Closing date               16th March 2020 at 9am

Salary                          £33-37000 (+£3000 London weighting for South role)

Hours                          Full time

Locations                    London (Regional Manager, South) or Manchester (Regional Manager, North) with travel to Leeds in July/August

Contract                     8 months (maternity cover)

Start date                   May/June

The organisation

At Unlocked we believe that prison officers are the rocket scientists of the public sector. They are frequently working with people who other professionals have repeatedly failed to reach, and who everyone else has given up on. Of all the individuals who work inside prisons, it is prison officers who spend the most time with prisoners and who have the most access to them. We believe prison officers need to be the best trained of any frontline public sector worker, so they can effectively support prisoners to desist from future offending.

Unlocked Graduates aims to improve rehabilitation in the UK by creating a movement of future leaders across society who are driven to address cycles of reoffending. At the core of our organisation is a two-year leadership development scheme for outstanding graduates. Participants on the graduate scheme work as frontline prison officers for two years while completing a master’s degree.

The role

The regional manager, with the support of the Head of Region and Programme Director, sets the culture, ambition and quality of the programme in their region. As such, the regional manager is a critical bridge between the central head office team and the regional team. For this, communication, teamwork and feedback skills are essential.

It is imperative that the regional manager shares the passion, drive and work ethic to make Unlocked’s vision a reality. Enthusing and empowering others will be critical. This centres around governors of prisons in the local area, both before and during placement and also includes local organisation and individuals. Gaining the support of local stakeholders is key for the programme’s success.

They will lead a team of Mentoring Prison Officers (MPOs), supporting their development so that they can effectively support the participants on the wings. This will include delivering training on coaching, mentoring and adult facilitation.

The regional manager will take responsibility for the performance of the participants in the region, striving to develop staff and systems as appropriate to maximise participants’ impact on prisoners and the prison system.

Key responsibilities

-        Line manage, train and develop a team of Mentoring Prison Officers (MPOs)

-        Build and maintain positive and purposeful relationships with middle and senior leaders at prisons in the region, building their understanding and support for the Unlocked Graduates scheme

-        Maintain oversight over the participants’ progress and performance, ensuring that participants are well supported and that their well-being and retention is good.

-        Oversee the logistics and planning of regional training for participants, including coaching meetings, training sessions and lecture days

-        Promote high expectations and a culture of leadership among participants in the region, maintaining a clear picture of participants’ progress and impact over time, implementing effective actions plans, and communicating this clearly within your region and to the central Unlocked Graduates team

-        Continue our meaningful partnerships with local organisations (corporate and third sector) that can support the programme

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

-        Experience of line management and, in particular, managing performance

-        Experience of mentoring and/or coaching

-        Understanding of effective teaching and learning, especially facilitation of adult learners

-        Able to interpret performance reports, using the data to drive effective decision making

-        Understanding of public sector graduate leadership development schemes (desirable)

-        Knowledge of, or interest in, the prison service and the prison officer role (desirable)

Characteristics and skills

-        Efficient, organised and hard-working

-        Passionate about reducing reoffending and positive about the capacity for change

-        Able to inspire others and work alongside a diverse group of people

-        Takes responsibility for team performance and constantly seeks improvement

-        Excellent written and verbal communication skills

-        Good at building relationships, gaining support, and holding stakeholders to account

-        Able to have difficult conversations, give feedback and find solutions.

Other requirements

-        Right to work in the UK and subject to Disclosure Barring service

-        Able to travel regularly to visit prisons in your region

-        Able to travel to Manchester and London offices around once a month

-        You must be able to attend Summer Institute in Leeds during July and August each year

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact bella.atkinson@unlockedgrads.org.uk 

Closing date: Monday 16th March at 9 am

Interviews, Manchester: Tuesday 24th March

Interviews, London: Wednesday 25th March

Please let us know if you will have any limits on your availability during this time.

For more information about Unlocked Graduates please visit our website.