The vacancy
Secondment Opportunity: Site Manager (3-Months)
Recruiting 2x FTE
About the Opportunity
Are you ready to take the next step in your leadership journey and make a direct impact on the delivery of critical frontline services?
We’re recruiting two Site Managers to join the operational leadership team at Manston - a secure Home Office site managed by MTC. This 3-month secondment is an ideal development opportunity for aspiring leaders who are passionate about delivering compassionate, high-quality care and operational excellence in fast-paced, secure environments.
Working closely with the Deputy Contract Manager, you will play a vital role in coordinating day-to-day activity across key operational areas, leading staff teams, and ensuring high standards of service delivery and safety for all individuals in our care.
What you’ll be doing
1. Deliver operational excellence: lead your assigned operational areas, ensuring services are delivered in line with contractual, safeguarding, and welfare expectations.
2. Team leadership: motivate and manage frontline teams, modelling a values-based approach that promotes safety, respect and professional accountability.
3. Support governance: monitor adherence to key policies and procedures, supporting audit and assurance activity and driving continuous improvement.
4. Contribute to incident management: respond to operational issues, including safety incidents and welfare concerns, with professionalism and clear decision-making.
5. Stakeholder collaboration: liaise effectively with internal teams, partner agencies and home office representatives, ensuring collaborative working and service continuity.
6. Operational planning: contribute to rota management, resourcing plans and shift handovers, ensuring the smooth running of facility operations.
For further information, please refer to the attached job description.
What we’re looking for
We are keen to hear about your:
7. Operational experience in a secure setting – such as custody, detention, prison, military, or policing.
8. Confidence in leading teams, managing workflows and maintaining high service standards under pressure.
9. Understanding of health & safety, incident response, and safeguarding responsibilities.
10. Strong communication skills and ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
11. Commitment to upholding MTC’s values, promoting dignity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Why take this secondment?
This secondment is a fantastic opportunity to:
12. Broaden your leadership experience in a high-impact, operationally complex setting.
13. Develop strategic insight and sharpen your stakeholder engagement skills.
14. Contribute to a highly visible and mission-driven area of MTC’s operations.
15. Position yourself for future leadership roles within the business.
Eligibility
Please note that this opportunity is open to internal MTC staff only and requires a broad operational understanding of activities at Manston.
Applicants must be eligible for Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance and meet the Home Office’s vetting criteria.
How to apply
If you’re excited about this opportunity to lead with purpose, support transformation, and build on your leadership capabilities - we’d love to hear from you.
Please express your interest via application, including a brief supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role.
The company
We focus on transforming lives and making a difference through education, training and employment (ETE).
Building on the successes of MTC in the US, by providing opportunities to change for individuals in danger of entering, or already in the criminal justice system. With our support, they’re able to transform their lives, turning away from crime to become stronger, more positive members of their community. Building on our experience in custody and probation by winning bids, we’ll bring our ETE-led focus and commitment to delivering the right services in the right ways to these prisons. We’re working to enter the education market to help individuals drive positive change in their lives and unlock their potential.
We need people who have the necessary skills and knowledge alongside a passion to create real change.
Benefits
Pension
We’ll automatically enrol you into our Workplace Pension scheme three months after your start date.
Holiday
We offer 25 days’ holiday each year.
Years of service
We recognise service and dedication to MTC through our rewards programmes.
Recommend a
friend
We’ll reward you with up to £500 if you introduce us to someone who eventually joins us.
Employee assistance
programme
We provide confidential support and professional counselling services.
Unlocking potential
awards
We’ll recognise your contribution to helping us reach our goals in line with our values.