Business Manager

Job description

Do you want to play a key role in improving Scotland's prisons by driving the business operations behind independent monitoring and inspection?

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) is an independent body responsible for the inspection and monitoring of Scotland's 17 prisons. Its purpose is to assess the treatment of prisoners and the conditions in which they are held, reporting publicly on its findings. HMIPS also inspects the conditions in which prisoners are transported or held under prisoner escort arrangements.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland (HMCIPS), Sara Snell, is supported by a Deputy Chief Inspector, a Thematic Lead, a Lead Inspector of Prisons, a Lead Inspector of Court Custody Units, four Prison Monitoring Coordinators, a Head of Business Management/Inspector, two Senior Researchers, a Scottish NPM Coordinator, a Business Manager (this post), a Business Support Officer/Chief's PA, an Independent Prison Monitoring Support Officer and an Inspection/Business Administrative Assistant.

There are also around 100 Independent Prison Monitors (IPMs) nationally who volunteer from their local communities.

The Business Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring the effective operation of HMIPS. The post holder leads key business management activities, supports inspection programmes and provides strategic business support to the Chief Inspector and wider organisation.

• Respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) and Subject Access Request (SAR) requests in a timely manner.
• Act as the HMIPS Hiring Manager, leading the recruitment and secondment of staff.
• As BCLO, manage the HMIPS budget to ensure effective financial control and provide timely responses to all information requests.
• Produce and present quarterly financial forecast papers for HMIPS.
• Support and contribute to quarterly Strategic Meetings.
• Carry out the role of Senior Business Manager for HMIPS.
• Maintain and update the HMIPS Risk Register and organisational objectives, providing formal quarterly updates to the Chief Inspector and Strategic Meeting.

• Support the day-to-day management and coordination of inspection activity, including inspection planning and the production of associated timelines.
• Work with the Lead Inspector to recruit, induct and train Guest Inspectors, Associate Inspectors and new inspectors, ensuring all recruits receive appropriate onboarding and training within agreed timescales.
• Maintain accurate records of inspector availability, time commitments and expense claims, ensuring these are monitored and processed promptly.
• Act as a member of the pre-inspection survey team and participate in inspections to support prisoner focus groups.
• Manage inspection reports through to publication, including submission to APS and arranging publication on the HMIPS website.
• Manage SPS responses to inspection reports by maintaining accurate trackers, coordinating the timely publication of responses on the HMIPS website and providing feedback to prisoners on progress against desired outcomes.

• Liaise with volunteers, key partners, relevant Scottish Government colleagues, external organisations and HMIPS colleagues as appropriate.