15733 - Probation Learning Lead - Kent, Surrey & Sussex
| Posting date: | 13 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £53,995 to £58,255 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 March 2026 |
| Location: | Kent, South East England |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 15733 |
Summary
Overview of the job
The post holder will act as a regional SPOC for learning, having strategic oversight and autonomy for the delivery of all Learning and Development (L&D) activities along with aiding the NPS region to meet business needs. Although based within the NPS the post holder is a member of the wider HMPPS L&D team and reports to the Head of Probation Learning Delivery.
The post holder leads the delivery of all Learning and Development, including Probation qualifications at NPS Regional level and drives and deploys the associated L&D for the NPS. This includes being solution focused in developing initiatives to meet business need and broker resources with a range of stakeholders.
The role is an L&D management function and the post holder will be required to apply their professional skills and specialist knowledge to ensure the effective delivery of probation qualifications and associated L&D programmes.
The post holder will also be required to mentor and coach other leaders in order to support the professional development and acquisition of specialist skills across HMPPS L&D and/or NPS.
Summary
Overall management and deployment of NPS L&D activities to meet the needs of the region. The job holder will have the autonomy to deploy resources efficiently and effectively to meet business aims/objectives and national targets.
Actively engage Senior Leaders in the L&D offer and will promote and champion the new L&D model brand & learning culture, providing regular learning updates and communications.
Project manage the development of a strategic NPS Divisional training plan in conjunction with HMPPS L&D and deliver high quality probation qualifications and associated professional skills training across an NPS Division.
Manage a geographically spread regional team to meet the needs of the region.
The job holder will be expected to travel within the Region and to attend national meetings and events on a regular basis. This will require occasional overnight stays.
Responsibilities, Activities & Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
• Lead on the delivery of all L&D activities and probation qualifications, exercising autonomy over resources, solutions and models of delivery to adopt creative solutions which meet regional need.
• Provide expertise in the development of national probation qualifications policy and the delivery model as well as implementation at regional level.
• Broker and have strategic management of a portfolio of NPS business specific L&D, keeping up to date in the latest development in L&D both internally and externally to the organisation.
• Engage and influence internal and external stakeholders to effectively implement national and divisional L&D priorities and to address emerging issues.
• Represent the NPS at national partnerships and development meetings in line with lead and decision making responsibilities.
• Lead, innovate and develop local strategies/processes in line with the national strategic framework to ensure the division engages and achieves best practice.
• Drive and monitor the commissioning process within the region, promoting consistency and addressing any related escalations or non-compliance.
• Work in partnership with the relevant learning stakeholders to ensure effective deployment of training resources on a national and local level and to identify workforce planning requirements within the region and associated learner numbers.
• Lead on monitoring performance in area of responsibility against predetermined targets and if necessary, effect significant improvements.
• Work in partnership with the Head of New Entrant Pathways to oversee Vocational Qualification delivery to ensure that Awarding Body requirements are met and that learners progress to meet their learning goals.
• Work with the wider HMPPS L&D team and with HMPPS/NPS Communications to embed two-way communication on a range of L&D products to effectively engage staff across a large geographical area and increase attendance rates at L&D activities.
• Establish and maintain two-way regular and effective reporting mechanisms to feed and input into the central team and national learning priorities but also to identify or highlight regional priorities or areas of focus.
• Work effectively with your respective Regional Probation Director in collaboration with the central Learning Services team and the Design Faculty on specific projects/portfolios.
• Lead the Probation Qualification Assessment Board (PQAB) providing oversight of management of complaints within the probation qualifications progression board and direct involvement in complaint resolution where necessary.
• The post holder is responsible for maintaining an effective working relationship with the NPS Regional Probation Director, Learning Services, Heads of Operations, HRBPs, wider L&D colleagues and other stakeholders.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alternations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
The post holder will act as a regional SPOC for learning, having strategic oversight and autonomy for the delivery of all Learning and Development (L&D) activities along with aiding the NPS region to meet business needs. Although based within the NPS the post holder is a member of the wider HMPPS L&D team and reports to the Head of Probation Learning Delivery.
The post holder leads the delivery of all Learning and Development, including Probation qualifications at NPS Regional level and drives and deploys the associated L&D for the NPS. This includes being solution focused in developing initiatives to meet business need and broker resources with a range of stakeholders.
The role is an L&D management function and the post holder will be required to apply their professional skills and specialist knowledge to ensure the effective delivery of probation qualifications and associated L&D programmes.
The post holder will also be required to mentor and coach other leaders in order to support the professional development and acquisition of specialist skills across HMPPS L&D and/or NPS.
Summary
Overall management and deployment of NPS L&D activities to meet the needs of the region. The job holder will have the autonomy to deploy resources efficiently and effectively to meet business aims/objectives and national targets.
Actively engage Senior Leaders in the L&D offer and will promote and champion the new L&D model brand & learning culture, providing regular learning updates and communications.
Project manage the development of a strategic NPS Divisional training plan in conjunction with HMPPS L&D and deliver high quality probation qualifications and associated professional skills training across an NPS Division.
Manage a geographically spread regional team to meet the needs of the region.
The job holder will be expected to travel within the Region and to attend national meetings and events on a regular basis. This will require occasional overnight stays.
Responsibilities, Activities & Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
• Lead on the delivery of all L&D activities and probation qualifications, exercising autonomy over resources, solutions and models of delivery to adopt creative solutions which meet regional need.
• Provide expertise in the development of national probation qualifications policy and the delivery model as well as implementation at regional level.
• Broker and have strategic management of a portfolio of NPS business specific L&D, keeping up to date in the latest development in L&D both internally and externally to the organisation.
• Engage and influence internal and external stakeholders to effectively implement national and divisional L&D priorities and to address emerging issues.
• Represent the NPS at national partnerships and development meetings in line with lead and decision making responsibilities.
• Lead, innovate and develop local strategies/processes in line with the national strategic framework to ensure the division engages and achieves best practice.
• Drive and monitor the commissioning process within the region, promoting consistency and addressing any related escalations or non-compliance.
• Work in partnership with the relevant learning stakeholders to ensure effective deployment of training resources on a national and local level and to identify workforce planning requirements within the region and associated learner numbers.
• Lead on monitoring performance in area of responsibility against predetermined targets and if necessary, effect significant improvements.
• Work in partnership with the Head of New Entrant Pathways to oversee Vocational Qualification delivery to ensure that Awarding Body requirements are met and that learners progress to meet their learning goals.
• Work with the wider HMPPS L&D team and with HMPPS/NPS Communications to embed two-way communication on a range of L&D products to effectively engage staff across a large geographical area and increase attendance rates at L&D activities.
• Establish and maintain two-way regular and effective reporting mechanisms to feed and input into the central team and national learning priorities but also to identify or highlight regional priorities or areas of focus.
• Work effectively with your respective Regional Probation Director in collaboration with the central Learning Services team and the Design Faculty on specific projects/portfolios.
• Lead the Probation Qualification Assessment Board (PQAB) providing oversight of management of complaints within the probation qualifications progression board and direct involvement in complaint resolution where necessary.
• The post holder is responsible for maintaining an effective working relationship with the NPS Regional Probation Director, Learning Services, Heads of Operations, HRBPs, wider L&D colleagues and other stakeholders.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alternations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.