At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the mobilisation of community support services for men in custody and the community.
- Company: Join Pact, a pioneering charity transforming lives in the justice system.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday entitlement, pension scheme, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and 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 organisational 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. 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, and managing dependencies with delivery partners and subcontractors
- 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, providing clear and timely updates and managing expectations
- 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. You will be confident operating at pace, holding multiple workstreams together, and inspiring the confidence of commissioners, partners and transferring staff.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
- 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 QUALIFICATIONS
- PRINCE2, PMP or a similar project management qualification
You will also 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. Please note that you must be able 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.
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.
EEO STATEMENT
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).
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
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: 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 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 role as Mobilisation Manager contributes to positive change in the community.
Contact Details:
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 valuable insights or even job leads.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Pact and its mission. Understand their values and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your project management skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully mobilised services in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows 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 to highlight your experience in mobilising publicly commissioned services. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Mobilisation Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects you've led!
Showcase Your Organisational Skills:As a Mobilisation Manager, being organised is key! Use your application to demonstrate how you’ve successfully managed multiple workstreams in complex environments. Share specific examples that illustrate your ability to keep everything on track.
Highlight Your Compliance Knowledge:Since this role involves working within regulated environments, make sure to mention your understanding of compliance frameworks, especially in the justice sector. We’re keen to see how you’ve navigated these challenges in past roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at 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, such as HR, Finance, and Compliance, to ensure smooth transitions.
✨Understand Pact's Mission and Values
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 and ability to manage risks. Think of specific situations where you had to mitigate issues during a mobilisation process and be ready to explain your thought process and outcomes.
