Head of Connections

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Head of Connections
Location: HMP Millsike, Full Sutton, York
Salary: £52,000 – £65,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Contract: Permanent | Full Time
Working Pattern: Full-time, on-site (not eligible for hybrid working)

Lead Change. Shape Culture. Transform Lives.
The Forward Trust, in partnership with Mitie, is seeking an exceptional senior leader to join the Senior Leadership Team at HMP Millsike—one of the UK’s newest privately operated prisons.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a flagship leadership role where you’ll have the autonomy and influence to shape services that genuinely change lives. As Head of Connections, you’ll lead a holistic rehabilitation model that brings together family relationships, recovery, substance misuse and community reintegration to reduce reoffending and support long-term desistance.
This isn’t a role for someone looking to maintain the status quo. It’s a role for an experienced prison leader who can drive improvement, rebuild confidence, and lead meaningful operational change.

About HMP Millsike
HMP Millsike is a newly opened, privately operated prison managed by Mitie in partnership with The Forward Trust. Having been operational for just over a year, the prison is entering an important phase of development, making this an exciting opportunity to influence how services evolve for years to come.
As a member of the Prison Senior Leadership Team, you’ll play a key role in shaping the establishment’s culture, operational performance and rehabilitation strategy.

About the Role
Reporting to the Executive Director of Criminal Justice, you’ll provide strategic and operational leadership across the Connections service, overseeing:

• Family and Relationships Services
• Drug Strategy
• Visits and Visitor Services
• More Than My Past rehabilitation programme

You’ll work collaboratively across the prison to ensure these services operate as one integrated rehabilitation model, delivering measurable outcomes for prisoners, families and the wider community.
This role requires someone who is equally comfortable leading strategy, managing operational delivery and developing strong partnerships across the establishment.

An Opportunity to Make a Lasting Impact
The successful candidate will inherit a service that requires strong leadership and direction. You’ll play a critical role in embedding effective ways of working, improving operational performance and helping establish a high-performing leadership culture.
You’ll also be leading a management team that will be relatively new in post, providing an excellent opportunity to build a cohesive, motivated team from the outset.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the prison’s Connections service as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Develop and deliver the prison’s rehabilitation and recovery strategy.
• Lead operational improvement across family services, substance misuse and rehabilitation programmes.
• Build and develop a high-performing leadership team.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Manage budgets, contracts and performance reporting.
• Build strong relationships with prison leadership, partners and external stakeholders.
• Ensure services consistently meet contractual, inspection and governance requirements.
• Champion evidence-based rehabilitation and desistance approaches.

Who We’re Looking For
This role is aimed at experienced prison leaders who have already demonstrated success within custodial environments.
You’ll ideally have:

• Significant leadership experience within HM Prison Service or privately operated prisons.
• Experience as a Head of Function or equivalent senior operational leadership role.
• A strong operational prison management background.
• Experience leading complex multidisciplinary services.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing budgets and contractual performance.
• A proven ability to lead organisational change and service improvement.
• Outstanding communication and leadership skills.
• A genuine passion for rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

Applications will also be welcomed from candidates who bring:

• Senior prison leadership experience combined with community rehabilitation or criminal justice service management.
• Operational prison experience alongside leadership in rehabilitation, recovery or related community-based services.

Why Join?
This is far more than a management role.
It’s an opportunity to help shape one of the UK’s newest prisons, influence its culture and leave a lasting legacy by improving outcomes for prisoners, families and communities.
You’ll work alongside an ambitious Senior Leadership Team committed to innovation, partnership working and delivering outstanding rehabilitation services.
Salary & Benefits

• £52,000 – £65,000 per annum (depending on experience)
• Permanent, full-time position
• On-site role based at HMP Millsike, York
• Opportunity to shape services within a new custodial environment
• Senior Leadership Team position with genuine strategic influence

Recruitment Process

• Closing Date: 26th July
• Stage One Interviews ETA: 3rd August
• Stage Two Interviews ETA: 10th August
• Competency and scenario-based assessment as part of the interview process

Security Clearance
The successful candidate will be required to obtain HMPPS Enhanced Level 1 Vetting. Existing prison vetting may be transferable, subject to approval.

Application

• Tailor your CV to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria.
• Provide a tailored cover letter addressing the competencies outlined in the person specification.
• Clearly explain your motivation for applying and why you want to lead rehabilitation services within this unique prison environment.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced prison leader who is ready to make a genuine difference by leading change where it matters most.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, if you do not hear from us within 7 working days, your application has been unsuccessful.

If this role is not for you but you do know somebody who would be interested, please feel free to refer them to us! We have a “Refer A Friend” bonus scheme and we will reward you retail vouchers for any referrals who are not already known to us and are successfully placed!

Red Snapper Recruitment is a member of the Red Snapper Group.

The Red Snapper Group acts as an employment agency (permanent) and as an employment business (temporary) – a free and confidential service to candidates.

The Red Snapper Recruitment Group is an equal opportunities employer.

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