Who we are
Open Government Products is an in-house team of engineers, designers, and product managers who build technology for the public good. We proactively identify areas where technology can help, test our prototypes with actual users, and bring our best ones to launch. This includes everything from building better frontend applications for citizens, to automating the internal operations of public agencies. We use and release open source software, keep a flat hierarchy, and bypass bureaucracy to focus on delivery. We work on real problems, build for the user, and push for change.
Projects we have worked on include:
Data.gov.sg - An open repository of all the Singapore Government's public data. It helps people understand the data using visualizations and articles, and provides real-time APIs for developers to use. Parking.sg - A mobile app alternative to parking coupons. It lets users pay, extend, and refund their parking sessions just using their phones. FormSG - A form builder tool for agencies to self-service and create online forms that capture classified data, with the goal of replacing paper forms. Isomer - Isomer provides government agencies with an easy-to-deploy static website building and hosting service to create usable, secure and faster informational websites quickly. RedeemSG - RedeemSG helps the Singapore Government to create, send and track redemptions of digital vouchers easily. PaySG - PaySG was developed to enable digital payments for government services, and was initially used for payments for COVID-19 swab tests and Stay-Home Notices for incoming travellers to Singapore. What does a Product Manager do?
As a product manager, your job is to make sure the right things get done. At a high level, this means establishing a clear vision for what a product should be and what needs to be done to get there. On a day to day basis, this means handling all the different facets of a project and making sure they’re coordinated. And at the core, this means building a foundation of knowledge across user needs, technical constraints, and design goals so you can act as a bridge across all of them.
Understanding users better than anyone else
Conducting user studies to understand their needs and problems
Analyzing data to uncover usage patterns that inform product decisions
Researching the industry to understand existing solutions
Running efficient meetings to keep people updated and make good decisions
Prioritizing, planning, and tracking what needs to be done
Documenting key information and decisions about the product
Communicating across teams
Explaining technical considerations to non-technical audiences
Comfortable with public-speaking, giving presentations, writing papers etc
Identifying key stakeholders and convincing them to give their support
Coordinating efforts across multiple roles from marketing, legal, finance, operations, and more
Making good product decisions
Working with designers to create intuitive user experiences
Creating multiple proposals for the many forms a product can take
Driving the team toward consensus on what the product should be
You will work on meaningful projects that solve problems pertinent to our society, from transportation, to education, to healthcare. The public sector is full of opportunities where even the simplest software can have a big impact on people’s lives. You will have direct ownership of your work with over 70% of our projects starting as ground up initiatives. Rather than work on commercial ventures commonly found in the startup scene, we're here to improve how we live as a society through what we can offer as a government.
Who we are looking for
Have experience writing code - You don’t need to be an expert engineer, but you need to be able to work with engineers and develop a strong understanding of technical considerations
Can analyze and use data to solve problems - The ability to apply specific approaches and knowing what data you would need matter more than knowledge about advanced statistical techniques
Have a good design sense - This means empathizing with users and having an intuition of what good and bad products look like
Have solid communication skills - You need to be able to write clearly and concisely, give good presentations, and know how to get people working together
Take initiative to make things happen - Our job is to push for change in government, so we need to challenge the status quo and not wait for instruction.
Want to work for the public good - We are public servants, we serve the public. This sometimes means ignoring political pressures and misguided policies. We need people who will push back if something is not in the public interest.
We are happy to consider new and recent graduate applicants, particularly if you have:
A technical background in Computer Science/a related area or a background in Design
Demonstrated a desire to contribute toward public good
Shows a penchant for taking initiative and for pushing to make things happen
Overall we look for people who have ability, initiative, good communication, and strong values.