Business Transformation Lead

Government Recruitment Service; Southampton; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension 28.97% of salary

25 days annual leave (+ increase with

Flexible working options

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service is recruiting a Business Transformation Lead to shape and deliver the transformation portfolio for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s customer-facing services. You will drive operational change, digital improvements, automation and AI initiatives to improve efficiency and the customer experience.

You will manage the Transformation team, align efforts with strategic priorities and collaborate with operational, data, digital, technical and supplier stakeholders to

Qualifications

• Experience leading operational change and continuous improvement programmes.
• Ability to align multiple transformation initiatives with strategic priorities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with operational, digital, IT and supplier teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational change and continuous improvement across Seafarer Operations and related customer-facing services.
• Oversee a portfolio of transformation initiatives and system enhancements aligned to priorities.
• Use data and customer feedback to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service quality.
• Drive business readiness, implementation and adoption of digital systems.
• Identify opportunities to use automation, digitalisation and AI to simplify processes.
• Chair governance forums, manage delivery plans, risks, dependencies and benefits.
• Set standards for process design, documentation and run books.
• Build relationships with operational leaders, IT teams, procurement and suppliers.
• Line-manage the Transformation team and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Job description

Can you lead complex operational change and turn improvement opportunities into measurable outcomes?

Do you have experience of improving customer-facing services through digital systems, automation and effective process design?

Have you successfully led teams and influenced operational, digital, technical and supplier stakeholders to embed sustainable change?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Business Transformation Lead to join the Business Transformation and Customer Insight function within UK Customer Maritime Services.. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of services across the Registry of Shipping and Seafarers and Seafarer Operations, helping to modernise processes, improve the customer experience and increase operational efficiency.

You will lead a portfolio of transformation activity, including operational change, digital improvement, automation and AI activity, ensuring solutions are evidence-based, well governed and successfully embedded. Working closely with operational leaders, data and insight specialists, technical teams and suppliers, you will strengthen processes and controls, build delivery capability and help create efficient, resilient and consistent services that deliver measurable benefits for customers, operational teams and the wider agency.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

As a Business Transformation Lead, you will lead operational change and continuous improvement across Seafarer Operations and the Registry of Seafarers and Shipping. You will manage and develop the Transformation team, oversee digital, automation and AI initiatives, strengthen processes and controls, and work with operational, data, digital, technical and supplier stakeholders to ensure change is well governed, successfully adopted and delivers measurable improvements for customers and the agency.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Leading operational change and continuous improvement across Seafarer Operations and related customer-facing services.
• Overseeing a portfolio of transformation initiatives, system enhancements and improvement activity aligned to strategic priorities.
• Using data, operational insight and customer feedback to identify, prioritise and shape opportunities that improve efficiency, service quality and the customer experience.
• Leading business readiness, implementation and adoption activities to ensure new and enhanced digital systems are successfully embedded.
• Identify and deliver opportunities to use automation, digitalisation and AI to simplify processes, reduce manual effort and improve service outcomes.
• Chairing governance forums and manage delivery plans, risks, dependencies, assurance and benefits.
• Setting standards for process design, documentation, operational guidance, run books, testing and controlled service delivery.
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with operational leaders, digital and IT teams, procurement and external suppliers.
• Line managing and developing the Transformation team, setting clear priorities, building capability and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Job details

• Company: Government Recruitment Service
• Salary: £45,900 to £45,900 a year
• Hours: Full-time
• Location: Southampton
• Job type: Permanent
• Posting date: 26 Oct 2026
• Closing date: 8 Nov 2026