Senior Product Manager

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CYBER SECURITY AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS (CSDS)

At the Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions CSDS, we prioritize people—both within our team and in the communities we serve. Our mission is to redefine how Nova Scotians engage with government by creating accessible, reliable digital solutions centered around user needs.

In today's tech-driven world, CSDS empowers government departments with essential digital solutions to meet Nova Scotians' expectations. As a trusted partner across government, we enable departments to fulfill their mandates with secure, user-friendly services. From healthcare and education to public safety, we collaborate to transform how services are designed and delivered.

We don't just implement technology; we modernize outdated systems and reimagine processes. Our agile, data-driven approach ensures that digital services are both efficient and adaptable to Nova Scotia's evolving needs.

Joining CSDS means contributing to work that makes a real difference. From providing vital tech support to healthcare professionals to strengthening cybersecurity and developing scalable digital platforms, you'll play a key role in building a more inclusive, responsive government for Nova Scotians.

Together, we're setting new standards for digital public service, delivering resilient solutions that meet today's needs—and anticipate tomorrow's challenges.

About Our Opportunity

We are looking for an energetic, hands-on Senior Product Manager to join our Digital Trust and Credentials team within the Digital Platform Services division. This team is focused on delivering, supporting, and continuously improving Digital Trust & Credentials platform(s) across various government program areas.

Reporting to the Director of Digital Trust and Credentials, the Senior Product Manager will be responsible for driving the strategy, development, and on-going success and continuous improvement of our Platform(s). You will work closely with cross-functional government teams and across other Canadian jurisdictions to define the products' vision, prioritize features, and define our roadmap. You will be a key driver - gaining insight and organizing priorities from various stakeholders, users, and government programs and communicate them to the development team.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead the development of new high-profile platforms and products built around the needs of users. You will take part of shaping the future of the digital trust and credentials in Nova Scotia and drive meaningful impact for our citizens and partners.

Primary Accountabilities

Product Vision and Strategy:

• Define and execute the product vision and product strategy that captures higher-level longer-range decisions, working with teams and stakeholders to develop that vision and strategy over time.

• Create and maintain a product strategy that captures higher-level longer-range and more abstract decisions

• Create and maintain a product roadmap that captures more detailed shorter-term and more concrete decisions, making roadmap decisions and driving stakeholder consensus on more contentious roadmap decisions

• Achieve stakeholder alignment on big product choices including strategic product features, product architecture, and significant technology choices.

Product Management:

• Remove complexity from products and services. Seek to understand how a product technically works, ask questions and challenge assumptions.

• Develop, prioritize, maintain and execute an ambitious roadmap that drives excitement and creates clarity for cross-functional teams to come together and deliver holistic solutions that create value for partners and Nova Scotians.

• Translate product requirements into epics, user stories, specifications, and design concepts, creating, maintaining, and prioritizing product backlogs.

• Lead and conduct user research or market research to identify trends, and opportunities for improvement.

• Stay updated on emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices, contributing to the technical growth and advancement of the team.

• Lead the product development process, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and sprint review sessions. Keeping a strong focus on delivery priorities, being accountable for delivery, and acting swiftly to respond to changing requirements.

• Work with UX and Service designers on design choices that align with the product's value proposition.

Primary Accountabilities will also include:

Leadership and Roadmap Ownership:

• Provide strategic direction to achieve the product vision. Dive deep to understand the needs of internal and external users, stakeholders, and partners and their related program goals, program policies and operational constraints. Gather and organize feedback from users to help guide product roadmap decisions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with internal and external teams and partners to build solid, positive and collaborative relationships built on trust. Act as the glue that keeps stakeholders aligned and on track. Keeping people informed and engaged by working in the open about the design and development of your products.

Analytics:

• Set measurable goals for your product and reporting against these to demonstrate progress against stated benefits. Monitor product performance, define success metrics, and KPIs, and iterate on product features and enhancements based on user feedback.

Communication:

• Regularly communicate across diverse teams as well as stakeholders, including frequently presenting to executive leadership team. Communicate user stories, product requirements, and the business importance of a feature with all stakeholders involved.

Adaptability:

• Flexibility to quickly adapt to new technologies. A curious mindset that enjoys learning.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this position, you hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, as well as several years of proven management experience, specifically in Product Management including leading, developing and implementing high quality digital products and services. You can demonstrate with evidence:

• A track record of developing and championing product strategy with quantifiable impact.

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, prioritize initiatives, and translate strategy into actionable plans with clear milestones.

• Proven track of designing, developing, and releasing quality and human-centered digital products using the principles of user research, service design, usability design, analytics, and accessibility.

• Proficiency in Agile product management techniques, such as user story writing, MVP definition, and roadmap/backlog prioritization to achieve the vision. Can offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to be used.

• A compelling influencer with strong communication and collaboration skills, and ability to effectively communicate product vision, business value behind ideas, and /or priorities to stakeholders, at various senior levels.

• Engage with users and use qualitative and quantitative insights to identify how users' needs can be met by product and service improvements.

• Use strong decision-making and prioritization skills to own and manage the product backlog and roadmap through the design and delivery process.

• Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment, and to enthusiastically work within constantly changing priorities and remain flexible.

Qualifications and Experience also includes:

• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to understand a product's impact on business operations and analyze industry trends.

• The ability to set, monitor, and report on measurable product performance targets.

• Strong experience with cloud software delivery, Agile/Scrum methodologies and product management tools such as JIRA, Confluence or similar tools.

• Comfortable with learning new technology.

• Financial literacy and understanding to propose and influence product investment options

• Championing a community of product managers across organizational boundaries relying on strong relationships and value.

Assets

The following skills and experience are considered assets:

• Product Management Certificate.

• Understanding and experience in Digital Identity and Digital Credentials.

• You possess technical understanding of data, data structures, and APIs and you love bringing these concepts to life in exciting products that add value for citizens and partners.

More About Who You Are & What You Bring to the Table

If you are excited about translating strategy into actionable plans, and exploring new opportunities to drive impactful results, then this role is for you.

You are passionate about people's experiences and want to make people's lives better. You're curious, and your humbleness helps you learn and grow. You love to collaborate across roles and organizations, and you can create a path forward from uncertainty. You are comfortable inspiring others with your communication skills whether they be senior leaders or technical teams.

You share our values of Respect, Integrity, Diversity, Accountability & The Public Good, have a passion for service excellence and actively promote and encourage the importance of people, teams, diversity, and culture.

LEADS

The Government of Nova Scotia has adopted the LEADS Leadership Framework. During the interview, candidates will be expected to express how they have demonstrated the key behaviours and capabilities required to effectively lead in a caring and inclusive environment. LEADS Domains includes Leads Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions and Systems Transformation. Please follow LEADS (novascotia.ca) for more information.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Additional Information

This is a term, full-time vacancy with an anticipated end date of March 31, 2027. The appointment status ('term' or 'casual' is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate).

Benefits & Perks

At the CSDS with the Government of Nova Scotia, we are committed to providing a fulfilling work environment with numerous benefits and opportunities:

• Work-Life Balance: Maintain a healthy work-life balance with a 35-hour work week.

• Secure Your Future: Access a defined benefits pension plan for a stable retirement.

• Annual Leave & Holidays: Start with 3 weeks (15 days) of annual vacation.

• Supportive Leadership: Our leadership prioritizes flexibility, communication, and enabling your success.

• Support in Times of Need: Rely on short- and long-term support options tailored to help you and your family when it matters most.

• Employee and Family Support: Access our Employee and Family Assistance Programs for comprehensive resources and guidance.

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Engage with various stakeholders and government departments, building expertise and connections that enrich Nova Scotia's future, and your own professional development.

• Growth & Development: Explore career paths in specialized areas like digital service design, cybersecurity, enterprise risk, digital platforms, mission IT, and more.

• Lifelong Learning: Expand your skills with ongoing training and development opportunities.

• Professional Advancement: Dive into public service with endless opportunities for growth, learning, and meaningful contributions.

Join the Department of Cyber Security & Digital Solutions and experience the benefits of a fulfilling career, supported by comprehensive perks, career development opportunities, and a diverse range of paths to explore within our department and across the government.