23747 - Transformation Office Deputy Director (National)

Working as part of the Service Strategy and Transformation Senior Leadership Team, the Deputy Director will oversee the Ministry of Justice transformation landscape, provide portfolio oversight, build leadership capability, tackle systemic barriers that affect transformation delivery across the MoJ and set drive the Transformation Strategy across the Department.

The Deputy Director will oversee

The Transformation Portfolio, which creates joined-up view of the MoJ’s highest-priority transformation activity; the Capabilities team equips senior leaders with the skills, behaviours and resources to lead transformation; the Design team works across organisational boundaries to address systemic obstacles and improve the conditions for deliver; and set the Department’s Transformation Strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the Transformation Office Function

Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Transformation Office pillar within Service Strategy and Transformation.

Manage the Transformation Landscape

Oversee the enterprise transformation landscape across MoJ, HMCTS, HMPPS and relevant arm's-length bodies, maintaining an independent view of delivery confidence, performance, risk, affordability and cross-programme dependencies across major transformation activity.

Support Delivery and Remove Barriers

Act as an escalation point for delivery challenges raised by transformation programmes.

Facilitate problem solving and broker support from across MOJ where delivery risks or barriers emerge.

Drive Transformation Governance and Performance

Develop and support the maintenance of proportionate governance arrangements for transformation activity.

Stakeholder Leadership and Collaboration

Provide authoritative, independent advice to Ministers, ExCo, Directors General, SROs and senior boards on transformation performance, delivery confidence and emerging risks, determining where issues require escalation or intervention and presenting clear choices and recommendations to support timely decision-making.

Leadership and People Management

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of transformation practitioners

Create an inclusive and high-performing team culture.

Establish and Drive Transformation Strategy

Set and lead the MoJ transformation strategy, building alignment across senior leaders and embedding a coherent, outcome-focused approach to transformation across the department.

Service Design Leadership

Provide strategic leadership for the Transformation Office's service design capability, setting and championing best practice and using user research and service-design evidence to identify systemic barriers and opportunities for improved services across the transformation portfolio.

The role will have responsibility for a team of 25 FTE and will contribute to oversight of significant transformation investment across the department.

Essential Experience

Strategic problem-solving

Expert at breaking down complex and ambiguous problems, using quantitative and qualitative evidence to develop practical solutions. Able to see the bigger picture, identify systemic barriers and connect delivery challenges to the wider transformation strategy and outcomes for the MoJ.

Transformation and change leadership

A strong track record of leading complex transformation and delivering innovative approaches to change at pace and scale. Able to translate strategic ambitions into practical action and measurable outcomes, with a strong commitment to transforming how the Civil Service designs and delivers services.

Portfolio, governance and delivery oversight: Significant experience of overseeing complex portfolios and senior-level governance, using evidence and insight to understand performance, identify risks, opportunities and dependencies, and enable effective prioritisation and senior decision-making.

Senior stakeholder management and influence

Exceptional ability to engage and influence senior leaders, navigate complex political and organisational dynamics, and build trusted relationships across organisational and functional boundaries to resolve difficult issues and deliver shared outcomes.

Leadership and capability building

Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing leaders and cross-functional teams through uncertainty and change. Skilled at setting direction, empowering others and creating a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement, while building the capability needed to sustain transformation.