Learning and Skills Manager

Location: HMP Thameside, London, SE28 0FJ

Salary: £33,000 - £49,400 per annum, dependant on experience + London weighting plus excellent benefits

Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday 8am -5pm

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Learning and Skills Manager in our Justice and Immigration team, you'll lead the delivery of education, vocational training, library services, and employment-focused learning programmes within HMP Thameside. Your work will help create meaningful opportunities for learners to develop skills, gain qualifications, and build brighter futures beyond custody. 

This is a role with real purpose. You'll work collaboratively with education providers, colleagues, and external partners to ensure learning programmes meet high standards, support rehabilitation, and contribute to reducing reoffending. Our work touches lives every day, and you'll play a key role in creating impactful solutions that deliver a positive impact on communities and help people prepare for successful release and employment.

Please note, if successful, interviews will be held week commencing 7th December

What you’ll do as a Learning and Skills Manager

• Lead and manage the delivery of learning, skills, employment, vocational training, and library services across the establishment.


• Ensure education and skills provision meet contractual, operational, and quality requirements.


• Support the planning and implementation of quality assurance frameworks and continuous improvement activities.


• Manage relationships with education providers, Careers Information, Advice and Guidance providers, and other key stakeholders.


• Coordinate Self-Assessment Reports and contribute to audits, inspections, and quality improvement plans.


• Lead and develop colleagues, promoting a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all learners and employees.

Does this sound like you?

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS), a relevant teaching qualification, or willingness to work towards one.


• A relevant degree, custodial experience, or significant experience within learning, education, skills, or employability services.


• Experience leading and motivating teams to deliver high-quality outcomes.


• Strong communication, planning, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.


• Good IT literacy and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high professional and ethical standards.

What we offer

• Up to 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays


• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme


• Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (we currently offer over 60 different apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression.


• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service


• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel


• Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity


• Our employee networks support connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Vetting and checks:

This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, a top Great British Employer of Veterans, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.


• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact [email protected].

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

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