DBS - CSM Transition Manager

Job summary

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?

Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry.

DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

The 2025 – 2030 Corporate Plan came up with a new mission and vision which are now:

Vision

To be the best shared service centre in Government

Mission

Proudly delivering excellence in shared services, through customer centric solutions to enable Defence outcomes

DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society.

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.

Come and join the DBS community today!

https://youtu.be/gUw0ToaRGgk

DBS is part of The National Armaments Directorate (NAD) Group which is at the heart of delivering and sustaining the UK’s defence capability. Bringing together organisations responsible for developing, procuring, supporting and modernising Defence equipment, infrastructure and services, the Directorate works closely with industry, international partners and academia to ensure the Armed Forces have the capabilities they need to deter threats, protect the nation and succeed on operations. NAD drives innovation, operational readiness and value for money while supporting economic growth and strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base.

Between April & September 2027 the role you are applying for will move from Tomlinson House Norcross to the new MOD building at Station View, Talbot Gateway, Blackpool. For successful external/new candidates to DBS please note this post does not qualify for relocation allowances.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Are you ready to shape how Corporate Services are delivered in the Ministry of Defence (MOD)?

MOD has embarked on an ambitious journey to transform its Shared Services Operating Model as part of the Corporate Services Modernisation (CSM) Portfolio, a Pan-Defence portfolio which will reform how everyone in Defence does their day-to-day corporate activities, delivering the best user experience, better and faster data driven decision making and improved productivity, and efficiency from its shared services operations. The CSM portfolio is made up of multiple programmes including DefHRS, Journey 2Cloud and Shared Services Operating Model and ultimately aims at increasing the time and focus spent on front-line defence operations.

Corporate Services are critically important for the 250,000 people working across Defence to do their day-to-day jobs. For example, every time the department procures military equipment, personnel receive their monthly pay or request their vacation, they are using Corporate Services. As part of the wider government Shared Services Strategy, MOD has established the Corporate Services Modernisation (CSM) portfolio to drive Human Resources, Commercial and Finance policy, process, organisational, data and systems transformation. (More information on the Shared Services agenda can be found through this link: Shared-Services-Strategy-for-Government-March-2021.pdf).

Our ambition is to revolutionise MOD corporate services to:

• Improve the user experience by simplifying our policies and processes, providing easier and better interfaces to systems and self-service and; making services more responsive and providing easy access to help.
• Deliver better data driven decision making by introducing and fully exploiting the latest Oracle Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Human Capital Management (HCM) technology; improving visibility, accuracy and accessibility of management information across defence; and using integrated data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to inform decision making.
• Improve Productivity and Efficiency by automating transactional processes; expanding and improving MOD’s shared service centre operations; and reducing MOD’s overall corporate services spend to maximise our reinvestment into the front-line.

At the heart of this ambitious journey to transform Shared Services is Defence Business Services (DBS), one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MOD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

DBS Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.

DBS Mission – Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability.

As we look towards the future, DBS stands at the threshold of a transformative journey enabled through CSM and the successful delivery of a future Shared Services Operating Model.

MOD is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of society.

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Candidates applying to work from Tomlinson House Norcross, Blackpool should note that all staff will move to the new Government Hub at Talbot Gateway in Blackpool, which is scheduled to take place in early 2027.

The Role

Defence Business Services (DBS) has started to develop its future Shared Services Operating Model (SSOM) to transform how it will look and operate in 2030 as Defence's Shared Service provider. This role offers an exciting and unique opportunity for a Business Change and Analysis professional to work as part of a newly established transition capability whose purpose is to transition and transform services, at scale and at pace, from across Defence into the future Shared Services Organisation, ensuring successful delivery and benefits realisation.

This role (client side) will work closely with the Delivery Partner (external consultants) and across DBS, the CSM Portfolio and the Functions (People, Finance, Commercial and Digital & Data) and broader across Defence to support the identification, transition, transformation and move of services into Shared Services Operations.

A Transition Toolkit has been developed with the Delivery Partner to enable transition and transformation; this supporting role will work collaboratively with others to ensure smooth and timely transitions into the Shared Services Organisation in accordance with the transition toolkit as part of a small Transition and Transformation team.

Primary responsibilities include:

Transition Management: Lead the operational side of the transition management process, including data & documents collection and production, and the management of all people resources involved throughout each transition.

Analytical Expertise: Analyse ‘as-is’ and ‘to-be’ service designs and data, identify trends and challenge assumptions to support effective decision-making. Ensure each transition is setup to deliver all anticipated benefits.

Problem-solving and adaptability: Proactively identify and resolve challenges and opportunities that may arise during the transition process, working with others to identify, develop and implement effective solutions and adapt to new ways of working.

Risks and Issues Management: Identify and escalate risks and issues as necessary throughout transition and ensure they are effectively managed to deliver successful outcomes.

Collaboration and communication: Lead engagement with Sending Teams (Current state delivery owners) and Receiving Teams (Future state delivery owners), wider team members and stakeholders, to ensure smooth, timely transitions into the Shared Services Organisation.

Attention to detail: Successfully deliver service transitions, ensuring accuracy and completeness of all people, process and technology transition tasks in line with planning timelines, enabling performance goals to be met through meticulous attention to detail.

Knowledge Transfer: Ensure effective transfer of knowledge and expertise to the receiving team (Future state delivery owners) as the service moves into Shared Services Operations, managing agreed cutover arrangements from the ‘as-is’ to the ‘to-be’ and standing-up the new service to meet the performance expectations.

This is a fast-paced programme of work, and this post will be required to be adaptable to changing priorities to support the wider team.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of transitioning, centralising and transforming services into shared services, with a particular focus on Finance, People and Commercial services.

• Proven Project Management and Business Change and Analysis experience.

• Strong communication, engagement and stakeholder management experience.

• Operating at pace in a pressurised and ambiguous environment.

Desirable

• Good working knowledge of how MOD works, ideally with strong networks across the Department.

• Project and Change Management skills ideally with APM Project Management Qualification

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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).

• An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years' service (pro rata). In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for the King's birthday
• Hybrid working, where role permits
• An opportunity to be considered for Reward & Recognition.
• Family friendly policies including parental leave and adoption leave
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and personal development of skills
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

CV - To streamline our review process, we kindly request that you submit a CV that is no longer than 2 pages. Please ensure it includes:

- Job History

- Key Skills

- Relevant Experience

Personal Statement - In no more than 1250 words, please provide information of how you meet the criteria set out in the job description. You may wish to further include examples of how you have tackled similar tasks or demonstrated the skills outlined in the job advert.

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the following success profile elements:

Primary: Career - Personal Statement

In the rare case where individuals have exact matching scores, the order of merit will be determined based on the behaviour scores at interview in the following order:

1 - Behaviour – Leadership

2 – Behaviour – Communicating and influencing

3 – Behaviour – Delivering at Pace

4 - Behaviour – Seeing the Big picture

5 – Behaviour – Changing and improving

If candidate scores are still exact, the merit order will then be determined on the sift score in the following order:

1 - Career - Personal Statement

2 - Career - CV

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn’t always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months.

Sift start date: Mid November
Interviews are currently taking place via the following method: MS Teams
Interview start date: Late November

Further information:

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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 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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Joanna Day
• Email : Joanna.Day138@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@MOD.gov.uk in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)