Director of Transformation

Role overview

This nationally based position sits within the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for shaping, sequencing and delivering transformation across the department and its agencies. The post provides senior-level leadership across a broad change portfolio, with a focus on stronger service ownership, higher delivery confidence and improvements that can be clearly demonstrated for users, staff and taxpayers.

The role reports to the DG Justice Services and Transformation and covers work across service operations and corporate headquarters. It is based across England, Scotland and Wales, with listed regions including the East Midlands, East of England, London, North East England, North West England, Scotland, South East England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Key responsibilities

• Define the transformation strategy for the Ministry of Justice and its agencies, making sure it supports departmental priorities and ministerial aims.
• Oversee, assure and steer a joined-up transformation portfolio and programme that supports successful change across operational services and corporate HQ.
• Drive modern ways of working, including clearer service ownership, product-oriented delivery, stronger transformation capability and multidisciplinary teams spanning policy, operations, digital, data and related functions.
• Work closely with senior leaders across policy, operations and corporate functions, providing advice, challenge and direction on transformation initiatives.
• Partner with Cabinet Office, DSIT and other government stakeholders so that MoJ programmes are aligned to wider government objectives and can benefit from central sponsorship where useful.
• Ensure transformation activity produces measurable benefits, better outcomes and improved value for money for service users, frontline staff and taxpayers.

Essential experience and criteria

• Demonstrated success leading major transformation in a complex environment, including setting the direction and creating the conditions needed for delivery.
• Proven record of improving operations in measurable ways, such as better customer experience, stronger operational performance and improved value for money.
• Strong background in digital, data and product-led change, with a good understanding of how different technologies, including AI, can be applied in operational and corporate contexts.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and earn the confidence of colleagues, boards and ministers.
• Ability to build high-performing, inclusive teams that are focused on continuous improvement and demonstrable benefits.

Assessment and selection

The hiring process uses Success Profiles and will assess both behaviours and experience. The behaviours to be tested are: Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, and Making Effective Decisions. Feedback is only provided to candidates who attend interview or assessment. Full details of the recruitment process and timeline are available in the candidate information pack.

Assignment and security

This post carries an expected minimum assignment duration of 3 years. This is an expectation rather than a contractual clause, and accepting the role means agreeing to that expected period, subject to personal circumstances and business needs.

Successful candidates must pass a criminal record check and meet the security requirements before appointment. The required clearance level is Security Check. People working with government assets must also complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.

Nationality and eligibility

This role is broadly open to UK nationals; nationals of the Republic of Ireland; nationals of Commonwealth countries with the right to work in the UK; nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and eligible family members with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme; eligible applicants who have made a valid EUSS application; certain individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020; and Turkish nationals and certain family members who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.

The Civil Service promotes fair and open competition, diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity. Disability Confident and Redeployment Interview Scheme arrangements may apply where relevant. This vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Pay and benefits

The salary for this post is £105,000. In addition, the Ministry of Justice contributes £30,418 towards membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme, with an employer contribution rate of 28.97%.

• Access to learning and development opportunities
• A working environment that supports flexible working options to improve work-life balance
• A culture that encourages inclusion and diversity
• Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual leave
• Public holidays
• Season ticket advance

Recruitment notes

Applicants are advised to review the candidate information pack for the full role description, selection process and recruitment timeline. The advert notes that the vacancy will no longer be available once closed, so candidates may wish to save a copy for their records. Artificial intelligence may be used to support an application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate and based on the applicant’s own experience. Presenting generated or borrowed material as original may lead to withdrawal of an application and, for internal candidates, disciplinary action.

Contact

SCS Recruitment Team: scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk

Recruitment team email: scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk

Additional information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If a candidate believes those principles have not been followed, they should first contact SSCL at Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com. If the role was advertised outside the Civil Service and the response remains unsatisfactory, a complaint may be raised with the Civil Service Commission. The role is also aligned with Civil Service standards, the Civil Service Code, the People Plan and the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.