Service Manager, Ministry of Justice: Accrington & North West UK (Visa Sponsorship Available)

The Ministry of Justice is seeking a dedicated Service Manager for various locations across North West England, including Accrington, Barrow-in-Furness, and Liverpool. This full-time role is ideal for experienced professionals in support services, and importantly, visa sponsorship is available, making it open to Nigerian and other African immigrants requiring a UK work visa. With a competitive salary ranging from £57,398 to £63,139, this position offers a significant opportunity to contribute to public service.

Job Description

As a Service Manager, you will be accountable to a Senior Contract Manager, supporting the operational management of nominated contracts within the centralised business owner (CBO) portfolio. Your responsibilities will encompass performance management, development, and oversight of interfaces between suppliers and contract users, such as prisons, alongside crucial stakeholder engagement.

This is an offender-facing role, requiring you to actively work with service users to gather their views on the services received. You will contribute to managing one or more Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts within a portfolio valued at approximately £16 million per annum, navigating complex stakeholder and delivery chain relationships. The role demands managing a diverse range of products and services, each with varying levels of operational and reputational risks, ensuring effective delivery of these complex and innovative contracts.

Requirements

• Significant knowledge and experience of probation service practice and service delivery.
• Contract management and/or commissioning and service development experience and skills at a management level.
• Knowledge and understanding of policy and operational practice in a community and/or custodial environment.
• Project management experience and skills.
• Practical knowledge and understanding of the challenges involved in assuring delivery of large, complicated commercial contracts.
• Ability to work effectively in a complex change management context.
• Experience of working in a comparable operational environment (e.g., within the criminal justice system or involving delivery of offender/public services), preferably at management level.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of strategy, policy and practice in relation to community-based and “Through the Gate” offender services.
• Sound ability to influence and negotiate with stakeholders within a political and economic environment.
• Experience of assessing and making independent judgements about the performance of complex services.
• Applicants must either possess the right to work in the UK or be eligible for Skilled Worker (Tier 2) visa sponsorship, which is available for this position.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with a clear progression structure.
• Opportunity to work within a vital government department, contributing to public safety and offender rehabilitation.
• Extensive geographical flexibility within the contract management area, with some travel to London and other locations.
• Collaborative work environment with colleagues across various directorates including Commercial, Finance, and Policy.
• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities within the Ministry of Justice.

How to Prepare

For Nigerian and African immigrants targeting this Service Manager role within the Ministry of Justice, preparation is key. Ensure your CV is meticulously tailored to UK standards, highlighting your experience in contract management, probation services, or criminal justice, and demonstrating your ability to manage complex contracts and stakeholders. Your LinkedIn profile should mirror your CV and be optimized for UK recruiters, showcasing your professional network and endorsements relevant to public service or support management.

When crafting your cover letter, directly address how your skills align with the responsibilities of a Service Manager, particularly your experience with offender-facing roles and complex stakeholder relationships. During the interview, be prepared to discuss your eligibility for visa sponsorship clearly and confidently, outlining your commitment to relocating and contributing to the UK public sector. Emphasize any experience you have in managing diverse teams or working within a multi-cultural context, which can be a significant asset in the UK.

• Ensure your CV highlights specific achievements in contract management, project delivery, and stakeholder engagement.
• Prepare a compelling cover letter that directly addresses the job description and your suitability for a public service role.
• Research the Ministry of Justice's current initiatives and challenges, especially concerning offender services and contract management.
• Practice articulating your experience with complex change management and operational risk, relevant to the UK criminal justice system.
• Be ready to discuss your visa status and commitment to the role during the interview, demonstrating your enthusiasm for working in the UK.

Visa Sponsorship & Foreigner Eligibility

Visa sponsorship is available for this Service Manager position, explicitly open to foreign and overseas applicants who require a UK work visa. Non-UK residents are encouraged to apply, as the Ministry of Justice offers Skilled Worker (Tier 2) sponsorship. If your visa status is borderline or requires specific considerations, clearly outline this in your application or during the initial contact to ensure appropriate guidance.