The Vocational Training Theme Lead will be responsible for developing and overseeing ongoing professional training and development for Officers within the SPS, with a primary focus on the implementation and management of a new Vocational Qualification (whilst maintaining current interim provisions) and working with establishments on creating and coordinating a standardised mentoring framework.
You will be responsible for the development, delivery, management, and evaluation of vocational training. You will ensure that its provisions are robust and linked to quality assurance systems and processes, coordinating across the College and wider SPS at an initial stage to develop training and organisational needs analyses, and leading on design governance. This will then be followed by ongoing compliance management: maintaining internal and external standards, regulatory requirements, and awarding body expectations, whilst supporting educational integrity and continuous improvement.
You will have overall responsibility for the design, delivery, and assessment of training and teaching materials, as well as the progression of learners and management of standards within your theme. This will involve line management responsibility for a number of Learning and Development (L&D) Managers.
You will maintain your workstream in line with internal College strategy, as well as maintaining consistency with wider SPS policy and organisational developments. As your workstreams will contain wider strategic project working and partnership collaboration, you will be expected to demonstrate strong organisational, problem-solving, communication and collaborative working skills.
As part of this role, you will be responsible for evaluating the financial impact of any proposed training initiatives, ensuring the balance between cost, scalability, delivery method, and expected organisational benefit. This will require taking a whole‑system perspective to confirm that learning solutions remain both operationally viable and cost‑effective, while still meeting professional standards.
In line with the organisational objective of becoming a learning organisation, you will create and maintain a purposeful learning environment, including the ongoing management of the College’s learning support strategy.
Within this role hybrid working is possible, but there is a requirement for you to attend the SPS College regularly along with other SPS sites due to line management and workstream commitments.
Job Purpose Formatting
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) operates in a fascinating, complex and rapidly changing environment. Our vision is to help build a safer Scotland by unlocking potential and transforming lives. To enable us to successfully deliver our vision, we are committed to nurturing and investing in our greatest strength and resource: Our People.
We are proud to employ a diverse range of people; each contributing their own unique experiences and skills to enhance the service we deliver. Whatever the role, you will find your SPS experience both challenging and rewarding. You will be committed to helping us to achieve our goals and in return we will be committed to helping you to achieve yours.
We employ approximately 5,000 staff across our prisons, headquarters, college, and training and storage facility. The hard work of our staff is the most critical component in the successful delivery of Scotland’s prison system.
We need professional, capable and motivated individuals who reflect Scotland’s diversity to deliver effective and efficient activities and services to achieve our Mission and realise our Vision.
Whatever SPS profession you embark upon, you will be a valued member of the team, helping us build a Safer Scotland for the communities we serve. We are committed to your personal and professional development and offer a wide range of career progression opportunities.
