About US:
The African Prisons Project is an international non-profit organization that works to restore dignity and hope to prisoners across Africa. APP works holistically to change the way that criminal justice issues are addressed in the countries in which we work and empower prisoners to drive positive change.

We work with Prison Service leaders who wish to develop services and policies in line with our mission and welcome our support. We believe that prisons should have a comprehensive education system which facilitates the positive transformation of men, women and children in prison. Equipping prison staff and prisoners to deliver training programmes and ensuring that prisons have access to educational facilities and scholastic materials can produce an enhancement of leadership skills in prisons, an increase in the learning and reading culture and an equal response to education from both male and female prisoners. There will be an enhancement of performance and life skills leading to the improvement of literacy, numeracy and vocational skills, this will increase post release employment opportunities, resulting in a reduction in reoffending.

Job Summary: The Senior Life Skills Manager will be responsible for providing leadership, project delivery and guidance to the charity to strengthen our vocational projects in African prisons.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
· The Senior Life Skills Manager is responsible for delivering the charities strategic education and vocational plans and resources in prisons. Will work at all times within the prisons rules and our charities policies and procedures.
· Identify and co-ordinate new developments, such as those relating to the curriculum, models of delivery and partnership working, through regular review and investigation of new opportunities.
· Oversee educational services which will empower people in prisons with numeracy and literacy skills, key life skills and vocational training.
· Manage the process where our leaning and vocation activities are accredited. This will require building networks and relationships with education and vocational providers.
· Oversee and expand our existing Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) and Library programmes.
· Change the culture in prisons towards a culture which places a high value on reading and education.
· Ensure that services are delivered to female inmates in ways which address women’s specific needs in order to ensure that women and men receive equal benefit from education programmes.
· Increase the number of prison libraries and the range of books available, optimise the appropriateness of libraries’ stock including books to support other initiatives (including legal education and health care)
· Develop libraries into “enrichment stations” by providing a physical space for individual empowerment and learning. To ensure that there are education facilities, relevant materials and teaching aids available.
· Empower inmates and staff to deliver educational services through adult learning by equipping them with coaching and mentoring skills. Link inmates with vocational providers and trainers to ensure that future employment opportunities are harnessed.
· The Senior Life Skills Manager is also responsible for managing our FAL Tutor and Librarian and other paid staff or volunteers, and this could be in one or more locations. They will manage all HR aspects including recruitment including disciplinary action if deemed to be appropriate – this will be in liaison with the charities HR functions.
· The incumbent will engage in appropriate committees, working groups and other activities to maintain strong and productive external networks. Responsible for ensuring that standards and quality of academic delivery is maintained and developed.
· He/she will engage in appropriate committees, working groups and other activities to maintain strong and productive external networks. Responsible for ensuring that standards and quality of education and vocational delivery is maintained and developed.
· The incumbent will be responsible for contributing to the support and assessment of students, reflecting on the student development needs and ensuring we achieve the highest results (pass marks).
· The job holder will work closely with the Regional Director will be responsible for administering, and monitoring the vocational skills budget, and for administering the returns required by the charities finance functions – this also includes producing reports and returns as required by the charities fundraising managers.
· The Senior Life Skills Manager will liase with subject teachers in reviewing academic progress of the students and proactively support them in finding ways to deal with any underperformance.
· Significantly contribute to income generation activities beyond core teaching, scholarship and professional activities, including project work, short courses, lecturing and international-related activities.

Key Performance Indicators:
· Libraries – you will be measured by the number of libraries, the number of prisoners accessing library facilities, the range of activities and the number, range and appropriateness of libraries’ stock.
· Teaching – you will be measured by the number of prisoners/prison officers completing training, functional adult literacy and vocational programmes. It will also be demonstrable through the number of classes being run and the performance of these classes.
· Capacity building – this will be measured by the number of prisoners and staff trained as library assistants and FAL teachers.
· Equal access – you will be measured by the respective proportions of male and female prisoners accessing our programme.
· Reintegration – you will be assessed on the number of prisoners securing gainful employment post release and lower levels of recidivism among those participating in the educational programmes.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The ideal candidate should hold a good Honours degree in education (2.1 or above).
· A minimum of five years or more experience of administrative or managerial responsibility in an education environment
· A minimum of five years knowledge and understanding of teacher education together with an appropriate specialism.
· Good working knowledge and understanding of cutting-edge educational partnerships.
· Excellent track record of excellence as a Senior Vocational Teacher.
· An emerging record of excellent research outputs or equivalent engagement with knowledge development in policy or practice contexts.
· Prior exposure and experience co-ordinating aspects of academic activity including leading a team.
· Past experience of working as a senior teacher in a School or College.
· Previous experience in tutoring vocational subjects.
· Prior management experience.
· Past experience working in an NGO who supports prisoners or who has links with the judiciary.
· An outstanding and innovative teacher/lecturer with proven academic results/pass marks achieved.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
· Demonstrable co-ordination and organisational skills.
· Skills and competencies, supported by measurable outputs.
· Past experience as a school or college administrator
· Highly organised and flexible approach to work with the ability to prioritise workload under pressure and to meet tight deadlines.
· Ability to lead and work within an environment of multiple contributions and interests, exercising initiative and work independently.
· Confidence in own abilities and clear commitment to excellence in education
· Detailed knowledge and understanding or experience of the requirements of teaching and research in a prison or judiciary context
· Advanced oral and writing skills, and an ability to present information and arguments clearly; excellent interpersonal skills; IT skills appropriate to an office or NGO (field) environment
· Past experience in dealing with Commissioners and an ability to work consultatively within democratic structures; sympathy with the aims, objectives and academic values at the highest levels having a commitment to the highest possible standards
· Demonstrated ability to take initiatives in developing relationships, initiatives and options for action that might benefit the charities education and vocational aims

It is anticipated that the successful candidate may be either:
· An established teacher who now wishes to provide strategic thinking, management, administrative support and all-round service to an NGO working in human rights and education
· An educational administrator who has worked closely with academic staff, and seeks a leading role in the service of a charity who aims to achieve academic success in a prison community
· Individuals with appropriate qualifications but different kinds of career experience are encouraged to consider applying

Salary: This role is also available to applications from around the world, and we will pay approx. £7,000 – £9,500 per annum or Ugandan shillings equivalent.

How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send an updated CV and covering letter to our UK office

Jessica Harper, Office & HR Manager
Address: Unit 16, 95 Miles Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 3FH

Email to: jessicaharper@africanprisons.org

NB: Please do not apply unless you have the right qualifications and experience. This role will be popular and we will only be reviewing applications who send us their CV and covering letter which are no more 3 pages long. We do not need to see certificates.