Pound Manager - Charlton Car Pound

Metropolitan Police; Charlton; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Police is seeking a Pound Manager for Charlton Car Pound to lead a team responsible for seized and recovered vehicles. You will manage staff performance, ensure safe operations, and handle inquiries from internal teams and external partners.

The role requires crisis leadership, process improvements and proactive training. As a leader in a 24‑hour operational environment, you will drive efficiency, safety and compliance while mentoring staff and implementing contingency plans for

Qualifications

• Full leadership capability to mentor and develop a high‑performing team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to liaise with internal teams, partners and the public.
• Strong IT literacy, including Microsoft Office and policing software suites (CAD/PNC/ELVIS/Connect).
• Ability to delegate, prioritise tasks and resolve conflicts professionally.
• Knowledge of safety policies and procedural compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in vehicle recovery and examination operations.
• Conduct regular weekly and monthly audits and produce operational reports.
• Deliver staff training, briefings and development plans.
• Ensure safety, compliance and efficient use of supplies and equipment.
• Respond to emergencies with contingency planning for high‑volume periods.
• Provide mentorship and foster a high‑performing culture.

Skills

Team leadership

Interpersonal skills

IT literacy

Conflict resolution

Communication

Tools

CAD

PNC

ELVIS

Connect

Job description

Job Title: Pound Manager - Charlton Car Pound

Salary: The starting salary is £48,021 which includes allowances totalling £3,009 and a 20% shift allowance.

The salary is broken down as £37,510 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £40,141. Plus, a 20% shift allowance, location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: Charlton Car Pound SE7 7HY

MORE CHALLENGES. MORE EXCITEMENT. MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

BE AT THE HEART OF A CHANGING SERVICE.

In Operational Support Services we provide a range of services to the Met, including providing Fleet, Vehicle Recovery, Catering, Travel, Cultural Services, Uniform, ID Passes, Exhibit Management, Records Management and Local support to officers. Whilst these services are quite different in what they deliver, the desired outcomes of delighting our customers, improving performance, delivering innovative services that are value for money and supporting and developing our people are the same.

As a Pound Manager in Vehicle Recovery and Examination Services, you will lead a team responsible for processing a wide range of vehicles that have been seized and recovered to our pounds. Your role will involve effectively managing your team’s time, monitoring their performance, and providing the necessary support to handle public interactions professionally.

You will be a key part of the operation, ensuring all activities are conducted safely within a dynamic, 24-hour environment.Your responsibilities will include conducting regular weekly and monthly audits, preparing operational reports, managing staff training and development needs, delivering staff briefings, and overseeing the management of supplies and equipment. Additionally, you will ensure compliance with policies and procedures, and handle inquiries from internal teams, external partners and other agencies.Your leadership will be vital in maintaining efficiency and safety across the operation.

As a leader, you will provide ongoing mentorship and development opportunities to foster a high-performing and motivated team, leading by example through professionalism and problem solving in a fast-paced environment. You’ll also identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and productivity.

In times of crisis, you’ll lead the team in responding effectively to emergency situations, developing contingency plans for high-volume periods or unexpected challenges, ensuring minimal disruption to operations.

This is a dynamic and multifaceted role where your leadership, organisational skills and commitment to operational excellence will be vital to the success of the operation.

Additional Information

This is a 4 on 4 off pattern, covering a range of shifts including nights.

Due to business reasons please be aware there is a tenure period of 2 years for this role.

This will be confirmed at the time of posting, and it is the expectation that normally the officer or staff member will be able to commit to the tenure, as a minimum. Tenure agreements are subject to annual review and may be changed at any time for reasons other than career development, such as considerable investment in training.

• Applicants must hold a full substantive manual driving licence with no more than 3 points.
• Emergency Life Support and Officer Safety trained, or willingness to be trained.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and mentor a team in a high-pressure environment.
• High level of interpersonal skills to establish and build positive relationships with our customers and contractors.
• Proficiency in handling inquiries and resolving conflicts professionally.
• Strong understanding of compliance with policies, procedures, and safety protocols.
• Strategic thinking to address unexpected challenges while minimising disruption.
• Ability to manage stress and support team members in high-pressure situations.
• IT literacy including working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs with the ability to pick up a whole suite of policing programs including Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Police National Computer (PNC), Easy Link Vehicle Information System (ELVIS), Connect (full training provided).

Knowledge

• Knowledge of vehicle recovery or similar operations
• Knowledge of RTA1988, Road Traffic Regs 1984, PACE legislation, public order, Road Death Investigation practises and those relating to the removal, loading and unloading, transportation, seizure, storage and disposal of motor vehicles

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to liaise with internal teams, external partners, and the public.
• Effective delegation and task prioritisation
• Effective conflict and issue resolution skills
• Analytical skills to identify and implement process improvements.
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities.

Disability Confident Statement

The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If youneed any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.

Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards .

Read our full disability confidence statement.