26.49 SEO Operational Learning Transformation Lead

Job summary

Lead the transformation of how more than a thousand operational colleagues learn at DBS. Over 18 months, you’ll review existing programmes, redesign training models and create modern, inclusive learning that works for both remote and office‑based teams. From caseworker training to continuous professional development, you’ll shape a future‑proof approach rooted in evidence, adult learning theory and modern ways of learning. Your work will help colleagues feel more confident, capable and ready to deliver on our public mission to protect children and vulnerable adults.

What you’ll need

• Experience reviewing, designing or delivering operational or large‑scale learning programmes.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills — able to assess current provision, spot gaps and identify opportunities.
• Ability to build effective relationships across operational services and lead workshops, interviews and focus groups to gather insight.
• Confidence designing blended, accessible learning aligned to organisational priorities and learner needs.
• Ability to use assistive technologies (like AI) confidently.
• Ideally, experience in regulated environments, caseworker training, or using learning to enhance safeguarding practice.

A full list of requirements can be found in the attached Job Description & Person Specification.

Job description

This is a fixed-term post (18 months) within the People and Inclusion Directorate, responsible for leading a comprehensive review and transformation of operational training arrangements within the Operational Services directorate of approx. 1000 colleagues.

You will:

• Conduct a full review of current operational training provision, processes, and outcomes.
• Design and recommend a sustainable operating model for high quality operational learning, aligned to both modern adult learning theory and best practices and the remote demographic of the operational workforce and the Future of DBS Estates Programme.
• Make effective use of learning technologies to enhance the effectiveness and impact of learning provision.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Operational Services and the wider organisation to ensure engagement and successful implementation.
• Ensure all recommendations are evidence-based, inclusive, and support delivery of the DBS Workforce Strategy.
• Work in partnership with the DBS Academy who are responsible for the effectiveness of all learning at DBS.

Person specification

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Enjoys designing, reviewing or delivering learning that has a clear operational and organisational impact.
• Is confident working in a consultancy‑style way, influencing and managing stakeholders with complex requirements.
• Can balance multiple priorities, manage change, and deliver high‑quality outcomes to tight deadlines.
• Works comfortably both independently and collaboratively as part of a wider team.
• Values inclusion, accessibility and evidence‑based learning practice.
• Is confident using digital, data and AI‑enabled tools, understands their safe and ethical use, and enjoys supporting others to build confidence and capability.
• Brings a relevant professional qualification (such as CIPD Level 5 in Learning & Development) or extensive equivalent experience.

A full list of essential and desirable requirements can be found below and within the attached Job Description & Person Specification.

Essential Criteria:

Ability:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage and influence stakeholders with complex requirements.
• Ability to manage complex projects and deliver results to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Confident using digital, data and AI‑enabled tools, with the ability to learn and adopt new technologies quickly.
• Understands and applies safe, ethical and responsible use of AI‑enabled tools.
• Able to support and encourage teams in adopting digital and AI‑enabled tools, helping colleagues build confidence and embedding responsible use in everyday work.

Experience:

• Reviewing, designing, or delivering operational training or L&D programmes.
• Applying adult learning theory and best practice.
• Engaging and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Managing change and implementing new processes.
• Using digital learning platforms and tools.

Technical:

• A relevant professional qualification (e.g., CIPD Level 5 in Learning & Development or extensive equivalent experience).

Desirable Criteria:

Experience:

• Experience in the public sector or a regulated environment.
• Experience of using learning to improve Safeguarding.
• Experience of managing change and/or organisation design and development.
• Experience in the delivery or transformation of caseworker training programmes.

Technical:

• Coaching & Mentoring qualification or accreditation

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,221, Disclosure & Barring Service contributes £12,810 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.What we offer

We are a modern, flexible and ambitious organisation. At DBS you’ll benefit from hybrid and flexible working, a culture centred on wellbeing and inclusion, dedicated time for learning, modern digital tools, and a fair, transparent total reward offer.

Pension
Alongside your salary, Disclosure & Barring Service contributes towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Holidays & Leave
You’ll receive:
• 25 days annual leave, rising incrementally to 30 days with each year of service.
• 9 public & privilege holidays (bank holidays plus the Monarchs Birthday privilege day).
• Extensive special leave provisions for caring responsibilities, disability, volunteering / public / civic duties, and unexpected life events.

We offer a comprehensive range of family‑friendly provisions (some which include a qualifying period) including:
• Maternity: 26 weeks full pay, 26 weeks half pay.
• Paternity and Adoption: 3 weeks full pay.
• Shared parental leave.
• Special leave for fertility treatment and premature birth.

Learning Time & Development
You’ll have at least 5 days dedicated time available for learning, access to the DBS Academy, funded professional development (subject to policy), and the opportunity to build your capability through formal programmes, digital learning, and development pathways.

Wellbeing
• A comprehensive Wellbeing Support offer, including Mental Health First Aiders, wellbeing advocates, and resources.
• Eyecare voucher scheme and free sight tests.
• Occupational Health referrals including physiotherapy and counselling.
• 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support.
• Free flu jabs and access to gym discounts.

Other Benefits
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Enhanced retail & lifestyle discounts.
• Exceptional performance recognition & recognition vouchers.
• Season ticket loans for your commute.
• Payroll giving options for charitable donations.
• Ability to claim professional membership fees where relevant to your role.

The DBS vision and purpose is to make people safer by being a visible, trusted and influential organisation, providing an outstanding quality of service to all our customers and partners, where our people understand the important safeguarding contributions they make and feel proud to work here. To do this, the DBS is committed to being an employer that is able to attract, develop, retain and engage diverse talent that is representative of the communities we serve, and to be an organisation providing outstanding service to all our existing and new customers, who are diverse and have a range of different needs. We want all our staff to be able to bring their ‘whole self’ to work.

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 Experience.

To apply for this post, please provide a CV and a suitability statement (no more than 1000 words) outlining how your skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements of the role, including all essential & desirable criteria, and the key responsibilities.

For all candidates who are successful at the initial sifting stage, you will be invited to interview.

The interview will consist of a panel-based interview and a presentation.

The first stage of the interview will be a 10 minute presentation, the presentation topic will be sent to you with your Microsoft Teams Interview invite. The presentation will assess the Experience Essential Criteria.

Following the presentation, there will be a panel based interview.

The aim of the panel interview will be to assess your ability to demonstrate the following behaviours:

• Working Together
• Changing & Improving
• Communicating & Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Closing date: Monday 11th May 2026 at 10.00am.

The following timetable outlines indicative dates. Please note, these dates may be subject to change without prior notice.

• The initial candidate sift is due to take place between 11th and 22nd May.
• Interviews are due to take place from 1st June.

Whilst we will endeavour to provide some flexibility with regards to dates wherever possible, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer an alternative date once an appointment has been scheduled.

Interview to be held via Microsoft Teams

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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

Security

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 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Sam Carter
• Email : sam.carter@dbs.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSPeopleSupportTeam@dbs.gov.uk

Attachments

SEO Operational Learning Transformation Lead JD February 26 Final Opens in new window (docx, 457kB)