadership role requiring strong product ownership business architecture fluency and experience directing technical teams in large-scale agile environments.

A Lead Product Manager is the lead for the product team in their programme or service.

At this role level you will:

• Work closely with the head of product (where they exist as a separate role) to provide leadership and direction to all products in a programme or a local product community
• Maintain the high level roadmap
• Be involved in a range of programme management activities in support of the service owner
• Be involved in hiring associate product managers product managers senior product managers and contractors
• Provide leadership in your programmes and across the local community

Main Responsibilities

• Own the strategic direction and roadmap for the SPM Core product ensuring alignment with the SPM Blueprint and Scottish Government digital strategy and Social Security architecture roadmap.
• Lead multidisciplinary delivery teams across the full product lifecycle creating an inclusive high-performing environment and embedding Agile and user-centred ways of working.
• Provide senior leadership in problem definition and problem solving ensuring problems are clearly articulated understood in their wider context and addressed effectively.
• Oversee end-to-end service and technical design of SPM solutions working closely with architects and technical leads to deliver high-quality integrated services.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation applying best practice from across government industry and the wider digital economy.
• Ensure delivery of value and benefits realisation linking product delivery to business cases grounded in user needs and service outcomes.
• Manage risks constraints and operational issues anticipating change and acting as an escalation point where appropriate.
• Support and develop others across the organisation contributing to assurance activities and strengthening capability in product management and Agile 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 how we assess the Success Profile elements.

Essential Experience

1. You should have experience defining and calculating product benefits and be able to explain and promote the value proposition to others with the ability to relate this to SPM concepts .
2. You are a recognised expert in delivery and problem-solving with a strong track record of identifying evaluating and applying the most effective ways of working or solutions to achieve project outcomes. This includes leveraging both innovative and proven approaches and coaching others in these practices.

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Communicating and influencing
  

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours ()

Technical / Professional Skills:

This role is aligned to Lead Product Manager within the Digital Data and Technology Profession.

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage.

Please review the following to understand the skill expectations:
Product Manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

How to Apply
Apply online you must provide a CV and a Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words). Your CV and Supporting Statement should clearly demonstrate how you meet the Experience and Behaviours requiredfor the role as outlined in the Success Profile above. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that youve done that showcase your relevant experience.

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.

In the event that we receive a high volume of applications we may conduct an initial sift using the CV and Supporting Statement based on the first Experience criteria. Candidates who successfully pass this initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.

Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to attend an Interview and Technical Assessment. The interview will further assess the Experience and Behaviours listed in the job advert and the technical assessment will evaluate the technical skills relevant to the role.

Candidates who are invited to the Interview and Technical Assessment will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack which will outline the skills to be assessed and the assessment methods to be used.

Following the application sift there may be a telephone interview as part of the assessment process before the main interview.

Please note 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.

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift w/c 19th January 2026
Interview w/c 2nd February 2026
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.

DDaT Pay Supplement
This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital Data and Technology (DDAT) profession and as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system.

This post currently attracts a 5000 annual DDAT pay supplement applicable after a 3 months competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded.

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 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

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 existing permanent civil servants who have successfully completed their probation period within Social Security Scotland or the broader Scottish Government.

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

Apply before 19th January 2026 at 23:55

Contact Name- Resourcing Team

Contact email