Operational
Unit Manager

No two days are the same in our prisons and the role of Operational Manager provides true variety in a fast paced, complex and unique environment. In this role you’ll play a key part in supporting our organisation to achieve its vision of Unlocking Potential and Transforming Lives and in helping us to deliver our corporate plan.
In practice, this means you’ll be a values based leader with accountability for a residential area or function within an establishment and responsibility for a large team of First Line Managers and front line staff. You’ll also act as Duty Manager, covering the entire prison on a shift basis, making all necessary decisions and overseeing incident management as required. This will involve ensuring the highest levels of safety and well-being (physical and mental) for both your team and the people in our care, as well as creating a supportive environment that fosters growth and provides opportunities for development. This role offers a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of those in our care, but also of the staff you will be working with.
In this role, you’ll support the achievement of the SPS Vision through the constructive engagement of colleagues, the effective delivery of the establishment Annual Delivery Plan, role modelling the SPS values in all that you do. Additionally, you’ll have responsibility for designing, initiating and/or delivering projects to bring about change which promotes the SPS Values and Vision.
In role, you will be known as an Operational Unit Manager. You will be part of The Scottish Prison Service (SPS), an Agency of the Scottish Government, working in partnership with organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver safe and secure custodial services that empower offenders to take responsibility and to fulfil their potential. We employ over 4000 people in a diverse range of professions across our 13 prisons, College and Headquarters.
As an Operational Unit Manager you'll be based at one of our 13 prison establishments across Scotland. Many of our prison establishments are situated across the central belt, but we do also have prison establishments located in Dumfries, Inverness and Grampian (Aberdeenshire). Although we are advertising for vacancies across Scotland, please be assured, job offers will be made taking into account your location preferences and personal circumstances.
Within SPS our mission is to provide services that help to transform the lives of the people in our care so that they can fulfil their
potential and become responsible citizens. We deliver this through:
Custody |
Managing safe and secure custodial environments; |
Order |
Providing stability and order that helps offenders to transform their lives |
Care |
Supporting well-being and treating with respect and humility all in our care; and |
Opportunity |
Providing opportunities which develop the potential of our staff; our partnerships and the people
in our care |
This is underpinned by our organisational values:
Application Window Now Closed
The application window for Operational Managers is currently closed. If you are interested in the role, and would like to hear when we are advertising again, please create an account and job alert on our careers page here: SPS Careers Page
When selecting your job alert, please select Operational Manager (Pay Band F) from the job families menu.
