About the role

Job Title

Deputy Director, Operational Learning, Delivery & Transformation

Location

National

Please note the requirements for travel and level of flexibility available as set out in the FAQs section. 

Salary

The salary for this role is set at £81,000 per annum.

Existing civil servants should abide by the Civil Service rules for pay on appointment/promotion

Contract Type

This role is being offered on a temporary basis as an Expression of Interest for up to 12 months. The successful candidate will be expected to start immediately.

The Role

This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the operational delivery of prison learning across the entire prison estate. The role plays a critical part in shaping the training and development experience of frontline staff, embedding a culture of excellence, innovation, high standards, and inclusion.

It also leads the transition of learning transformation initiatives within HMPPS into sustainable business-as-usual (BAU) operations.

You will lead a geographically dispersed workforce of approximately 300 staff across 42 regional training centres, with strategic oversight of a staffing budget exceeding £16 million. Your leadership will ensure the delivery of high-quality, consistent, and operationally aligned training for prison officers and other operational staff.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting into the HR Director you will:

• Providing direction and leadership to a large national team, shaping learning delivery across the estate and driving high performance, professional standards, and inclusive practice.

• Aligning training provision with resourcing strategies, including new prison builds and expansions, while maintaining sufficient training capacity to support recruitment and mitigate attrition. You will ensure that the design and delivery of training remains current and responsive to operational demand.

• Building strong and effective relationships with key stakeholders across HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice, and beyond. This includes engagement with ministers, senior leaders, and trade unions to ensure training delivery aligns with strategic goals and operational needs.

• Overseeing the full lifecycle of learning design and delivery - from needs assessment to evaluation - to ensure the training offer remains of the highest quality and fit for purpose.

• Ensuring training delivery supports key departmental and ministerial initiatives, including the Enable Programme, the Independent Review of Foundation Training, the Professional Standards Review, the Sentencing Review, and the Prison Build Programme.

FAQ’s

Can I apply if I am not currently a civil servant?

No. This role is only suitable for existing civil servants and those in accredited Non-Departmental Bodies.

Is this role suitable for part-time working?

This role is available for full-time or flexible working arrangements.

If you wish to discuss your needs in more detail please get in touch with the SCS Recruitment Team.

Where will the role be based?

The base location of this post is flexible and can be based at any of our buildings across England and Wales. The MoJ is working to open more Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices over time. Click here to learn more about where our currently open Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices are, to identify where you may be based. 

Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

Can I claim back any expenses incurred during the recruitment process? 

• Unfortunately, we will not be able to reimburse you, except in exceptional circumstances.

Essential criteria:

• Proven experience in leading and managing large, and remote multidisciplinary teams within dynamic and complex operational environments and getting the most out of it.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a track record of building, influencing, and sustaining strategic partnerships across a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Demonstrates the ability to lead through change, champion innovation, and embed inclusive practices within teams and services and to inspire teams to deliver high-impact outcomes and deliver results.

• Experience of leading in risk-based environments, with the ability to assess, interpret, and respond to complex strategic and operational risks. Capable of contributing to high-level discussions and decision-making on risk-related matters.

Application

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process no later than 23:55 on 26^th November 2025.

The application must include:

• A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant to this role and relevant achievements in recent posts.

• A Personal Statement (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the 'person specification'.

After the Application Stage

You will be advised whether your application

has been shortlisted for the next stage of the

selection process. If you are shortlisted, we will

contact you to arrange the next stage of the

selection process.

Panel Interview and Presentation

You will be invited to attend an interview and presentation with the selection panel.

You will be asked to prepare a verbal 5-minute presentation based on a topic that will be provided in advance. The interview and presentation will last for approximately 45 minutes.

Interview

What is being assessed?

The following Behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Communicating and Influencing

• Leadership

• Delivering at Pace

• Making Effective Decisions

After the Panel Interview

Following the interview, the performance of all

candidates will be reviewed, and the

successful candidate identified. All candidates

will be notified of the outcome as soon as

possible after the conclusion of all interviews.

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

1