Production Coordinator

Fine Cell Work; London; On-site; GBP 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Fine Cell Work is seeking a Production Coordinator to manage and oversee in-cell production processes for a charity dedicated to rehabilitating prisoners through handmade products. The role involves administrative duties, materials management, and supporting volunteers. Candidates should possess strong organisational skills, excellent communication abilities, and a positive attitude towards helping the prison community.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Employer pension contribution after probation

Season ticket loan

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Accuracy in logging information and quality checking work.
• A non-judgemental approach to supporting prisoners.

Responsibilities

• Administer the production process on FCW’s custom database.
• Process payments to prisoners on a weekly basis.
• Coordinate Fine Cell Work volunteers with their weekly tasks.

Skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Numeracy skills

Flexibility

Tools

MS Office

Excel

Job description

Core Job Purpose:

The Production Coordinator is responsible for maintaining, overseeing and coordinating all of FCW’s in-cell production. This is an exciting and varied role which helps contribute to the smooth running of the charity.

The duties of the role include:

· Administration of sending and receiving kits stitched in prison.

· Supporting volunteers teaching in prison by dealing with materials requests and orders.

· Ensuring our stitchers are paid for their work accurately and efficiently.

· Providing feedback on the stitching by our in-prison workforce.

· Assisting the extended production team with the ordering of materials, special commissions, donations requests and our tapestry finishing service.

· Gathering, logging and reporting on information related to production and prisoner pay using FCW’s custom database.

· Visiting our stitching groups in prison to get an better understanding of the challenges with production that both our volunteer teachers and our stitchers might face in delivering FCW production

You should have excellent interpersonal skills, be accurate in your attention to detail, be flexible and have the ability to take initiative. We expect you to work independently, prioritising your own workload, as well as working as part of a small, lively team.

Principal Accountabilities for the Core Job:

1. Support our volunteers and stitchers by sending our pre-prepared kits to volunteers around the country ahead of the stitching classes and receiving kits back from volunteers.

1. Administer the production process on FCW’s custom database: logging items as they are sent to prisons and volunteers around the country, tracking items as they are returned from prison, providing feedback to prisoners on the work completed and maintaining standards through rigorous quality control.
2. Process payments to prisoners on a weekly basis.
3. Support Fine Cell Work volunteers by dealing with requests for threads and troubleshooting problems with kits.
4. Log data, collate and report on production, prisoner pay and stitcher statistics as required for the senior management and the fundraising teams, to include monthly reports and annual reports.
5. Supporting the use of FCW’s custom database to include testing and feedback on new features and uploading and maintaining relevant information.
6. Order materials in advance for production activities in prison workshops as well as at the FCW office, liaising with commercial suppliers as well as materials donors. Supporting the production manager with the production of all kits in prison workshops as well as by volunteers in the office.
7. Work with the Programmes and Impact Officer to enable Open College Network accredited training to be delivered in prisons by making up and sending out starter kits and materials to stitchers.
8. With the Programmes and Impact Officer, provide technical support for our lone stitchers by sending out work, talking to them on the phone or replying to letters.
9. Where appropriate, working with the Design and Commissions team to assist with the preparation of specialist kit and sample products, ordering materials and collecting stitcher feedback to assist with future production.
10. Coordinate FCW’s tapestry finishing and making up service.
11. Support the production manager to ensure that all ability and pay levels are appropriate to FCW’s stitcher population ensuring these are made and assigned with a view to developing prisoners’ skills and self-responsibility.
12. With the Programmes team, co-facilitate production training for volunteers both online and in person.
13. Assist with bi-annual stock counts involving staff, volunteers, prison leavers and prison staff to include finished items, work in progress and raw materials in all the prisons where FCW operates, as well as at FCW’s London office.
14. Coordinate Fine Cell Work volunteers with their weekly tasks as provided by the production manager.
15. First point of contact for phone calls to the office, assisting callers with enquiries and diverting calls to relevant members of staff.
16. On occasion, visit cell groups in prison around the country to support volunteers and stitchers in FCW production.
17. Assist with Fine Cell Work events as and when required.
18. Ad hoc duties to support the work of the charity as required including back-up support to production with apprentices and volunteers in the Clothworkers Studio.

Core Job Context:

Fine Cell Work is a UK based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise which makes beautiful handmade products in British prisons. For 28 years we’ve beentransforming the lives of people in prison and prison leavers, one stitch at a time.Our unique process boosts our stitcher’s self-worth, instils accountability, and fosters hope.

We support people in prison and prison leavers to finish their sentences with work skills, money earned and saved, and theself-beliefto rebuildmeaningful, independent, crime-free lives.

Set up in 1997 by Lady Anne Tree following years of lobbying the government to change prison rules about prisoners earning money from work done in their cells,Fine Cell Work operates in 38 British prisons engaging with over 600 people in prison in 2024. Our stitchers are supportedby our skilled and valued volunteers whovisit prison fortnightly to teach needlework.

By providing, paid,purposeful activityto prepare people in prison to successfully reintegrate into the community post-release, we are teaching key soft employment skills, supporting the development of self-discipline and self-belief, and working to improve prisoner well-being, all key in reducing recidivism.

Core Requirements for the Role

Essential:

• Organised and process driven with strong administrative skills.
• The ability to prioritise and meet deadlines and take initiative.
• Proven track record of delivering on targets and outcome.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High standard of numeracy skills.
• Excellent team working skills.
• Accurate attention to detail for logging information and quality checking work.
• Proficient in MS Office particularly in Excel
• A flexible approach to managing workload.
• An enthusiastic and positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills.
• A non-judgemental approach to supporting prisoners.

Desirable:

• Experience of and/or knowledge of textiles and embroidery/needlework.
• Experience of working with volunteers.
• Experience of using complex databases.

This role is full time and based in our offices in Battersea, South London.

Reports to: Production Manager

Salary: £27,000

Fine Cell Work offer the following benefits to all our team members:

• A supportive learning culture and opportunities to develop in your role
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata) increasing after 2 years of service
• Employer pension contribution after 3 month probationary period
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme

Fine Cell Work is committed to the principle of equality. No job applicant, employee, volunteer or worker is discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, sex, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy status, age or disability and we will maintain a neutral working environment in which no employee or worker feels under threat or intimidated.

To apply for this role please send a cover letter, outlining how you meet the person specification, and CVby 10pm on 13th July. Please note your application will not be considered if a cover letter is not included.

If successful in your application, interviews will be held week commencing 14th July.