Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transition planning and execution for the Armed Forces Recruitment Service.
- Company: Join Serco, a leader in delivering essential public services.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, healthcare, and a company car or allowance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national defence programmes and service delivery.
- Qualifications: Experience in transition management and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic, inclusive culture with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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
- 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 (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 our recruitment team directly.
Transition Cutover Manager employer: Serco
Contact Detail:
Serco Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Transition Cutover Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the defence sector or related fields. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral, which can give you a leg up in the application process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how they align with your experience in transition management. This will help you showcase your fit for the role and impress those senior stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Transition Cutover Manager, you'll need to engage confidently with senior stakeholders. Mock interviews with friends or mentors can help you articulate your thoughts clearly and build that credibility.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our team at Serco.
We think you need these skills to ace Transition Cutover Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in transition management. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills: Since this role involves engaging with senior stakeholders, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed relationships in previous roles. We want to see your confidence and communication skills shine through!
Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on your background in service-based operational transitions, especially within regulated environments. If you've got experience in defence or similar sectors, make sure to mention it!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, applying early can help you avoid any last-minute rush.
How to prepare for a job interview at Serco
✨Know Your Transition Methodologies
Make sure you brush up on best practice transition methodologies, especially those relevant to defence environments. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past roles, as this will show your understanding of the complexities involved.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to demonstrate your experience in managing senior stakeholders, particularly within the MOD or similar sectors. Think of specific examples where you've built trust and maintained alignment during transitions, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Showcase Your Risk Management Skills
Be prepared to talk about how you've identified and managed risks in previous projects. Highlight any specific tools or frameworks you've used, and be ready to discuss how you minimised operational disruption during transitions.
✨Practice Your Communication
Since this role requires confident communication, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Consider doing mock interviews with a friend or mentor, focusing on how you can build credibility quickly with senior stakeholders.
