Contract Support Officer (HMPPS Band 6)
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS)
Probation Service Directorate
Location: Diadem House, Preston PR2 2YB (with travel across the North West, including occasional travel to London)
Be part of something that makes a difference
Want to play a key role in improving essential probation services and supporting rehabilitation outcomes across your region?
We’re looking for a dynamic and driven Contract Support Officer (CSO) to join our contract management team. In this role, you’ll help ensure vital services are delivered effectively, supporting individuals to turn their lives around while protecting the public.
Working alongside the Contract Service Managers, you’ll be at the heart of contract delivery, assurance, and performance—helping to shape and improve services that have real impact.
What you’ll be doing
This is a varied and high-profile role w no two days are the same. You will:
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Drive effective contract oversight by supporting governance forums and key decision-making boards
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Analyse performance and data trends, helping identify risks, issues and opportunities for improvement
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Play a central role in assurance and audit activity, validating delivery and strengthening service quality
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Collaborate with providers and stakeholders, building strong, professional relationships across complex delivery chains
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Lead on coordination and organisation, from high-level meetings to action tracking and reporting
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Contribute to service improvement, capturing insight from stakeholders and service users to influence better outcomes
Why this role is different
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You’ll work on contracts that directly support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending
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You’ll gain exposure to senior decision-making forums and strategic priorities
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You’ll combine data, people and performance—developing highly transferable skills
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You’ll be part of a team committed to continuous improvement, assurance and quality delivery
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys bringing structure, insight, and challenge.
You will bring:
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data
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Excellent organisation and attention to detail
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Confidence to work with and influence a wide range of stakeholders
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Experience in business support, governance, or contract environments
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The ability to prioritise, manage competing demands, and deliver to deadlines
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A proactive mindset with the motivation to drive quality and improvement
Our values in action
Success in this role means demonstrating:
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Working Together
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Changing and Improving
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Managing a Quality Service
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Making Effective Decisions
Additional details
GCSE A*-C Grade (or equivalent) including Maths and English (and Welsh w
- applicable) or proven track record in commensurate role.
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IT skills including evidence of ability to interpret and apply performance reports using Microsoft Office, and Power Bi.
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No formal contract management qualification is required, although relevant experience is desirable. The successful candidate will be expected to achieve, as a minimum, the Foundation Certificate in Contract Management.
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Travel required, including occasional travel to London
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Standard security checks and probation period apply
Join us
This is more than a support role—it’s an opportunity to build your career in contract management while making a measurable difference to services that matter.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, w they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.
If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.
The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
Benefits
Annual Leave
- The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.
Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays
- You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. T is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment
Pension
- The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Work Life Balance
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wver managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ
Season Ticket Advance
- After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work
Childcare Vouchers
For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
Training
HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes
- T are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts
- All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles
Eligibility
- All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
- All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS
- All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available - )
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wver it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
