Programme Manager – Prison Mentoring & Social Impact

CIPD; Wimbledon; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

CIPD is seeking a Trust Programme Manager – Beyond the Gates to lead a ground-breaking through-the-gates mentoring project at London locations with on-site prison engagement. The role runs a 16-month fixed term contract and requires full-time 35 hours per week, with potential part-time options, and on-site visits to HMP Isis.

Salary is circa £45,000. You will oversee orchestration of custody and post-release mentoring, recruit mentors from CIPD, coordinate with prison staff, and support the

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals in the prison system.
• Experience coordinating programmes or projects involving mentoring, volunteering, or social impact.
• Previous experience in prison or exposure to a similar environment.
• Experience working with partners and stakeholders to deliver services.
• Experience of, or willingness to engage with research and evaluation.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build trust across diverse backgrounds.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple activities while keeping accurate records.
• A sound understanding of safeguarding, boundaries and confidentiality.
• Confidence working in a custodial or similarly complex environment.
• Willingness to undergo security vetting and comply with prison requirements.
• Empathetic, calm, resilient and solutions‑focused.
• Proactive, and equally comfortable working independently or as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Taking day-to-day ownership of the mentoring programme, coordinating activity both in custody and following release to ensure continuity of support.
• Acting as a key holder at HMP Isis where agreed
• Recruiting young men at HMP Isis to become mentees, engaging with the prisoners and onboarding them successfully on to the programme
• Working with the Prison Employment Lead (and with support from) the evaluation team to collect the necessary information and data prior to the randomisation of young men at Isis in the programme
• Building strong working relationships with prison staff, including the Prison Employment Lead
• Working with the CIPD Trust team to recruit, select and onboard volunteer mentors from the CIPD community of HR professionals
• Supporting mentoring pairs, carrying out regular check-ins with mentors and mentees
• Conducting risk assessments to support safe mentoring meetings in the community
• Coordinating with probation services and other stakeholders to maintain contact with participants after release
• Responding to safeguarding queries, ensuring appropriate actions and accurate recording
• Keeping all mentoring activity accurately recorded on CIPD Trust systems
• Supporting the evaluation of the programme by delivering questionnaires to mentees and mentors participating in the programme

Skills

Prison system experience

Mentoring/volunteering programs

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Safeguarding/confidentiality

Security vetting readiness

Independent/team work

Empathy/resilience

Research/evaluation interest

Job description

CIPD is seeking a Trust Programme Manager – Beyond the Gates to lead a ground-breaking through-the-gates mentoring project at London locations with on-site prison engagement. The role runs a 16-month fixed term contract and requires full-time 35 hours per week, with potential part-time options, and on-site visits to HMP Isis.

Salary is circa £45,000. You will oversee orchestration of custody and post-release mentoring, recruit mentors from CIPD, coordinate with prison staff, and support the