Cluster Manager - Bedford in Stoke Goldington

Cluster Manager - Prison CIAG Services

Lead consistent, high-quality CIAG across secure services

As Cluster Manager, you will lead Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance delivery across multiple prison sites, taking responsibility for people, performance, quality and contractual outcomes. You will coach and manage CIAG Advisors while personally delivering around 20% frontline CIAG activity.

This is a hands-on leadership role in secure environments. Regular travel, prison security procedures, changing regimes, performance accountability and consistent on-site presence are part of the job. You will need the judgement to keep standards high when operational plans change.

Location: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire - mobile role covering the three counties

Before you apply: the essentials

To be considered, your CV and application must clearly demonstrate:

• Experience leading and developing frontline teams in employability, careers, skills, education, justice, rehabilitation, public services or a related environment, including managing performance.
• Evidence of delivering outcomes in a target-driven or contractually monitored service and using KPIs or management information to identify and address performance issues.
• Evidence of coaching colleagues, giving clear feedback and taking appropriate action where standards or performance need to improve.
• A Level 4 IAG qualification, or willingness to work towards one.
• Evidence of commitment, reliability and consistently delivering high standards of work.
• Evidence of delivering outcomes, targets, tasks, projects or agreed objectives.
• Ability to explain recent employment history clearly, including gaps or short-term roles during the previous five years.
• Confident working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, with ability to learn other digital systems.
• Ability to meet the role's regular multi-site travel requirements, including a valid driving licence, access to an appropriate vehicle and appropriate business-use insurance.

Keep your CV clear and concise and focus on evidence relevant to this role - what you personally did, owned, improved or delivered. One to two pages will suit many applicants, although up to three may be appropriate where your relevant experience requires it.

Useful, but not essential

• Experience in prison, probation, justice, custodial or other secure environments.
• Experience delivering or managing CIAG services.
• Knowledge of Ministry of Justice, prison or custodial service frameworks.

The real job

You will lead, coach and develop CIAG Advisors across the cluster while keeping close control of performance, quality and compliance. You will review KPIs and service outcomes, use data to identify risks, complete observations and case-note reviews, and make sure agreed improvements happen.

You will build effective relationships with prison leadership and other stakeholders, represent Get Set UK in operational meetings and maintain accurate, audit-ready records.

Around 20% of your role will involve frontline CIAG delivery. This keeps you connected to participant needs and the practical realities facing your team.

What success looks like

You will create a service where Advisors understand expectations, performance issues are addressed promptly and CIAG delivery remains consistent across sites. Quality reviews lead to sustained improvement, contractual requirements are monitored effectively and stakeholders can rely on clear communication and follow-through.

The working reality

Prison delivery is structured around security and operational regimes. Access can be delayed, routines can change and priorities may shift quickly. Searches, safeguarding requirements, professional boundaries and security procedures must be followed consistently.

Regular travel across the cluster is essential. We will consider reasonable adjustments that enable you to meet the role's travel requirements. Regular travel across the delivery area remains essential.

What you get

• 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service.
• Vitality health and wellbeing support, including GP services, mental health support and physiotherapy.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, including up to six counselling sessions a year and legal, financial and debt guidance.
• Workplace pension, with salary sacrifice available subject to eligibility and scheme rules.
• Share buy scheme.
• Up to 360 a year through IncentFit for eligible activities.
• Wellbeing, retail, fitness, travel and mobile discounts, including 20% off eligible EE mobile plans.

About Get Set UK

Get Set UK delivers employment, skills, apprenticeships, health and justice services, helping people overcome barriers and progress towards meaningful, sustainable employment. We are part of Palladium, a global impact organisation with more than 60 years' experience delivering programmes and solutions internationally.

Our values are Be Ambitious, Be Proud, Be Considerate, Be Inspiring and Own It, and they shape how we work with colleagues, participants and partners.

Recruitment process

Apply through our recruitment platform and complete the short initial questionnaire. If you start your application through Indeed or LinkedIn, you will still need to complete this step before we can review your application.

We assess your CV and application against the minimum essential criteria and the evidence you provide. If shortlisted, the process may include a recruitment call or Teams conversation, questionnaire, assessment or testing, and a hiring-manager interview with a task or presentation where relevant.

Before employment is confirmed, you must promptly provide the information and documents required for right-to-work checks, references, safeguarding, DBS and prison security vetting. Any offer is conditional on satisfactory completion of the required checks. Preparation, responsiveness and attention to detail matter throughout the process.

Eligibility and checks

You must have the full right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this role.

Any appointment will be subject to satisfactory right-to-work checks, references, an Enhanced DBS check, safeguarding requirements and the prison security vetting applicable to the role.

Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout recruitment.

Ready to lead high-quality CIAG delivery in a demanding secure environment? Apply today.

Additional information

We reserve the right to close applications early, so we encourage early applications.

Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals and are committed to supporting physical and mental wellbeing at work. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process if required.

This role is subject to satisfactory recruitment checks and a commitment to safeguarding learners and clients.

Get Set UK does not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies.