Commercial Manager – Prison Contracts

Mitie Care & Custody

Reporting to: Head of Commercial – Immigration & Justice

The Role

Mitie Care & Custody is looking for an experienced Commercial Manager to lead the commercial governance of the Millsike Prison Contract and support other prison contracts across the justice portfolio.

This role has end‑to‑end responsibility for commercial delivery across the contract lifecycle, with a strong focus on mobilisation, transition into service, and steady‑state performance. You will ensure contracts are mobilised effectively, managed compliantly, and deliver against financial and performance targets.

You will play a key role in the mobilisation of new prison contracts, setting up robust commercial processes, controls, and governance arrangements from contract award onward. Working closely with operational, finance, legal, and mobilisation teams, you will ensure commercial readiness, risk management, and compliance from day one.

Acting as a trusted commercial partner to senior stakeholders, clients, and government bodies, you will provide practical commercial insight that supports decision‑making and improves contract performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead commercial governance for the Millsike Prison Contract and wider prison portfolio.
• Act as the primary commercial contact, supporting operational teams to deliver compliant, sustainable, and profitable contracts.
• Play a lead commercial role in contract mobilisation, ensuring all commercial and financial arrangements are in place at service commencement.
• Establish and embed effective commercial processes, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Manage the full contract lifecycle, including contract interpretation, variations, change control, and performance mechanisms.
• Monitor KPIs, payment mechanisms, and service credits, supporting challenge and resolution where required.
• Support financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting, including mobilisation costs and risks.
• Identify, manage, and escalate commercial and contractual risks in line with governance requirements.
• Lead or support commercial input into negotiations, claims, and disputes.
• Build strong relationships with operational leaders, finance, legal teams, and external stakeholders.
• Provide clear, pragmatic commercial advice to senior management.
• Deliver guidance and training to operational teams to strengthen commercial understanding and compliance.

About You

• Proven experience managing complex contracts, ideally within prison, justice, immigration, or wider public sector environments.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to manage risk and optimise performance.
• Confident working closely with operational teams in a regulated environment.
• Able to interpret complex contractual and financial information and provide practical solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Organised, disciplined, and comfortable working in a high‑accountability setting.

Additional Information

• Applicants must have resided in the UK for the past five years and have the right to work in the UK.
• The role requires Enhanced DBS and CTC clearance.
• This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.