Description
Search 'Job title' or 'reference number' on Civil Service Jobs and click to APPLY
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Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 13th October 2025
- Location:
- MOD Corsham, Westwells Road, Corsham, SN13 9NR,
- MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH,
- MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB
Please note that there will be regular travel required to other sites
- Salary: £59,690
- Reference number: 428950
The MOD's digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting-edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity solutions to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad.
At the Defence AI Centre (DAIC), our mission is to advance the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to give the MOD a decisive edge. We drive the ambitious, safe, and responsible adoption of AI across Defence, to make the difference where it matters most. Joining the DAIC means becoming part of a world-leading, multi-disciplinary team at the forefront of AI innovation. You’ll be working closely with partners across the MOD, international allies, government agencies, industry leaders, and academic experts to shape the future of UK Defence AI.
Step into the forefront of innovation at the DAIC and become part of a pioneering team that's at the forefront of transforming Defence technology!
Watch our video to see what we do at Defence Digital!
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
As Lead Product Manager, you will be at the forefront of delivering the AI capabilities needed to support the UK’s Defence strategy. You will lead and manage a small and evolving portfolio of AI Pathfinder projects, covering both battle-space and business-space applications of AI.
These AI Pathfinders will typically be in the early stages of the product life-cycle, as early incubators, accelerators or proof-of-value pilots, with those which are successful being scaled. In some cases, you will lead the team delivering the product, in others you will partner with existing development teams across defence.
You’ll take ownership of a product portfolio or end-to-end service, driving quality, value, and strategic direction. You’ll collaborate across teams to shape and refine product strategies, while playing a key role in programme delivery and leadership. Your responsibilities will include managing both products and people, maintaining and evolving the high-level road-map, supporting programme management activities, and providing strategic leadership across your product area. You’ll also be involved in recruiting, mentoring, and coaching junior Product Managers to help build capability within the team.
This role also involves:
- Balancing resources between teams, to ensure the overall outcomes are aligned to product vision and use of resources are optimised to deliver best value.
- Work with service management teams, for example ensuring these have timely access to products and information so they can support them.
- Develop and execute product strategy that keeps key stakeholders informed, aligns to product vision, and ensure customer value is prioritised.
- Provide the engagement and information needed to enable users to make the most of a products across its life cycle.
- Work with the problem owner to ensure problems are fully understood and product solutions meet their needs.
- Encourage and facilitate continuous improvement of the delivery team.
You will play a key role in maintaining stakeholder alignment and delivering innovative, mission-critical outcomes that harness AI to strengthen the UK’s Defence.
Please refer to the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for more information about the skills required for this role: Product manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk)
Person specification
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to lead on AI products in the absence of established patterns or precedents. The ideal candidate will be adaptable, perceptive, and comfortable working in a fast paced and complex environment.
You will have experience working in hybrid delivery environments where Agile interfaces with other methodologies such as Waterfall, demonstrating the ability to collaborate effectively and reach pragmatic compromises. You will have a track record of applying Digital Service principles to meet user needs, maximise value delivery and operational efficiency. A clear understanding of the distinction between product development and bespoke customisation is essential, along with proven experience in strategic planning, product ownership, and maintaining a strong user-focused approach.
When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role. Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a statement of suitability (max. 1250 words) demonstrating the essential criteria listed below:
- Explain your experience of incubating digital products from the start of their life cycle and into scaling and/or live service.
- Explain your experience of managing competing deadlines while keeping your team engaged, motivated, and aligned with key priorities.
- Describe your ability to build partnerships with customer and delivery teams, achieve consensus and drive strategic decision-making across diverse stakeholder groups.
Experience with AI, machine learning, or data science products or programmes would add value to the role, but don’t worry if you don’t have this, we’d still love to hear from you!
Do you want to hear more about this role? We would love for you to join us, and learn more from members of the team, at our upcoming candidate brief, being held on 07/10/25 @ 5pm. To confirm your attendance, please email us, using your personal email at ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk with your name and CSJ job reference number. We will then forward you a Microsoft Team’s invite to be able to join on the day.
The DAIC will also soon be recruiting for a range of other exciting roles across our growing team, so keep an eye on the Civil Service Jobs website for upcoming vacancies in:
- Business Relationship
- Solutions Architecture
- Business Analysis
- Data Science
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of something impactful, stay tuned!
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Product Leadership
- Lifecycle Management
Benefits
- Flexible working options- we understand the importance of adapting work to your life.
- Inclusion and diversity- our culture celebrates uniqueness and encourages collaboration of diverse thought.
- A pension scheme which secures your future.
- Generous annual leave- starting with 25 days and growing to 30 after just 5 years.
- Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to volunteer for military or emergency service reserve commitments.
- Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
- Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms
- You can read more here- Civil Service Employee Benefits , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
Equality and Diversity
Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.
Professional Framework Statement
Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing. Within Defence Digital each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group.
Learning & Development
In Defence Digital we have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing:
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- Professional and Personal Development of skills
- Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by MOD
- Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD
Hybrid Working
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity. Requirements to attend other locations for official business or work in another MOD office will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. This post is working 37 hours per week. The post can be based at either MOD Corsham, Westwells Road, Corsham, SN13 9NR, MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB. Please note that there will be regular travel required to other sites.
The MOD is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout the transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with all personnel and Trade Unions.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
You will be required to complete an online Civil Service Judgement Test as the first stage of the application process. If you are successful, you will then be invited to submit a full application. At sift you will be assessed against your CV and personal statement. You will need to provide a personal statement (maximum 1,250 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification, along with your CV.
Please ensure you allow sufficient time to complete both the test and the remainder of the application form.
Here is a link to our video which gives you helpful tips and guidance on the CS Jobs application process: Watch
Interview
The interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams, and we’ll assess you against these Behaviours and Technical Skills:
Behaviours
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Bigger Picture
Technical Skills:
- Product Leadership
- Lifecycle Management
Presentation
In addition to the interview, you will be required to present for 5 minutes on a topic related to the role. The topic of the presentation will be sent to you in advance of your interview. We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for interviews or assessments.
Candidates will be required to complete an online Civil Service Judgement test.
The Civil Service Judgement Test is not bankable and therefore must be taken on every vacancy where it is applied.
Should you be invited to complete the online tests, please allow sufficient time to complete the tests and the remainder of the full application form; only candidates who are successful at the test stage will be invited to complete the remainder of the application by clicking ‘Submit Application’. Your application must be completed by 23:55 on the closing date of the vacancy. Late submissions cannot be accepted. The tests are not timed, as they work by giving you harder questions if you answer the previous question correctly, and easier if you get it wrong. You should allow up to an hour for each test, and each test must be completed before you will be invited to complete the second part of your application. Internet access will be required for the duration of the test. Please refer to the attached Candidate Guidance for further information.
Candidates that reach the minimum required pass mark will have their results saved as a banked score against the following tests:
- New Civil Service Verbal Test
- New Civil Service Numerical Test
When a candidate has a banked score they’re not asked to re-take the same test providing it is set at the same level. Scores will be banked for a 6 month period from the date of test completion. If a candidate is invited to take the same test against multiple vacancies, the banked score will be recognised against all vacancies and all active applications will progress.
CSJT scores cannot be banked as each test is generated from the behaviours required for a specific role which will vary between recruitment campaigns.
If you require any particular arrangements (for example due to a disability or health problem) to be made in order for you to complete the online test you MUST contact the DBS Enquiry Centre on 0800 345 7772 BEFORE accessing the online test.
Opening times Mon -Friday 0800- 1600 hrs.
AI Usage in Job Applications
We encourage the use of technology to streamline the job application process. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be helpful in generating ideas, improving writing style, and increasing efficiency. However, it is essential that any content submitted as part of a job application is truthful, accurate, and a genuine reflection of the applicant’s qualifications and experiences. Any use of AI should be supplementary to your own knowledge and abilities. Ultimately, the application should demonstrate your unique skills and suitability for the role. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
- Name :DD Talent Acquisition Team
- Email :ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email :DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
info@csc.gov.uk.
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