At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the mobilisation of community support services for men in custody and the community.
- Company: Join Pact, a pioneering charity dedicated to supporting individuals in custody and their families.
- Benefits: Enjoy a range of perks including counselling services, pension contributions, and generous holiday entitlement.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and a supportive team environment await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in mobilising publicly commissioned services and strong project management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Contract: Fixed-term, July 2026 to March 2027 (available as a secondment)
Location: Supporting mobilisation of potential prime contracts in the South West and/or South Yorkshire, with subcontract activity across England and Wales
Reports to: Director of Justice and Health Services, then Service Director for the relevant contract(s)
About Pact
Pact (the Prison Advice & Care Trust) is a pioneering national charity that cares for men, women and young people in custody, those with criminal convictions in the community, and their children, family members and carers.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced Mobilisation Manager to lead the end-to-end mobilisation of Pact's new prime contracts for Community Support for Men, providing services to men in custody on remand and pre-release, and in the community. In this high-profile, time-bound role, you will be responsible for ensuring a controlled, compliant and risk-managed transition from contract award through to full operational delivery from Day One. You will initially report to the Director of Justice and Health Services and then to the relevant Service Director, ensuring that all contractual deliverables, service specifications, assurance requirements, governance arrangements, workforce readiness and statutory obligations are met in line with MoJ and HMPPS expectations. You will also provide support and advice to contracts being mobilised by Pact as a subcontractor, safeguarding service integrity, public protection and the wellbeing of vulnerable service users throughout.
What you will be doing
- Lead mobilisation of Community Support services for Men, developing and managing comprehensive Mobilisation Plans aligned to contract schedules, implementation milestones and commissioner-approved timelines.
- Ensure all Mandatory Requirements, service specifications and implementation conditions are met prior to go-live, and oversee early-life service delivery through to business-as-usual.
- Establish and maintain clear mobilisation governance, preparing assurance documentation, readiness evidence, progress reports and exception reports, and support commissioner-led readiness reviews and gateway processes.
- Coordinate internal mobilisation activity across Operations, HR, Recruitment, Finance, IT, Data, Compliance, Safeguarding and Quality, and manage dependencies with delivery partners and subcontractors.
- Mobilise case management systems, reporting tools, data-sharing processes and information governance arrangements in line with justice system requirements.
- Commence recruitment aligned to contract volumes and locations, working with HR to manage vetting, onboarding, training and TUPE transfers in a compliant, transparent and supportive way.
- Maintain mobilisation risk, issue and dependency registers, with clear mitigation strategies and escalation routes, ensuring all activity meets legal, contractual, regulatory, safeguarding and data protection requirements.
- Act as the initial mobilisation liaison for commissioners, internal leaders, delivery teams and partners prior to appointment of the Services Director, providing clear and timely updates and managing expectations.
- Monitor mobilisation costs against approved budgets, identify emerging risks related to scope, volume or feasibility, and allocate resources efficiently.
- Work with the Services Director on formal readiness and go-live reviews, ensuring a structured handover to operational teams and capturing lessons learned to improve organisational mobilisation standards.
About you
You will be a credible, highly organised and resilient professional who has successfully mobilised publicly commissioned services in complex, regulated environments. You will be confident operating at pace, holding multiple workstreams together, and inspiring the confidence of commissioners, partners and transferring staff. You will be resilient and composed under sustained pressure, tenacious and outcomes-focused, values-led and person-centred, diplomatic and credible with senior stakeholders, and instinctively structured and audit-ready in the way you work. You must be willing to work weekends depending on rota requirements, and regular travel to custodial, probation, community or partner sites will be required. Flexible working arrangements may apply depending on contract win locations.
Essential
- Proven experience mobilising or transitioning publicly commissioned justice or probation services.
- Strong project and mobilisation management capability in complex, regulated environments.
- Experience working with or alongside MoJ / HMPPS commissioning, assurance or contract management teams.
- A strong understanding of mobilisation lifecycles, readiness criteria and early-life service management.
- Knowledge of justice-sector compliance frameworks including safeguarding, data protection and performance management.
- Proficiency in mobilisation planning and reporting tools (e.g. Microsoft Project or equivalent).
- High levels of organisational skill and cultural awareness when working with diverse and vulnerable service user groups.
- A degree in Project Management, Operations, Criminal Justice, Social Policy or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
Desirable
- PRINCE2, PMP or a similar project management qualification.
What we offer
Pact offers a range of benefits including a free advice, information and counselling service, contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme and generous holiday entitlement. You will have the opportunity to attend training events to further develop yourself as a professional training and interventions worker. You will undergo a thorough induction process and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team.
Other information
Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment). This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period, verification of identity and proven right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a 3-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison.
Mobilisation Manager employer: PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust)
Pact is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises the wellbeing of both employees and the vulnerable individuals they serve. With a strong commitment to professional development, employees benefit from comprehensive training opportunities and a generous benefits package, including a contributory pension and flexible working arrangements. Working in the South West and South Yorkshire, you will be part of a pioneering charity dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the justice sector, ensuring that your contributions lead to positive change in the community.
Contact Details:
PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mobilisation Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the justice and health sectors, especially those who have experience with mobilisation. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Pact and its mission. Show us you understand our values and how your experience aligns with the role of Mobilisation Manager. Tailor your answers to highlight your project management skills in complex environments.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how you've successfully mobilised services before. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage multiple workstreams and meet tight deadlines.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Pact.
We think you need these skills to ace Mobilisation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Mobilisation Manager role. Highlight your experience in mobilising publicly commissioned services and how it aligns with Pact's mission. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Relevant Experience:When detailing your work history, focus on your project management capabilities and any experience with MoJ or HMPPS. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so make it clear how your past roles have prepared you for this position.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills. Remember, we appreciate clarity and organisation just as much as you do!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! This helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust)
✨Know Your Mobilisation Lifecycle
Familiarise yourself with the mobilisation lifecycle specific to justice and probation services. Be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully navigated similar processes in the past, highlighting your understanding of readiness criteria and early-life service management.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your project management capabilities, especially in complex, regulated environments. Bring examples of how you've managed multiple workstreams and coordinated with various teams, ensuring compliance and meeting contractual deliverables.
✨Understand Pact's Values and Mission
Research Pact thoroughly and understand its mission to support vulnerable individuals. Be prepared to articulate how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their goals, particularly in safeguarding and supporting service users.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Anticipate scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills under pressure. Think about potential risks or challenges you might face in this role and how you would address them, showcasing your resilience and structured approach.
