Senior Business Change Manager (AI Adoption & Data Strategy)

Job summary

Cabinet Office Digital is looking for a Senior Business Change Manager to lead the organisational change required to embed AI tools and data-driven ways of working across the Department. This is a high impact role at the centre of government, bridging the gap between technical teams delivering AI and data products and platforms and the business users who need to adopt them effectively.

You will develop and deliver change management strategies that support AI Adoption and Data Transformation programmes, working with senior leaders and end users to build support, manage resistance and ensure lasting behavioural change. You will be accountable for assessing organisational readiness, designing engagement and training plans to build AI and data literacy, and measuring the impact of change initiatives against the department’s Data Strategy and the Data Maturity Model. A key priority which will span both AI and data strategies will be to support the transition from Google Gemini to Microsoft Copilot as the department migrates to Microsoft 365.

This role requires a self starter who thrives in a complex stakeholder environment and is comfortable navigating ambiguity.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Develop and deliver change management strategies and plans to support AI Adoption and Data Transformation programmes across the Cabinet Office, ensuring smooth transitions and minimising resistance to change.

Participate in and lead aspects of stakeholder engagement with senior leaders, department heads and operational teams to communicate the case for change, build support and maintain momentum for AI and data initiatives.

Assess organisational readiness for AI adoption, identifying barriers, risks and dependencies, and developing appropriate mitigation strategies.

Create communications and engagement plans to build AI and data literacy across the organisation, working with training teams and coordinating with technical teams to ensure products are adopted effectively.

Measure the impact of change initiatives on organisational performance, ensuring alignment with the department’s data strategy and the GDS-led, cross-government Data Maturity Model, and reporting progress to senior boards.

Work across multi-disciplinary teams and maintain awareness of emerging government policy on data, AI and digital transformation to ensure the organisation is well prepared to implement changes.
Champion best practice in business change management, developing clear guidance, standards, tools and processes that can be reused across the portfolio.

Other responsibilities may be required as part of the change efforts for CO Digital.

Person specification

Skills

• Proficiency in applying a structured change management methodology (e.g. Prosci, ADKAR) to plan, execute, and monitor complex organisational change initiatives, ensuring consistent adoption and measurable results.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with a proven ability to collaborate and build relationships at all levels across complex organisations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical AI and data concepts for non-technical audiences and to produce clear, compelling written communications.
• Strong organisational skills, with proven ability to manage and prioritise workloads across different initiatives.
• Analytical capability to assess organisational readiness, evaluate risks, and measure the impact of change initiatives.

Experience

• Proven track record of leading complex change management programmes, ideally involving technology adoption, digital or data transformation initiatives.
• Experience of developing and implementing organisational change strategies, including communications, training and engagement plans.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary teams in a complex environment, influencing senior management and navigating ambiguity.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

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

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,204, Cabinet Office contributes £16,571 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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.

Application process

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Change & Improving.

Selection process

The candidate will be asked to complete a CV, Statement of Suitability and the following behaviours: Changing & Improving, Communicating & Influencing, Seeing the bigger Picture, Delivering at Pace and Leadership.

Please provide a personal statement of no more than 750 words. It should explain how your knowledge, skills and experience (using examples) meet the requirements for this role in line with the Success Profile element(s) being assessed (e.g. Behaviours, Experience etc). Using the job advert information, particularly the job description and person specification. Information is available on the application process (including what Civil Service Success Profiles is) and how to write your personal statement.

You will be sifted on CV, Statement of Suitability and the behaviour Changing & Improving.

The panel will be conducting interviews on your experience and all of the listed behaviours followed by a Presentation. Details of presentation will be provided prior to interviews.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – week commencing 08/06/26
Expected interview date/s – week commencing15/06/26

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : codigitalrecruitment
• Email : codigitalrecruitment@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)