Head of Transformation - #189606

Head of Transformation

Hours of Work: Full-Time

Location: Greater Belfast

Closing Date/Time: 19/06/2026 3:00pm

Reference Number: HRHOT1926

Job Background:

The Head of Transformation will lead organisational wide change programmes to improve effectiveness, efficiency and service delivery across the PSNI. The role holder will be responsible for developing and delivering a transformation agenda aligned to PSNI strategic and operational priorities, embedding continuous improvement, innovation, and measureable outcomes.

The role holder will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver transformational programmes within agreed time, cost and quality parameters while engaging with internal and external stakeholders to drive innovation, challenge existing practices and provide strategic advice to the Service Executive Team.

Hours of Work: Monday – Friday with a requirement to work outside office hours when necessary to meet the demands of the role.

Full –time 37 working hours per week (42 hours gross).

Salary: £73,577 - £77,904 plus £1422 environmental allowance.

Main Activities:

The main duties and responsibilities associated with the role include the following:

Transformation Delivery

• Lead the planning, governance and delivery of major transformation programmes including establishing and maintaining transformation governance frameworks, risk registers and performance reporting to ensure delivery is in line with milestones and resources.
• Provide senior leadership to the Transformation Branch in developing and supporting the skills base of the multi-disciplinary team including tools and techniques, implementing procedures and practices in relation to project management, organisational change and evidence based policing.
• Build positive relationships and collaborate with senior business leads in identifying, designing and delivering complex change portfolios.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and strategic oversight to ensure high performance and capability building.
• Broad scanning and benchmarking to keep abreast of national developments in support of sharing best practice on transformational including digital / automation developments

Performance, Benefits and Reporting

• Reviewing and approving the initiation of specific projects and programmes of work to deliver transformational change.
• Oversee the preparation, review and reporting of programme progress against agreed milestones and benefits realisation ensuring timely updates are provided to Service Transformation Board.
• Develop and track key performance indicators to measure transformation impact and benefit realisation.
• Identify and recommends re-alignment of programme plan, where appropriate to assure delivery of programme benefits.
• Design and manage governance of the transformation programme to achieve coherent decision making, effective management of programme risks and integration of transformational changes into business as usual.
• Robustly promote the aims of the transformation programme and integrating the change agenda by championing alignment with internal strategy objectives and the objectives of the organisation's key external stakeholders.
• Procure and manage an external provider to act as a Strategic Partner in support of the transformation programme (as required).

Communication and Engagement

• Communicate a compelling and coherent transformation narrative, ensuring clarity of direction across the organisation and with key stakeholders.
• Develop strategic partnerships to support the definition, design and delivery of the required transformational change.
• Liaise with the Service Executive Team as a subject matter expert for transformational change project and programme management and to secure senior buy-in for strategic transformational projects.
• Network with other leaders responsible for transformation agenda within their organisations.
• Proactively engage with all staff representation bodies throughout the design and delivery phases of change projects.
• Design, develop and lead an organisational business design authority in collaboration with senior colleagues from enabling functions, such as HR, IT and Finance.

Budget and Resources

• The role holder is the formal budget holder for the Transformation Branch, being responsible for an annual budget of circa £2m and has the autonomy for ensuring that resources are appropriately directed to meet operational demand and achieve departmental objectives.

The main duties and responsibilities reflect the main elements of those associated with this position. It is not intended to be exclusive or exhaustive.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant area AND a professional accreditation in Project Management/Change Management, Business Analysis AND/OR Continuous Improvement such as Prince2, MSP,PMI, Lean Six Sigma or similar accreditation.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Minimum of three years’ proven experience in a senior role responsible for leading enterprise/ organisation wide transformation or major change in a complex and challenging, large* organisation. (“large” is defined as an organisation with more than 300 employees).
• Strategy development skills evidenced through the formulation and delivery of a corporate/ organisational level transformation, quality improvement or efficiency change programme.
• Professional credibility in influencing and collaborating effectively at a senior level, both within and external to the organisation, regarding strategic change management.
• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to motivate teams, improve performance and drive change beyond direct reporting lines.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to provide succinct reports with a strategic perspective.
• Experience of achieving value for money and being accountable for a budget.

Essential Other

• IT literate, specifically in the use of the Microsoft Office suite (including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook).
• The post holder will be expected to travel on official duty frequently and regularly throughout Northern Ireland. This includes travel to remote and rural locations, often inaccessible by public transport. It is therefore essential that applicants have access to a form of transport which will permit them to meet the requirement of the post in full.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Senior leadership experience in a public sector environment.
• Experience developing organisation wide programmes for capability/capacity building for improvement.

Additional Information

Appointment will be dependent on the individual satisfying the vetting requirements for the post which will vary according to the work area appointed to.

Please note that for all appointments there is a minimum requirement to have a three year checkable history, which includes a requirement for candidates to have resided in the UK for the three years immediately preceding their vetting application.

Shortlisting will be carried out based on the essential criteria. Please note in some instances, for example, where there are a high level of applicants, desirable criteria may be applied.

Successful applicants will be retained on a merit list for future opportunities arising.

Selection Methodology

PSNI uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values to support all policing professionals. You will be assessed against the values and at the competencies level as indicated below.

This will include both past and future focused questions. Further guidance and, information about the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) is available here on our website. Please use the 2024 CVF for this role.

Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and essential qualifications, skills and experience will be required to demonstrate their experience for the following criteria:

Competency and Values Based Presentation and Interview

Values

• Courage and Integrity
• Public Service

Competencies – Level 3

• We Collaborate
• We Support and Inspire
• We Analyse Critically
• We Take Ownership

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £73,577.00-£77,904.00 per year

Work Location: In person