About this role
Contract Director – PECS Location: UK – regular travel across the contract
Lead one of the UK's most critical public service operations
As Contract Director for PECS, you'll have full accountability for one of Serco's most operationally demanding contracts, leading around 2,000 colleagues across 146 operational sites covering 28,000 square miles. You'll set the strategic direction for the contract, with accountability spanning operational delivery, customer relationships, financial and commercial performance, governance, compliance, transformation and organisational capability.
This is a role where operational excellence, public service and commercial leadership come together. Working in partnership with HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS), HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), Police Forces and Probation Services, you'll be responsible for delivering a safe, compliant and resilient operation while strengthening long-term customer confidence and shaping the future direction of the contract.
Leading through an experienced senior leadership team, you'll create an environment where people perform at their best, customers have confidence in our service and operational excellence becomes the standard. You'll work closely with executive leaders across Justice & Immigration, Serco's corporate functions and our customer organisations to ensure the contract continues to evolve, improve and respond effectively to changing operational, commercial and strategic priorities. What you'll be leading
As Contract Director for PECS, you'll have full accountability for:
• Setting the strategic direction for a large, complex and geographically dispersed operation. • Leading and developing a high-performing senior leadership team responsible for delivery across multiple operational locations. • Building trusted executive relationships with HMPPS, HMCTS, Police, Probation and other key justice stakeholders. • Providing executive oversight of operational performance, governance, assurance, compliance and risk. • Taking full ownership of financial and commercial performance, including P&L, forecasting, cost control and sustainable contract delivery. • Leading significant transformation, service improvement and organisational change to enhance operational performance and customer outcomes. • Driving the long-term contract strategy, ensuring PECS continues to evolve in response to customer priorities, operational requirements and future demand. • Contributing to contract renewals, extensions and future growth opportunities, bringing operational and commercial insight to Serco's wider Justice strategy. • Developing organisational capability, strengthening succession and ensuring the contract has the leadership and talent required for the future. • Creating a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
Who we're looking for
We're looking for an accomplished senior operational leader who combines strong commercial judgement with the leadership presence and credibility to operate at executive level.
You'll bring: • Extensive senior leadership experience within complex operational, regulated or outsourced service environments. • A proven track record of leading large-scale, multi-site operations with significant accountability for service delivery, people and financial performance. • Experience managing complex, high-profile customer relationships, ideally within central government, justice or similarly demanding public service environments. • Strong commercial acumen, with significant experience managing P&L, budgets, forecasting and contract performance. • Experience setting strategic direction and translating organisational priorities into sustained operational performance. • A strong track record of leading transformation, organisational change and continuous improvement across complex operations. • Deep understanding of governance, compliance, risk management and operational assurance. • The ability to lead through senior leadership teams, build organisational capability and create strong succession pipelines. • The credibility, judgement and influencing skills to operate confidently with executive stakeholders across both public and private sector organisations. • The resilience and adaptability to lead within a high-profile, fast-paced operational environment.
What we offer
• Competitive six-figure salary • On-target bonus of 20%, with potential for up to 40% • Company car or car allowance • 10% contributory pension • Private medical insurance for you and your partner • 25 days' annual leave
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About Serco At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.
By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.
Apply Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000. At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.