Detention Operations Manager
| Posting date: | 03 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £37000-43704 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 17 June 2026 |
| Location: | Bedfordshire, MK44 1FD |
| Company: | Serco Limited |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 309704-44221363 |
Summary
Serco Limited
Detention Operations Manager
Yarl’s Wood IRC, MK44 1FD
Band 6: Permanent, Full Time (Fixed shift pattern of varied shifts including early shifts 07:00 – 19:00, late shifts 10:00-22:00 and night shifts 22:00 – 07:00, including working at weekends and bank holidays
- shift patterns average a 4 day working week)Up to £43,704 per annum + Excellent Benefits
Ready to impact a better future?
As a Detention Operations Manager in our Justice and Immigration team, you’ll play a vital role in leading daily operations within a secure environment, ensuring the safety, care, and wellbeing of residents while delivering contractual excellence. Your work will directly contribute to creating a respectful, secure, and supportive environment that positively impacts lives.
In this role, you’ll support the delivery of services that matter – helping maintain a safe and decent environment while enabling colleagues to perform at their best. You’ll lead with integrity, build trust, and create impactful solutions that support both operational success and positive outcomes for individuals and communities.
What you’ll do as a Detention Operations Manager
You’ll be entrusted to:
Oversee the day-to-day management of centre operations, ensuring safe, secure, and effective service delivery
Lead and coordinate teams, including Detention Custody Officers and support colleagues, to meet operational and contractual requirements
Manage staff deployment, attendance, and performance to maintain high standards across all functions
Take command of incidents and ensure appropriate reporting, resolution, and continuous improvement
Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, maintaining a secure and respectful environment
Coach, support, and develop colleagues to build capability, drive performance, and foster a culture of trust and accountability
Does this sound like you?
You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have…
Proven experience in an operational or secure environment, with strong leadership capability
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships
Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan, prioritise, and deliver against objectives
A proactive, solution-focused mindset with the ability to manage complex situations
Confidence in managing incidents and working within regulated environments
Vetting and checks An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role. This includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by local police, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and safeguarding requirements. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to allow us to provide any support needed for you to succeed in the role.
Discover all you need to keep growing
We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.
What we offer
· 28 days plus bank holidays
Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
Free on site car parking
Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
Detention Operations Manager
Yarl’s Wood IRC, MK44 1FD
Band 6: Permanent, Full Time (Fixed shift pattern of varied shifts including early shifts 07:00 – 19:00, late shifts 10:00-22:00 and night shifts 22:00 – 07:00, including working at weekends and bank holidays
- shift patterns average a 4 day working week)Up to £43,704 per annum + Excellent Benefits
Ready to impact a better future?
As a Detention Operations Manager in our Justice and Immigration team, you’ll play a vital role in leading daily operations within a secure environment, ensuring the safety, care, and wellbeing of residents while delivering contractual excellence. Your work will directly contribute to creating a respectful, secure, and supportive environment that positively impacts lives.
In this role, you’ll support the delivery of services that matter – helping maintain a safe and decent environment while enabling colleagues to perform at their best. You’ll lead with integrity, build trust, and create impactful solutions that support both operational success and positive outcomes for individuals and communities.
What you’ll do as a Detention Operations Manager
You’ll be entrusted to:
Oversee the day-to-day management of centre operations, ensuring safe, secure, and effective service delivery
Lead and coordinate teams, including Detention Custody Officers and support colleagues, to meet operational and contractual requirements
Manage staff deployment, attendance, and performance to maintain high standards across all functions
Take command of incidents and ensure appropriate reporting, resolution, and continuous improvement
Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, maintaining a secure and respectful environment
Coach, support, and develop colleagues to build capability, drive performance, and foster a culture of trust and accountability
Does this sound like you?
You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have…
Proven experience in an operational or secure environment, with strong leadership capability
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships
Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan, prioritise, and deliver against objectives
A proactive, solution-focused mindset with the ability to manage complex situations
Confidence in managing incidents and working within regulated environments
Vetting and checks An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role. This includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by local police, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and safeguarding requirements. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to allow us to provide any support needed for you to succeed in the role.
Discover all you need to keep growing
We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.
What we offer
· 28 days plus bank holidays
Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
Free on site car parking
Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.