At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the mobilisation of community support services for men in custody and the community.
- Company: Pact, a pioneering charity supporting individuals in custody and their families.
- Benefits: Generous holiday entitlement, pension scheme, training opportunities, and supportive team environment.
- Other info: Equal opportunity employer welcoming diverse applicants, including those with criminal convictions.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals while developing your professional skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in mobilising publicly commissioned services and strong project management skills.
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. Hybrid Working available.
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. To find out more about our work, please visit our website.
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. This is a high-profile, time-bound role at a pivotal moment for Pact. You will be responsible for ensuring a controlled, compliant and risk-managed transition from contract award through to full operational delivery from Day One. Working initially to the Director of Justice and Health Services, and then to the relevant Service Director, you will ensure 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
- Leading the mobilisation of Community Support services for Men, developing and managing comprehensive Mobilisation Plans aligned to contract schedules, implementation milestones and commissioner-approved timelines.
- Ensuring all Mandatory Requirements, service specifications and implementation conditions are met prior to go-live, and overseeing early-life service delivery through to business-as-usual.
- Establishing and maintaining clear mobilisation governance, preparing assurance documentation, readiness evidence, progress reports and exception reports, and supporting commissioner-led readiness reviews and gateway processes.
- Coordinating internal mobilisation activity across Operations, HR, Recruitment, Finance, IT, Data, Compliance, Safeguarding and Quality.
- Mobilising case management systems, reporting tools, data-sharing processes and information governance arrangements in line with justice system requirements.
- Commencing 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.
- Maintaining mobilisation risk, issue and dependency registers, with clear mitigation strategies and escalation routes, and ensuring all activity meets legal, contractual, regulatory, safeguarding and data protection requirements.
- Acting as the initial mobilisation liaison for commissioners, internal leaders, delivery teams and partners prior to appointment of the Services Director.
- Monitoring mobilisation costs against approved budgets, identifying emerging risks related to scope, volume or feasibility, and allocating resources efficiently.
- Working 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.
- 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).
- 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.
You may have experience of the following: Mobilisation Manager, Contract Mobilisation Lead, Programme Mobilisation Manager, Implementation Manager, Service Mobilisation Lead, Transition Manager, Service Transition Lead, Change and Implementation Manager, Programme Manager (Justice Services), Operations Mobilisation Manager, Start-up and Commissioning Manager, Service Delivery Implementation Lead.
Manager - Service Management Office in London employer: PACT
Pact is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees, offering a supportive work culture and a range of benefits including a contributory pension and generous holiday entitlement. With opportunities for training and development, particularly in the field of justice services, employees can thrive in a dynamic environment while making a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals across England and Wales.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Manager - Service Management Office in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Pact and understanding their mission. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their values and the role of Mobilisation Manager. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to build confidence. Focus on articulating your project management skills and how you've successfully mobilised services in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Manager - Service Management Office in London
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 any relevant project management skills that align with what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Experience:Don’t just list your previous roles; explain how your past experiences have prepared you for this position. Use specific examples of how you've successfully managed complex projects or mobilised services in regulated environments.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to read and free from jargon. This will help us see your qualifications without getting lost in the details.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at PACT
✨Know Your Mobilisation Lifecycle
Make sure you understand the full mobilisation lifecycle, especially how it applies to community support services. Be ready to discuss your experience with similar projects and how you ensured compliance and risk management in previous roles.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Pact's Mission
Dive into Pact's work and values before the interview. Being able to articulate how your skills align with their mission of supporting vulnerable individuals will show your genuine interest and commitment to the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in complex environments. Think of specific examples where you've successfully managed risks or navigated challenges during a mobilisation process, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Highlight your proficiency in project management tools and methodologies, like Microsoft Project or PRINCE2. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools to manage timelines, budgets, and team coordination in past projects.
