Job Title: SAFER Senior Product Manager
Business Area / Directorate: Food Standards Scotland
Location: Pilgrim House, Aberdeen
Working Arrangement: Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Grade: C1
Advert Type: Temporary Promotion or Level Transfer
Duration: 23 months
Eligibility: Expressions of interest are invited from colleagues in band B-C for this role.
Sponsorship: Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
Overview
The Senior Product Manager is responsible for the oversight, quality and delivery of the SAFER digital product/s and transition from legacy systems and is expected to develop and use their knowledge of user needs and business goals to translate into set priorities and clearly defined deliverables for SAFER programme.
Reporting directly to the C2 Head of Data and Digital you will work as part of a dedicated programme team across the four strategic pillars of food law delivery model, sustainable funding & dynamic regulation, assurance and digital and data enablement for the SAFER programme. A key element of this role will be working with the SG Component Based Service Delivery to provide the necessary technical and digital expertise to convert business needs into robust, sustainable and reliant digital solutions. You will also be required to collaborate with FSS colleagues, the Scottish Government Legal Directorate (SGLD), and other parts of Scottish and UK government as required. You will support stakeholder engagement activities, including working with external stakeholders via the SAFER Technical Advisory Groups as and when required.
The postholder will work on a group of products that share a value proposition, or a single product that is complex, high risk or sensitive. They are responsible for product quality and value, working with teams to identify, implement and improve strategies and tactics for their products. They will play a lead role in the delivery of programme management activity and hold line management responsibilities for the delivery support roles.
Key responsibilities
Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of digital products and services.
- Define product strategy, priorities and roadmaps aligned to business and user needs.
- Champion user-centred design and evidence-based decision-making.
- Engage, influence and manage stakeholders to secure successful outcomes.
- Manage risks, constraints and complex operational issues.
- Drive Agile delivery, collaboration and continuous improvement across teams.
- Ensure products deliver measurable business value and benefits.
- Work within a multi-disciplinary SAFER programme team including a PMO, delivery managers, project managers, lawyers, economic advisors, social scientists, data scientists, operational researchers and statisticians to ensure workstream and programme objectives are met.
- Work as the leader of the Data and Digital Enablement strategic pillar, with a responsibility within the dedicated SAFER programme team for oversight, development and implementation of the relevant digital solutions and transition from legacy systems.
- Provide assurance to the SAFER Programme Board, Head of SAFER Programme and senior officials regarding programme proposals and recommendations.
- Support stakeholder engagement activities, including consultation with food businesses, local authorities, and industry bodies, ensuring programme considerations are clearly communicated.
Success Profile
Technical / Professional Skills:
Government Digital and Data Profession:
- Agile and Lean Practices - Practitioner
- Applying user-centred insights - Practitioner
- Creating value for money - Practitioner
- Lifecycle management - Practitioner
- Managing product outcomes - Practitioner
- Product Leadership - Practitioner
- Product management - Expert
- Stakeholder relationship management - Practitioner
- Strategic ownership - Practitioner
You can find out more about the required GDD skills and the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework here
SFIA - Level 6
- Business Process Improvement
- Project Management
- Change Management
- Product Management
You can find out more about the SFIA framework here.
Experience:
- You should have expertise in coaching and leading teams in Agile and Lean practices, determining the right approach for the team to take and evaluating this through the life of a project You should have experience in integrating products with other services
- You should have experience in integrating products with other services
- You should have experience of planning and engaging with the appropriate stakeholders at various stages in the project
- You should have expertise in articulating the problem statement while also helping others to do so
- You should demonstrate experience in user centred design to meet needs across a variety of channels, bringing insight and expertise in how user needs have changed over time to ensure they're met by the business
- You should be experienced in adapting the approach depending on the constraint
Behaviours:
- Changing and Improving - Level 4
- Making Effective Decisions - Level 4
- Delivering at Pace - Level 4
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide
Working Pattern
This post is a full-time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns, proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.
Further Information
Further information about this opportunity is available from Ronnie Simpson, Head of Data and Digital (ronnie.simpson@fss.scot)
Pay Supplement
This role does not attract any allowance under the new GDD pay supplement rules.
How to Apply
Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 1000 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.
Vacancies close at 23:59 on Wednesday 5 August.
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
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by panel. Shortlisted candidates who are considered to have the skills and experience will be invited to interview with the hiring manager and another panel member. The panel will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the post.
Interviews will be scheduled for w/c TBC.
Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further information
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.
Apply before: 05/08/2026 (23:59)