Transition Cutover Manager

Transition Cutover Manager - Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS)

14 Months Fixed Term Contract

Location: Hybrid - Bristol based with UK wide travel

Competetive Salary + Bonus + Company Car/ Allowance + Private Medical Insurance

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Transition Cutover Manager to lead the planning and execution of transition and service readiness activities across the Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS). This is a critical role responsible for ensuring a smooth, controlled cutover from transition into operational delivery.

Working within a complex, multi-partner environment, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders to build confidence, maintain alignment, and ensure continuity throughout transition.

This is a highly visible position requiring confident senior stakeholder engagement, strong governance discipline, and the ability to operate effectively within a live, service-based operational environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead detailed cutover planning and execution across transition  and go-live phases


• Manage seamless transition between legacy and new operating models


• Coordinate closely with workstream leads, technical teams, and delivery partners


• Manage risks, issues and dependencies to minimise operational disruption


• Build trusted relationships with senior MOD stakeholders and single Service representatives


• Facilitate dress rehearsals, readiness assessments and go-live governance forums


• Oversee early life support and stabilisation activities post go-live


• Provide clear, structured reporting to senior leadership and programme governance boards


• Embed best practice transition methodologies within a regulated defence environment

What We’re Looking For

• Demonstrable experience delivering transition or cutover within complex programmes


• Strong project management background (PRINCE2, MSP, PMP or similar desirable)


• Experience operating within defence or highly regulated environments


• Proven ability to manage senior stakeholders, including MOD or equivalent


• Experience working in customer-to-supplier delivery models


• Background in service-based operational transitions (not purely IT transformation)


• Strong risk management and transition experience


• Confident communicator able to build credibility quickly


• Ability to obtain SC Clearance
  
  

Defence experience is highly desirable; however, candidates from other regulated sectors with strong operational transition experience will also be considered.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering a nationally significant defence programme. You’ll work at the heart of mobilisation and operational transition, influencing senior stakeholders and ensuring critical services are ready to operate from Day One. The environment is fast-paced, collaborative and high-profile, offering the chance to make a tangible impact on service delivery across the Armed Forces Recruitment Service.

What we offer

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  • Company car / £4200 cash alternative
  
  
  • Private healthcare
  
  
  • Bonus scheme of up to 20%
  
  
  • Pension – 6%
  
  
  • A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
  
  
  • Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
  
  
  • A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
  
  
  • A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
  
  
  • A safe and supportive culture
  
  
  
  

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services.  We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.  For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.
 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.