Role Description
Reporting to the Chief Digital & Information Officer this is a senior management role and part of the Camden Digital & Data Service (DDS) Senior Leadership Team. The Head of Digital Product will be the principal authority for conceptualization of outward-facing digital products and services across the Council, delegated from the CDIO.
The role will also help Camden to adopt a user needs based methodology at scale through the use of research and iterative development – assisting the CDIO in spearheading a citizen centred approach to the application of technology and data
Person Description
Managing and recruiting a growing cross functional team, responsibilities will include:
- Building relationships within DDS and wider to stimulate advocacy around design thinking, product mindset and agile ways of working.
- Developing in-house expertise and capability around Design, Product Management, UX Research, UX/UI, Frontend Engineering and Agile Delivery disciplines.
- Where appropriate, directly leading high-value programmes of work. Translating outcomes from policy design and directorates into a tangible roadmap of outputs.
- Extrapolating user needs-based methodology to lead on solution/prototyping decisions when ascertaining build, low-code or buy technology implementation options.
- Working closely with Technical Architect, Head of Technology and SMEs on the design and implementation of the Council’s digital development architecture with a particular focus on API and Microservices strategy.
- Formulation of standards and best practices for working with external digital organisations.
- Implement a culture of ROI on new engagements, fine-tuning approaches as needed to ensure we’re investing in the right tools and resources.
- Maintaining the Council’s digital strategy, making sure this evolves as Camdens broader organisational strategy refines post-Covid.
- Working closely with organisational development and strategy departments to deliver a broader digital transformation ambition.
- Working with multiple teams to develop a strong internal/external communications plans around a new digital ways of working.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Someone with proven change leadership experience. A motivational leader, able to unite multidisciplinary teams to deliver against a common vision.
- Significant experience of building cross-functional teams with strong service design capability.
- Strong practical experience of using agile delivery methodologies, particularly Scrum and Kanban.
- Strong understanding of design and product thinking with the ability to explain complex language to non-experts in a clear, inclusive and engaging manner.
- Knowledge of open and best-of-breed technology ecosystem principles using APIs, Microservices etc.
- Direct product management experience within at least 3 of the 5 stages of the product lifecycle.
- Organisationally and politically savvy, a consummate diplomat capable of understanding and navigating the personalities, obstacles and politics of the organization.
- Enjoys working in complex and changing environments, and is comfortable with ambiguity.
- Tenacious problem solver with innovative and creative thinking who escalates by exception when appropriate.
- Understands the drivers to enable others to perform; shows empathy but equally sets clear, unambiguous targets that individuals / teams / suppliers are held accountable to.
- Strong influencing and negotiating skills and ability to use them to deliver positive outcomes.
Desirable
- Experienced with low code software implementation.
- Experienced working with data disciplines as part of a cross-functional team.
- Degree educated in Computer Science related field or equivalent experience.