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This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £55,457 - £61,003, London salary range is £58,471 - £66,044. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
11-Mar-2026
Business Unit
Youth Custody Service
Post Type
Loan
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
14955

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Profile 

Job Title: Commissioning Projects Manager

Directorate: Youth Custody Service 

Team: Commissioning Team

Duration Loan until 31st March 2028

Grade Band 8

Background

HMPPS aims to prevent victims by changing lives. We work with our partners to carry out the sentences given by the courts, either in custody or the community. We reduce reoffending by rehabilitating the people in our care through education and employment. The agency is made up of HM Prison Service, Probation Service and the Youth Custody Service (YCS).

Established in 2017, the YCS aims to create a safe, decent, and nurturing environment that provides outstanding levels of care and support for all children in custody. The YCS aims to be a provider of high-quality children’s services, where skilled, enthusiastic staff have the tools and capability to work with children to meet their individual needs and develop children to lead rewarding, constructive crime free lives upon their release.

This role offers the opportunity to join the YCS Commissioning Team and contribute to its wide-ranging work in commissioning services that meet Government requirements for children and young people in custody across England and Wales.

We’re looking for someone who is proactive, detail-oriented, with the ability to think strategically and to deliver projects in close collaboration with other teams, functions, Government departments, suppliers, and markets. You’ll work with experts, partners and stakeholders to form good, evidence-based judgements. The work of the team is varied, fast-moving and intellectually stimulating.

The postholder will support the Commissioning Team across our portfolio of delivery; with planned work to include a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Expiry Project. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

This post is responsible for managing key work to design and deliver commissioning projects that secure services and places for children and young people who are remanded or sentenced to custody in the Children and Young People’s Secure Estate (CYPSE) in England and Wales. The CYPSE is made up of Young Offender Institutions (YOIs), Secure Training Centres (STCs) and Secure Children’s Homes (SCHs) and a Secure School.

The post holder will directly contribute to the commissioning of complex services in youth custody and will have responsibility for activity that delivers against intended outcomes for children, staff and stakeholders. Responsibilities, activities and duties include:

Manage commissioning projects and workstreams to design and deliver evidence-based services that improve outcomes for children and young people in custody across England and Wales.

  • Accountable for applying project management approaches/methodologies to work across the commissioning cycle, ensuring work products are effectively delivered within agreed time, resource and quality tolerances. This includes project planning and developing methods to: mitigate and manage risks and to address issues; to deliver benefits; and to analyse equalities impacts.
  • Responsible for managing and coordinating the production of key service (specifications, performance mechanisms) and project documentation (reports, business cases, submissions, etc.) for commissioning workstreams in your portfolio.
  • Develop knowledge and skills and apply these in commissioning and youth justice to make sound and balanced judgements, to provide robust advice to colleagues and seniors, including Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) and other senior project stakeholders. This includes leading on the preparation and presentation of papers and project documentation for YCS, HMPPS and Departmental governance.
  • Work in close partnership with specialists and generalists across the wide array of functions covered by the commissioning cycle, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders at various levels, keeping a transparent dialogue and working in partnership with these to progress commissioning activity and to resolve issues impacting on commissioning decisions:
  • In partnership with MoJ CCMD and others, to provide the required CYPSE services and places and inform the development of options for commercial/procurement strategies and plans; develop and build market potential for the CYPSE.
  • Support dialogue/negotiations with markets and potential providers as required to secure solutions that match service user needs and that progress desired policy and improve service outcomes.
  • Plan and undertake work to understand and inform the cost effectiveness of services within their portfolio and help determine value for money.
  • Undertake dialogue/negotiations with markets and potential providers as required at national, regional and local level to inform negotiations and to secure solutions that match service user needs and that progress desired policy and improve service outcomes.
  • In partnership with CCMD and others, support the development and implementation of evaluation processes to select supplier proposals and identify preferred bidder(s) that ensure quality, cost and achievability against YCS priorities.
  • Work in partnership to mobilise, transition and transform services that are retendered, and be responsible for achieving timely handover of commissioned services and places to those managing ongoing delivery.
  • Ensure lessons learned from commissioning projects are captured and widely used to help improve the commissioning and other functions as findings direct.

Further information can be found in the attached Job Description

Further Information

Existing Civil Servants are eligible to apply and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants). 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 role is advertised nationally, and some national travel is necessary to support effective ways of working – typically to YCS HQ in Croydon and/ or MoJ HQ sites in London and Leeds. The post will also require attendance on site at Oakhill Secure Training Centre (STC) in Milton Keynes. So candidates must either be able to commute easily or be able to undertake overnight stays, as agreed with managers, in line with HMPPS Travel and expenses policy.

Regular contact with children & young people should be expected.

Person Specification

Experience

  • Experience of commissioning/procuring services.
  • Knowledge and experience of the youth justice system or children’s social care or mental health system.
  • Experience of development and delivery of projects or workstreams, and project management.
  • Experience of managing people.

Desirable

  • Experience of PFI expiry, handback, or asset transition projects.
  • Knowledge of public sector procurement, contract management and governance frameworks.
  • Project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2).

Behaviours

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service

Hours of Work

37

Selection process

This vacancy uses Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

You will be asked to submit:

- Behaviour examples

- A Statement of Suitability (max 500 words) explaining your motivation and how your experience aligns with the role

Work history will support your application but will not be scored. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an in-person blended (strength and behaviour based questions) interview in London.

For an informal, confidential discussion before applying, please contact Shaila Mahomed, Head of Commissioning Projects at Shaila.Mahomed@justice.gov.uk

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information
 

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 14955

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 14955

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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.