Deputy Project Manager

Crown Prosecution Service; England; Hybrid; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A national legal organization is hiring a Deputy Project Manager to implement change initiatives and improve operations within the criminal justice system. The role requires strong project management skills, engagement with various stakeholders, and a focus on continuous improvement. This is a full-time position based in England with a flexible working policy offering a salary of £34,680 with additional pension contributions.

Benefits

Civil Service contributory pension

Generous leave allowance

Personal development funding

Flexible working arrangements

Cycle2Work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience of change and project management.
• Willingness to complete Prince 2 or Agile practitioner qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Implement change initiatives with Area operational staff.
• Seek opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Engage with stakeholders in planning change initiatives.

Skills

Change Management

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

LEAN Principles

Digital Working

Job description

As a Deputy Project Manager, you play a key role in driving change and continuous improvement across the CPS and Criminal Justice System (CJS). Your responsibilities involve implementing, testing, and maintaining change initiatives in collaboration with Area operational staff. A primary focus will be on fostering continuous improvement and harnessing best practices.
You support Areas in adopting new processes and systems, ensuring smooth implementation and sustainability. You also provide innovative solutions to overcome any barriers or challenges faced by the Areas.
Additionally, you assist Areas in embracing digital working in partnership with the Digital Business Programme (DBP). You escalate issues when necessary and communicate cross-agency concerns to the Criminal Justice System Executive (CJSE).
You actively engage with Area Senior Managers, local managers, and staff in the planning and execution of major change initiatives, providing the required support and promoting good practices.
Furthermore, you develop specialist skills in digital working, operational business, LEAN principles (focused on reducing waste and duplication), and continuous improvement. These skills will enable you to offer informed advice and guidance to Areas, enhancing their operational efficiency.
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 before starting in this role. The start date is expected to be 8-12 weeks after the application deadline.
As part of this role, you are expected to undertake direct line management responsibilities., + Implement Change Initiatives: Work with Area operational staff to develop, test, implement, and maintain CPS and CJS change initiatives.
+ Continuous Improvement: Seek opportunities for continuous improvement and harness best practices to enhance operations.
+ Engage Stakeholders: Engage with Area Senior Managers, local managers, and staff in planning and delivering major change initiatives, providing required support and promoting good practices.
+ Collaboration: Work with cross-agency teams to address issues and enhance overall collaboration within the CJS.
+ Team Leadership: Provide leadership and direction to team members, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
A copy of the full job description is available if requested from [e-mail]., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Changing and Improving
+ Leadership
+ Managing a Quality Service, The Crown Prosecution Service has fixed rates for its Higher Executive Officer grade - a developing rate (the starting salary) and a spot rate (the maximum salary). Applicants typically join us on the developing rate and, after completing a 18-month development period, move to the spot rate - this is subject to your line manager confirming that you're performing the role to a satisfactory standard.
If you're joining the Crown Prosecution Service on a lateral transfer from another government department, you should contact us about the impact on your salary and the implications of any time you've already spent at that grade before applying or accepting an employment offer. Your salary may be adjusted if your location changes when you join us. This adjustment also takes into account any existing allowances that may have previously been consolidated into your basic pay - there's no guarantee that you can retain these when you transfer.
We want to ensure our employees can thrive at work and home and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment. We offer a hybrid working policy. You must spend at least 40% of your contracted hours over a four-week period at court, in an office or another official workplace depending on business need and the kind of work you're doing.
The Crown Prosecution Service also has a range of development programmes to support all aspiring, new and experienced managers with developing the skills, behaviours and knowledge to build their confidence and capability. Our Manager Induction Programme is mandatory for all newly appointed managers. This is a fantastic opportunity to support all our new Crown Prosecution Service managers with the tools required to perform effectively in their roles., 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 application and interview. These are expected to take place on 8th and 9th September 2025.
Your interview takes place online through Microsoft Teams. A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with guidance. If you have any queries about this, contact [e-mail]
You should keep these dates 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.
Behaviours
You are also asked to complete a statement of no more than 250 words for each behaviour setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience match the specified behaviours and requirements. In addition, you need to demonstrate the Crown Prosecution Service or Civil Service values.
1. Changing and improving - Lead Behaviour
2. Leadership
3. Managing a quality service
In addition, you need to demonstrate the following experience/technical skills required for this role, which are:
+ Experience of change and/or project management
+ Prince 2 or Agile practitioner qualifications (or willingness to complete these within a reasonable time)
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.
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 three behaviours at interview
1. Changing and improving - interview
2. Leadership - interview
3. Managing a quality service - interview
Essential Experience/Technical Skills - assessed at interview
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.
Strengths
Strengths are tested at interview stage - the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.
AI
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.
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.
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 vacancy, you're put on a reserve list for 12 months. You may be offered another deputy project manager post in HQ Operations 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.
Feedback
We only provide feedback if you attend an interview or assessment.
Fraud check
The Crown Prosecution Service provides a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they've been successful at interview. These candidates are informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details - name, National Insurance number and date of birth - are checked against the Internal Fraud Database. We won't employ anyone included on the database unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
The Strategic Resourcing team in the Crown Prosecution Service will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the Internal Fraud Database., + 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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ Experience of Project Management
+ Change Management skills
It is desirable that you have the below experience but this is not required to apply:
+ Cultural Change - Proven experience in driving cultural change and fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and continuously improving work environment.
+ Management of Risk foundation qualification, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Join the Crown Prosecution Service and find your purpose.
The Crown Prosecution Service is passionate about ensuring that we're a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We're a committed equal opportunities employer, creating a culture where you can bring your whole self to work, and individuality is truly appreciated.
This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks covering disability, faith and belief, LGBTQI+, race, social mobility alongside our mental health first aiders programme and wellbeing sessions.
The Crown Prosecution Service commits to offer its employees the following experience.
+ You can do impactful, purposeful work that's making a difference to your local communities.
+ You are able to learn and grow, with access to the right opportunities and resources.
+ We care about your wellbeing.
+ We want you to feel valued, trusted and included.
We also offer the following range of benefits:
+ Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9%
+ 25 days' leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years
+ £350 each year to spend on personal development
+ lawyer training programme for all new prosecutors
+ an extra privilege day to mark the King's birthday
+ competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
+ flexible working including flexitime, and a family friendly approach to work
+ Cycle2Work scheme, employee savings.
Diversity at the Crown Prosecution Service is about inclusion, embracing differences and ensuring our workforce truly reflects the communities we serve. We want you to feel that you belong and can thrive, whatever your background, identity or culture. As a Disability Confident employer, we're happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments and improve your recruitment experience. If you'd like any reasonable adjustments made to our recruitment process, let us know within your application or contact [e-mail].

Alongside your salary of £34,680, Crown Prosecution Service contributes £10,046 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.