Platform Owner

About the job

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.

Shape the Future of HMRC's Technology Platforms.

HMRC are committed to providing our people with an accommodating and accessible work environment which values diversity and inclusion in everything we do. We encourage our people to bring their whole selves to work, providing a culture that values different perspectives to help tackle complex problems, promote innovation, and deliver stronger decision making.

Candidates who wish to work an alternative working pattern are welcome to apply. The preferred working pattern may or may not be available and will be considered in line with business need. Any request for work an alternative working pattern should be discussed with the vacancy holder following the selection process.

HMRC runs one of the biggest digital operations in Government. our digital services are at the heart of the tax and benefits services for 45 million individuals and 5 million business customers.

This is an exciting time to join an organisation that probably doesn't work how you'd imagine a government organisation would.

Job description
The Multi-channel Digital Tax Platform (MDTP) is an award-winning Platform as a Service (PaaS) which hosts many of HMRCs Digital Services.

The MDTP is made up of 9 functional teams and PlatformUI (User Interface) is made up of both a development team and the Platform test Leads. The development team enable tenant teams to build accessible services aligned to GDS and HMRC Design systems, to prototype and maintain and support frontend libraries, tooling and guidance. The Platform Test Leads provide guidance and consultation on strategies for testing services running on MDTP, maintain libraries and tooling that aim to lower the cost of testing on MDTP.

The Platform Owner is responsible for developing an ambitious vision for the team, championing the voices of users and considering the long term strategy of both the products of the team and the Platform. They will be expected to establish a sound understanding of the team's digital estate, be driven by delivering a better experience for service users, and deliver a robust roadmap that aligns with user needs and the objectives of the organisation.

This is a leadership role with the expectation to work collaboratively with a hands-on approach with the team and contribute to the wider MDTP Product and cross-team space, championing best practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and success.

Person specification

Within the MDTP you will act as a key part of CDIO's intelligent client function, ensuring that the Platform is secure and available at all times, advocating for and championing the MDTP as an opinionated platform. Ensuring that tenant service teams can deploy easily, efficiently and securely and fostering an innovative spirit on the Platform, where MDTP is at the forefront of the latest technology and standards.

As a Platform Owner:

• You will build and maintain the team vision, roadmap and backlogs, setting priorities whilst ensuring a focus on value and user needs and considering cross-platform objectives.
• You will build sufficient comprehension across the breadth of the team's digital estate, with the ability to communicate the complexity to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.
• You will work closely with Lead Platform Owner and other Platform Owners to deliver the strategic roadmap of the MDTP, establishing Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) that ensure the Platform as a whole remains secure, innovative and user-focused and meets CDIO strategic priorities.
• Within your team and across the platform community you champion product-focused and outcome based thinking, sharing best practices, tools and techniques and user-centred ways of working.
• You will be able to evaluate and clearly articulate the expected value, benefits, costs, risks and organisational impact of product initiatives, using evidence and data to support your decision making.
• You will identify and highlight dependencies, minimise blockers and support the integration of other platforms with the MDTP.
• You will manage the team's products through multiple stages of the product life cycle; working with the Delivery Lead, Technical Lead and Development Team to determine the right approach and translating goals and user needs into user stories the team can deliver.
• With your hands-on and dynamic approach to working with the team, you will promote collective ownership of the team vision and how to achieve it, and foster a culture of transparency and openness.
• With your commercial and financial experience, you will confidently manage your team's budget for delivery, tooling and infrastructure costs and relationships with supplier partners.
• With your strong communication skills you will confidently lead engagement with stakeholders, engage with wider CDIO teams and represent the interests of MDTP and HMRC on calls and during live incidents.
• You will regularly engage with teams to seek ways to improve the user experience, maintenance and delivery of high quality, cost-effective, added value service and functionality of the platform.
• You will demonstrate curiosity; seeking out knowledge and insight from wider government departments or across the industry, to pro-actively shape the team's roadmap to meet user needs or highlight opportunities for innovation across the platform.
• You will work collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including complex supplier ecosystems to deliver end to end platform services, identifying and managing risks and escalating issues early.
• You will take an active role in making the MDTP a great place to work, embodying the civil service values and supporting the development of others through line management, mentoring or participating in cross-platform initiatives that promote a positive, collaborative environment.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience as a Platform Owner with a proven track record of defining product strategy, prioritising roadmaps and backlogs and making decisions using evidence based trade-offs.
• Significant experience delivering user-centric outcomes within complex, digital environments, such as within Platform-as-a-Service offerings or Frontend service delivery.
• Ability to gather, evaluate and incorporate user insights to define and adapt product scopes.
• Demonstrated experience of leading teams, championing Agile ways of working, and promoting and sharing best practice from government or industry standards.
• Proven ability to understand technical concepts within complex environments and ability to communicate these to a mix of technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience of goal setting, capturing user needs/insights and distilling these into epics and user stories.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust, manage senior stakeholder relationships and support effective decision-making.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring and line managing others across a digital team in product management roles or other GDaD roles.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in the delivery of frontend services or Platform team, within a multidisciplinary digital service team.
• Familiarity with the design standards, awareness of WCAG standards.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your Job History and previous Skills/Experiences.
• A 750-word Personal Statement, describing how your skills and experience would make you suitable for the role, and how you meet the Essential Criteria and Person Specification.

Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

Prior to applications being sifted, candidates will be asked to complete an additional IKM assessment. Candidates will be sent details of the assessment once the advert has closed. This assessment is timed and is pass or fail; only those who pass will be considered at the sift stage. If you have any queries about the assessment, or require any reasonable adjustments, please contact talentacquisitionteam@hmrc.gov.uk

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on you CV.

At full sift your CV and your Personal Statement, will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be asked a Behaviour-based questions, and Strength-based questions to explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.

[This is an example of a strengths-based question]:

"It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"

There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.

Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. Please note that circumstances may arise that require the planned interview format to change. We will endeavour to provide you with as much notice of any change as possible.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form . Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]'.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application .

Sponsorship

Applicants needing sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome to apply. This will be discussed at offer stage, and will be considered against the relevant Home Office rules at that time.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You'll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services .

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and appointments will be made in strict merit order until the set demand is filled. If successful, you will be informed when we reach your position on the merit list.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Technical Support

If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our ' help ' section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:

This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.

Terms and Conditions

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK .

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Marcus Mee
• Email : marcus.mee@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns, unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.