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General Information

Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
07-Sep-2025
Post Type
Fixed Term
Civil Service Grade
SCS 1
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
9098

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the operational delivery of prison learning across the entire prison estate. The role plays a critical part in shaping the training and development experience of frontline staff, embedding a culture of excellence, innovation, high standards, and inclusion.
It also leads the transition of learning transformation initiatives within HMPPS into sustainable business-as-usual (BAU) operations.

You will lead a geographically dispersed workforce of approximately 300 staff across 42 regional training centres, with strategic oversight of a staffing budget exceeding £16 million. Your leadership will ensure the delivery of high-quality, consistent, and operationally aligned training for prison officers and other operational staff.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting into the HR Director you will:
  • Providing direction and leadership to a large national team, shaping learning delivery across the estate and driving high performance, professional standards, and inclusive practice.
  • Aligning training provision with resourcing strategies, including new prison builds and expansions, while maintaining sufficient training capacity to support recruitment and mitigate attrition. You will ensure that the design and delivery of training remains current and responsive to operational demand.
  • Building strong and effective relationships with key stakeholders across HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice, and beyond. This includes engagement with ministers, senior leaders, and trade unions to ensure training delivery aligns with strategic goals and operational needs.
  • Overseeing the full lifecycle of learning design and delivery – from needs assessment to evaluation – to ensure the training offer remains of the highest quality and fit for purpose.
  • Ensuring training delivery supports key departmental and ministerial initiatives, including the Enable Programme, the Independent Review of Foundation Training, the Professional Standards Review, the Sentencing Review, and the Prison Build Programme.

Additional Information
We particularly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. If you believe you have the skills and qualities we are looking for, then we would be delighted to hear from you.

For more information on how to apply please see the candidate information pack attached to this advert.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

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.

Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.

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
It is important through the recruitment process that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Week commencing 6th October 2025
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
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.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Security Clearance (SC)