Head of Change – National Security Group (Ref: 21849)
HM Prison & Probation Service · London, England
Head of Change – National Security Group (Ref: 21849) at HM Prison & Probation Service, based in London, England, paying £91,540 - £105,912 per annum. This is a permanent role.
- Salary
- £91,540 - £105,912 per annum
- Location
- London, England
- Contract
- Permanent
- Posted
- 10 hours ago
- Closes
- 18 Sep 2026
- Sector
- Security Officer
About 82% above the going rate for security officer
Reference 11170783b8c980cc7fc58fd1b072b3c27dffad4b
About the role
Job summary
This is a Nationally based roleJob description
HMPPS Band 11
We are seeking exceptional senior leaders to join our organisation at a pivotal time of transformation. These influential roles will play a key part in delivering strategic alignment projects, providing visible leadership through change, and shaping the future direction of the organisation. Working across complex stakeholder environments, successful candidates will build and maintain strong partnerships, drive operational improvement, and ensure the delivery of high-quality outcomes that support our long-term ambitions. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact, leading people, performance, and change at the highest level.
National Security Group is leading on several major pieces of transformation in this sector. The Head of Change will oversee a portfolio of projects and workstreams. The post holder will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and governance to ensure the successful delivery of change programmes aligned to HMPPS priorities. The role includes oversight of portfolio assurance and driving improvements in project and portfolio management capability and best practice across HMPPS.
The most significant of these is the design and implementation of a multi-agency structure for the management of Serious and Organised Criminals (SOC) in the justice system. It is a high complex multi-agency project covering all prisons and probation delivery units across England and Wales and associated links with international equivalents. It seeks to bring together resource and capabilities from the National Crime Agency and Policing across the UK. Initially the role will lead the work to design both the services that this will deliver alongside the operating structure. Once agreed it will then lead the implementation of the work over the next two years. The role will also need to establish project management and governance structures for this work.
The project team is likely to consist of 20-30 staff of various grades and importantly from a variety of agencies across government. Working closely with senior stakeholders, the post holder will make decisions that support effective programme delivery and ensures change activity is aligned with organisational objectives and operational requirements.
This is a nationally based role with the standard HMPPS expectation around hybrid working and a minimum 60% office attendance. There will be frequent travel to London, occasional national travel and possible international travel.
Although the Head of Intelligence, Head of Corruption, Crime and Policing Unit, and Head of Change – NSG roles are being advertised as three separate campaigns, they all sit within the National Security Group.
If you would like to be considered for more than one of these roles, please apply for each vacancy that interests you. We will conduct a joint sift across the campaigns, and candidates applying for multiple roles will only need to attend one interview.
We will share further details and guidance on the process in due course.
Developed Vetting standards required with a further STRAP accreditation.
The question for the presentation will be sent to candidates once they have been invited to interview.
Person specification
Please refer to the Job DescriptionBehaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £91,540, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £26,519 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJFeedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December
Reference: 11170783b8c980cc7fc58fd1b072b3c27dffad4b · Posted 10 hours ago · Closes 18 Sep 2026 · Listed via HM Prison & Probation Service
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