Area Operational Change Manager

As the Area Operational Change Manager, you work closely with the Deputy Head of Operations, senior leaders, managers and staff across Thames and Chiltern to lead and embed operational change across the Area. You are responsible for ensuring change activity is effectively planned, coordinated and delivered in support of strategic priorities and operational performance.

You develop and oversee change plans, coordinate multiple projects and initiatives, and ensure delivery is achieved within agreed scope, timescales and quality standards. You provide leadership throughout the change lifecycle, managing risks, dependencies and implementation to support successful outcomes.

Working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, you build strong relationships to secure engagement and ensure change is delivered effectively. You act as a key link between operational teams and project stakeholders, helping to translate strategic objectives into practical and sustainable ways of working.

The role will support the introduction of new processes, systems and working practices, ensuring staff are equipped to adopt and sustain change. This includes sharing best practice, capturing lessons learned, promoting continuous improvement and helping the Area realise the benefits of change through efficient and effective service delivery.

The Crown Prosecution Service is based in England and Wales. If you’re applying for this role and live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you must let us know when accepting this offer as you need permission to work from your home address if hybrid working is part of your role. There’s no guarantee that we will grant this approval.

You must be aged 16 or over at the point of starting in this role. The expected start date is approximately 8–12 weeks after the application closing date. You are expected to commence employment as soon as possible following the expiry of your notice period. Requests for significantly later start dates may not be accommodated.

Your roles and responsibilities include:

• Managing operational change initiatives and national projects at a local level.
• Planning and driving forward change to deliver the objectives under the Area Business Plan.
• Working with senior managers, local managers, staff and stakeholders acting as an advocate in relation to the planning, sequencing and delivery of operational change initiatives, being an advocate for change.
• Being responsible for promoting and supporting a continuous improvement culture across the Area by engaging in activities to support innovation and (collate) feedback ideas for continuous improvement.
• Identifying risks and benefits and put processes in place to track, measure and communicate for all new change initiatives or projects.
• Developing and communicating project plans to all stakeholders detailing their roles, responsibilities and accountability, linking these where appropriate to create a seamless overall change picture/narrative.

A full copy of the job description is attached.

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 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Recruitment process

The recruitment process consists of an online test, online application, assessment and interview.

Online tests

Before submitting your application, you’re invited to complete an online Civil Service verbal reasoning test. You must successfully complete the test to progress to the next stage. Please complete the online test as soon as possible – we recommend within 24-48 hours. The closing date for the test is 14th October 2026 at 23:55.

We send you an invitation to take the test and provide full instructions about how to complete it. The test can’t be taken on mobile phones or tablets.

For more guidance about the online Civil Service tests, please see the GOV.UK website: Civil Service online tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Behaviours

You are asked to complete a statement of no more than 250 words for each of the following behaviours, setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience match the specified behaviours and requirements:

• Changing and improving
• Making effective decisions

In addition, you need to demonstrate the following experience/technical skills required for this role:

• Proficiency in a wide range of digital tools – Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams etc

You also need to demonstrate the Crown Prosecution Service or Civil Service values.

The panel has the right to assess the lead behaviour ‘Changing and improving’ first. If the standard on this behaviour isn’t met, the other behaviours won’t be considered and your application won’t progress. The panel also has the right to raise the minimum standard pass mark. The panel may also refer to the lead behaviour at the interview stage to determine merit order.

CV

You’re not required to upload your CV. However, when submitting your application there is a ‘CV section’. You are required to provide information about your employment and/or academic history for the past three years. The CV section will be used as supporting evidence, it won’t be assessed.

It’s your responsibility to provide the specified information in the requested format to ensure that you're considered for the post.

If you're unable to cover three years through employment or academic history, you must provide a character reference for clearance purposes.

Interview and Assessment

The interview and assessment are expected to take place on 30th October 2026 at Aquis House, 49-51 Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1PL

A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with guidance. If you have any queries about this, contact Calum.Chisholm@cps.gov.uk

You should keep this date free or notify us if you're not available. We'll make every effort to accommodate your date preferences but we can't guarantee it.

We ask you to complete an assessment as part of the recruitment process for this role. We will provide details immediately before your interview.

We use behaviours to help us understand your experience, to see if you're a good fit for the role. You are assessed against HEO level in the Civil Service success profiles behaviours framework. We are assessing four behaviours at interview and assessment stage:

• Changing and Improving – Interview/assessment
• Delivering at Pace – Interview
• Leadership – Interview
• Making Effective Decisions – Interview

Other

This is a full-time post. We do consider requests for flexible, part-time working and job share, always considering the operational needs of the department.

Please note that the CPS is unable to offer visa sponsorship. If you require visa sponsorship to work in the UK, you will not meet the eligibility criteria for this role.

Clearance

If successful, you are required to secure a Disclosure and Barring Service check, for which you must have a current valid UK address.

If successfully appointed, we ask you to complete a character enquiry form and nationality and immigration questionnaire

If you're a Crown Prosecution Service member of staff, you won’t need to do a Disclosure and Barring Service check as you already hold this clearance.

The job you’re applying for is covered by Article 3(a) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, consequently Section 4(2) of that Act doesn’t apply. You’re required to disclose all previous convictions and cautions including spent convictions. Failing to make a full declaration will result in withdrawing your offer of employment if our checks reveal convictions that haven’t been disclosed.

Reserve list

If you're recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancies, you’re put on a reserve list for 12 months. You may be offered another Area Operational Change Manager post in the CPS if a vacancy comes up during this period. We may also approach candidates on the waiting list to fill other roles that require similar knowledge and experience.

Civil Service Commission

If you’re dissatisfied with the recruitment process and wish to make a complaint, please contact Strategic.Resourcing@cps.gov.uk with your concerns.

If you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a further complaint, please click on the following link to the Civil Service Commission complaints page Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission

Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles can be found at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/

Details of the Civil Service Nationality Rules are located at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Candidates are subject to UK immigration requirements. For the most up-to-date information on the requirements of working in the UK, please go to the UK Visas and Immigration website at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.