At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate education in a prison setting, driving quality and performance.
- Company: Join a mission-driven organisation focused on rehabilitation and positive life change.
- Benefits: Ongoing professional development, leadership opportunities, and a collaborative team environment.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values integrity, accountability, and excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping education strategy and supporting learners' reintegration into society.
- Qualifications: Degree, teaching qualification, and strong leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 47000 £ per year.
Lead education that changes lives. We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Education Manager to lead and develop education provision within a prison setting. This is a senior leadership role where you will drive quality, performance, and innovation, helping learners gain the skills, confidence, and qualifications needed for successful reintegration into society. You will play a critical role in shaping education strategy, improving outcomes, and leading a high-performing team focused on rehabilitation and employability.
What you will be doing
- Strategic Leadership
- Develop and deliver the prison's education strategy aligned to organisational and government priorities
- Promote a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement
- Ensure provision supports rehabilitation, employability, and personal development
- Lead curriculum planning to meet diverse learner needs
- Operational Management
- Oversee the day-to-day delivery of all education programmes
- Ensure effective staffing, timetables, and resource allocation
- Monitor performance against KPIs, contractual targets, and quality standards
- Manage budgets to maximise impact and value
- Quality Assurance & Improvement
- Implement robust quality assurance systems
- Monitor teaching, learning, and assessment through observations and audits
- Analyse learner data (achievement, attendance, progression) to drive improvement
- Lead self-assessment and quality improvement planning
- Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, motivate, and develop education staff to achieve high performance
- Deliver performance reviews, supervision, and CPD support
- Promote a positive, inclusive culture and staff wellbeing
- Support talent development and succession planning
- Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong relationships with prison leadership, partners, employers, and awarding bodies
- Represent education services at meetings, inspections, and external reviews
- Work collaboratively to support learner engagement and progression
- Safeguarding, Compliance & Outcomes
- Ensure full compliance with security, safeguarding, and regulatory requirements
- Lead preparation for inspections, audits, and reviews
- Drive improvements in learner participation, achievement, and progression
- Promote education that reduces reoffending and supports long-term outcomes
What we are looking for
- Essential
- Degree and/or relevant professional qualification
- Teaching qualification (Level 5+ or equivalent, e.g. QTLS)
- Internal Quality Assurance qualification (or willingness to achieve)
- Strong leadership and people management experience
- Proven experience in curriculum development and quality improvement
- Experience managing performance and leading teams to achieve results
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- Knowledge of OFSTED EIF framework and quality standards
- Strong commitment to safeguarding, equality, and compliance
- Desirable
- Experience working in prison, adult education, or with disadvantaged groups
- Knowledge of current education and training initiatives
Why join us?
- Lead a service that directly supports rehabilitation and positive life change
- Shape strategy and influence education at a senior level
- Work as part of a collaborative leadership team
- Access ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities
Our values
- Customer First - improving lives through education
- True North - acting with integrity
- Own It - taking accountability
- Improve to be the best - striving for excellence
- Think big and take risks - driving innovation
- Deliver Results - achieving high standards and outcomes
If you are a driven education leader with a passion for making a difference, we would love to hear from you.
Higher Education Manager in Woodbridge employer: PeoplePlus
Join us as a Higher Education Manager in a unique and impactful role within a prison setting, where you will lead transformative educational initiatives that empower individuals to reintegrate into society successfully. Our organisation fosters a culture of excellence and innovation, offering ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities, all while prioritising staff wellbeing and collaboration. By shaping education strategy and driving quality outcomes, you will play a vital part in making a meaningful difference in the lives of learners and contributing to a positive community impact.
