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General Information

Salary
£81,338 - £89,472
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Ashington, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland
Region
North East
Closing Date
19-Jun-2026
Business Unit
NPS North East Community Integration (2021)
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
18410

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

Accountable to the Deputy Director (DD) or Head of Community Integration in regions, the SACM is accountable for overseeing delivery and development of a portfolio of contracts, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). This includes accountability for contract management and oversight of related interfaces with other providers in their designated area (e.g. prisons, Electronic Monitoring (EM), Bail Accommodation Support Service (BASS)) and for related stakeholder engagement, service planning, development, transition, exit and mobilisation and commissioning activity. 
 
The post holder is accountable for managing a complex, innovative portfolio of contracts and for delivery of services that carry high levels of risk, that have not previously been commissioned in this way.

Summary

The SACM is a key member of the senior management team, accountable for oversight of a portfolio of contracts, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contract management and related interfaces with other providers, stakeholders and related service planning, development, transition, exit and mobilisation and commissioning activity. 
 
The SACM will be allocated strategic/subject matter expert lead responsibility for an aspect of business. This may include: at national level leading on particular service specifications (e.g. Offender Management, Rehabilitation etc); leading on a particular cross-regional supplier; leading on a particular segment of the offender population (e.g. women, BME etc); or leading on liaison with other functions e.g. national strategic contract management, PPAS, Finance, Commercial, Commissioning Strategies Group etc.  
 
The SACM will be responsible for evaluating sentencer demand and service delivery against local and national priorities, and for service planning, development, transition, exit and mobilisation and commissioning activities within their designated area. 
 
The SACM will work collaboratively with colleagues within the Directorate (Deputy Directors, Service Managers, Contract Support Officers, Operational Audit Team, System Development Team, and Contract Support Unit) and other functions across HMPPS/MOJ.  
 
The SACM will lead and promote effective relationship management and build effective working relationships with and between providers (e.g. CRS, PS, prisons, EM and BASS) and with key stakeholders and partners at regional level. The post holder will have sufficient seniority and authority to represent and deputise for the DD or Head of Community Integration and deal effectively with strategic commissioning partners (e.g. Police and Crime Commissioners) and with providers at Chief Executive, Deputy Director and senior manager levels. 
 
At the discretion of the DD or Head of Community Integration and decisions about the most effective deployment and management of the Area team, the SACM will be accountable for the line management, performance, and development of a team of Service Managers, Contract Support Officers and Contract Administration Specialists in line with Area and National priorities.
 
The geographical base for the SACM post can be flexible within their contract management Area and will require some work in London and other locations.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
You will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:  
  • Managing portfolio of regional contracts (including CRS) to deliver service outcomes and value for money.
  • Ensuring appropriate levels of assurance in relation to designated contracts, including as required, on-site presence within the organisation in order to observe and monitor operations, processes and practice.
  • Ensuring financial payments are made in line with contract performance.
  • Identifying service quality, contract compliance and supplier performance issues and priorities and liaison with the National Operational Audit Team in order to inform the programme of assurance activity required to deliver the Annual Service Quality Assurance Plan.
  • Liaising with National Strategic Contract Management, Commercial Contract Management, Contract Improvement Team, System Development, and other HMPPS/MoJ functions to ensure that the necessary advice and support is obtained to inform effective management of the designated contracts.
  • Leading on management of the contract management Governance processes in relation to designated CRS and other contracts, including dispute resolution and chairing as required the Service Management Board, Contract Strategy Board and other groups .
  • Liaising with Commercial Contract Management to convene the Change Management Board as required.
  • Accountable for overseeing the interfaces between designated suppliers, the PS and prisons, and other providers of community based offender services.
  • Liaison with the PS within a designated area, and as required to inform the setting and oversight of the PS Divisional SLA, and oversight of service delivery across the whole Rehabilitation Services system.
  • Maintaining effective stakeholder relationships with providers, particularly between CRS suppliers, PS and prisons, and with wider stakeholders in relation to community and ‘through-the-gate’ offender services, and holding suppliers to account for their stakeholder engagement commitments.
  • Leading work to critically evaluate local sentencer demand, offender needs and priorities in order to inform, service planning, development and commissioning activities.
  • Responsible for the planning and delivery of safe and orderly exit, mobilisation and transition between old and new contracts and/or providers across regional portfolio in line with commissioning intentions.
  • Strategic or subject matter expert lead for an allocated area of Directorate business which may be at Area or national level.
  • Managing a number of Service Manager, Contract Support Officers and Contract Administration Specialists .
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder. 
 
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Behaviours
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Changing and Improving
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Leadership
  • Working Together

Experience

No specific qualifications are essential but experience and skills relevant to senior management, commissioning and contract management are required. Specifically: 
  • Senior management experience in probation or a comparable environment (e.g. within the criminal justice system or involving delivery of offender/public services)
  • Experience and skills in relation to contract or performance management, and/or service development and commissioning of community based offender services at a senior level
  • Highly developed understanding and detailed knowledge of policy and strategic developments in relation to community based and through the gate offender services and how these apply to operational practice and the contract management process
  • Knowledge and appreciation of contract management requirements, and highly developed understanding of the challenges involved in managing and assuring delivery of large complicated commercial contracts
  • Experience and skills in leading and managing in a complex change management context
  • Effective programme and project management experience and skills
  • Effective high quality skills to lead and manage staff to achieve demanding objectives
  • Demonstrates sound judgement, and has the ability to build effective working relationships, and to influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders at a senior level in a complex and multi-layered delivery landscape
     

Ability

  • Ability to make decisions about issues of risk arising from audit and assurance activity and managing these effectively and sensitively across organisational boundaries and in line with political and economic considerations
  • Ability to function effectively in a challenging environment with a high level of personal resilience
Additional Information

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join at the entry point salary for the advertised band 

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

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: 18410

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: 18410

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please explain how your knowledge, personal skills, qualities and experience will fit the role of a Senior Area Contract Manager Probation Services in a time of change within the Probation Service.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To Be Confirmed
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
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.