Head of Enable (Ref: 13985)

Job summary

This position is based nationally.

Job description

Role Title: Head of Enable (HMPPS Band 11)
Reporting to: Deputy Director, Enable Programme.

Overview

Leading a flagship workforce transformation. As Head of Enable (Band 11), you’ll design and deliver development offers for Officers, Managers and Governors; turn operational insight into policy and practice; and champion psychologically‑informed, relational approaches. Working with People Group, Governors and Trade Unions, you’ll drive change at pace and help make prisons safer, more supportive places to work. Significant operational leadership experience is essential.

Role Purpose:

Support the Deputy Director in delivering the Enable Programme’s vision to improve workforce capability, leadership, and staff wellbeing across prisons. Lead the design and implementation of new capability and leadership packages, provide operational insight, and drive workforce change in line with national policy and HMPPS priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and deliver new capability and leadership development packages for all levels of prison staff and leaders, ensuring alignment with Enable Programme objectives.
• Act as a senior member of the Enable Senior Management Team, contributing to strategic planning and operational delivery.
• Provide expert operational insight to inform programme activity and policy development.
• Lead assessments of prison readiness for workforce change and support early adopter sites.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders, including People Group, Governors, and Trade Unions, leading consultation and negotiation on Enable-related changes.
• Oversee significant budgets and ensure effective resource allocation within Enable activities.
• Act as a change champion to promote rehabilitative and change orientated cultures within prisons.
• Deputise for the Deputy Director as required, representing the Enable Programme at senior forums.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, and staff wellbeing, fostering a supportive and high-performing culture.

Essential Experience:

• Significant operational leadership experience within prisons or justice sector.
• Proven track record in workforce development, organisational change, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong communication, influencing, and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing complex projects and budgets.

Desirable Experience:

• Familiarity with psychologically informed and relational practice approaches.
• Understanding of HMPPS structures and national policy context.

Behaviours:

• Leadership: Demonstrate organisational values, empower teams, and create an inclusive culture.
• Communicating and Influencing: Tailor communication to diverse audiences, build strong relationships.
• Delivering at Pace: Translate strategy into action, prioritise effectively, and manage resources.
• Working Together: Collaborate across teams, value diverse perspectives, and maintain positive relationships.

Please note the Job Description may refer to a slightly different Directorate name to that listed in the actual advert.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £88,444, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £25,622 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5358

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/13985?entityId=13985