Reggie Lavender-Mead
Crawley,West Sussex
Summary
Experienced professional with a strong background in contract management, risk management, and project oversight. Demonstrates exceptional logical thinking, critical evaluation, and problem-solving skills. Adept at quality assurance, performance monitoring, and organisational change. Proven ability to deliver high-quality stakeholder engagement and maintain effective communication with service end users. Committed to continuous learning and adaptability in dynamic environments.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Contract Manager - Operations
Home Office
Gatwick, Surrey
11.2023 - Current
- Providing oversight of a robust contract and detention monitoring schedule, all in the interest of providing the safest and most humane care of those detained for immigration purposes.
- Ensuring robust testing of the contractual compliance of the Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) service provider.
- Providing leadership and guidance on key contractual risk areas.
- Ensuring that the site is run properly and securely in accordance with Detention Centre Rules 2001, Operating Standards, Detention Service Orders and the contract with the contracted service provider.
- Providing briefing and advice about the policies and procedures of the centre to senior managers as and when required in response to parliamentary questions and other official correspondence.
- Providing effective management to a team of Operations Managers, whom this role line manages, and Deputy Compliance Managers, ensuring work is evenly distributed and outputs monitored. Allowing team members to deliver high performance, whilst also developing a learning culture.
- Arranging and host high profile visits and inspections to the IRC establishment.
- Providing out of hours on-call support for the IRC estate nationally, providing support to local teams during incidents.
- Providing “Duty Senior Manager” cover for the IRC estate nationally during evenings and weekends.
- Representing the Home Office at a range of internal and external meetings, including operational strategy meetings, internal and external stakeholder and supplier meetings, daily capacity review meetings.
- Supporting the Service Delivery Manager with their duties - chairing monthly operational review meetings with suppliers and in other duties such as representation at senior management meetings.
- Production of monthly reports that provide essential data and statistics about contract delivery and the population in the centre.
- Occasional travel required for face-to-face meetings with managers from other IRCs.
- Providing oversight in the completion and implementation of action plans from 3rd parties within agreed timescales supporting the Service Delivery Manager.
- Management of information and data, such as litigation, freedom of information requests and subject access requests.
- Leading on areas of risk management, such as risk registers, data protection and trend analysis to ensure compliance from suppliers supporting the operational management of the establishment.
- Assisting in supporting the Service Delivery Manager signing off business cases, tracking projects and have oversight of facilities management within the IRC.
- Supplier audits and self-audits compliance and monitoring.
- Ownership of various annual reports, accuracy checks action plans and tracking.
Operations Manager
Home Office
Gatwick, Surrey
05.2023 - 11.2023
- Monitored a complex contract at a managerial level, driving a team toward a more efficient way of contract monitoring, and ultimately providing a better service for detained persons in our care.
- Fostered a culture of continuous development, and improved workforce competency levels.
- Liaised with stakeholders for transparent communication and better decision making.
- Managed the relationship between the Home Office and the contracted service provider to ensure timely and efficient delivery of services.
- Implemented quality control measures, enhancing standards of delivery in line with a complex contract and UK legislation.
- Improved operational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing strategic plans.
- Maintained smooth-running business operations by delegating priorities to staff in line with their strengths.
- Translated senior management directives into actionable front-line policies and implemented changes with staff.
Deputy Compliance Manager
Home Office
Gatwick, Surrey
08.2022 - 05.2023
- As a Deputy Compliance Manager, I monitored and navigated a complex contract, as well as the Detention Centre Rules 2001, Operating Standards and Detention Service Orders.
- I am a foundation accredited contract manager; obtained through the Government Commercial College.
- I managed the performance of the contracted service provider, quality assurance, and applying key performance indicators if there were any non-compliances.
- I ensured that the contracted service provider are contractually compliant, but also providing a service in line with UK legislation.
- This is an operational role, which had an out of hours on call function, covering weekends, and working varied shifts to ensure that the centre is run efficiently.
- Collaborated with multi-disciplinary staff to in still culture-wide culture of accountability and compliance.
- I ensured that detained persons in the care of the Home Office were cared for humanely and with respect, whilst at the same time ensuring they were compliant with rules and the safety and security of the immigration removal centre in which they were detained.
Engagement Officer
Home Office
Gatwick, Surrey
02.2021 - 08.2022
- As Engagement Officer, my role was to serve important documentation to residents that were detained under immigration law in preparation for their imminent removal from the UK, whether it be voluntary or enforced
- Managed a demanding workload, prioritising service of documentation in line with tight deadlines
- Upholding the values of the Home Office, being an integral part of the immigration system that ensures efficient management of UK borders in line with UK law
- Conducted in-depth interviews with residents in the care and custody of the Home Office with professionalism, respect and compassion
- Documented important information relayed to me by residents to case progression officers, ensuring all necessary detail was captured, providing an accurate insight to a persons circumstances, aiding in the ability to determine a persons right to be in the UK legally
- Liaised with internal and external stakeholders in multi-disciplinary review meetings around the careful management and humane treatment of detained persons
Administrative Support Officer
Home Office
Gatwick, Surrey
09.2019 - 02.2021
- Formed a key part of the Detention Engagement Team, co-ordinating the service of important legal documentation, and managing a busy workstream within a fast paced and demanding environment
- Offered excellent customer service to residents in the care of the Home Office, and to internal and external stakeholders, maintaining company reputation
- Developed in-depth understanding of UK immigration processes, which I have maintained through my years in the Home Office
- Managed busy workloads amidst ever changing and competing priorities
- Chaired and coordinated multi disciplinary meetings, ensuring collaboration between departments
- Provided dependable administrative support to senior managers, enabling them to freely handle high-importance tasks
- Diligently prioritised tasks in order of importance, including but not limited to documentation that required service to residents, ensuring deadlines were not surpassed
- Engaged with residents in our care in person and via telephone with compassion and respect
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
British Transport Police (BTP)
London Victoria Railway Station, London
01.2018 - 09.2019
- Undertook education in standard law and legislation, covering most common criminal acts committed on the railway network
- Protected life and property by enforcing UK laws and regulations.
- Applied analytical skills to interpret complex information for crime solving.
- Diffused potentially volatile situations by employing proven de-escalation and conflict management techniques.
- Offered compassionate victim support for minimised distress and upset.
- Prepared crime reports and case files, delivering documentation to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
- I dealt with high pressure situations, ranging from minor offences from fare evasion and theft, to major crime such as potential terror threats, knife crime and fatalities
- I was fully trained in behavioural detection for counter terrorism deployments and assisted with Recruit Operational Scenario Training
- Maintained strict confidentiality through careful and correct storage of case documents, in line with internal policies.
- Offered empathy and support to victims whilst professionally handling suspects in line with Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
- Worked crime scenes, preserving and securing forensic evidence to strengthen investigation accuracy and case viability.
Army Reserve
Royal Logistics Corps
Maidstone
02.2017 - 01.2018
- I served as an Army Reserve (formally known as the Territorial Army) for the Royal Logistics Corps, Maidstone
- The British Army Reserves gave me an unmatched opportunity to greatly improve my self discipline, courage, integrity and selfless commitment; all of which I now reflect on my civilian working life
- The Army Reserve role was served in my free time
- I attended a drill night every Tuesday which was not compulsory
- Delivered highly specialised equipment to military bases.
- Maintained strict discipline, resulting in an organised unit.
- Executed strategic planning for effective combat operations.
- Performed diligent grounds patrols for thorough base security.
Food and beverage assistant
Bridgewood Manor Hotel (QHotels)
07.2016 - 01.2018
- When I was offered a position at the four star hotel I quickly found my feet in the role
- I was trained on the bar at first which involves, but is not limited to, serving food, table service, cashing up, room service and signing in and out the bar keys and till floats
- I started the role on a casual contract but after a few weeks, I was offered a 40 hour contract from my general manager as he was extremely pleased with evident progress I had made despite my brief time there
- A few months prior to obtaining the contract I was then offered a promotion to become a staff trainer due to my previous experience as a team leader
- While working at Bridgewood Manor, I have learned a variety of new skills including service in fine dining and al a carte, setting up and helping to conduct of function rooms for weddings, wakes, board meetings and more, whilst running the bar team during busy periods
Education
Award - IIA Award in Compliance Audit and Assurance
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
United Kingdom 06.2023 -
Contract Management Foundation - Government Contract Management
Government Commercial Function
United Kingdom 03.2023 -
Certificate of Accreditation - IOSH Managing Safely
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health IOSH
United Kingdom 02.2025 -
Higher National Diploma - Public Service Management Level 5
Midkent College of Higher and Further Education
United Kingdom 09.2015 - 09.2016
Higher National Curriculum - Public Services Level 4
Midkent College of Higher And Further Education
United Kingdom 09.2014 - 09.2015
A-Levels - Public Services Level 3
Midkent College
United Kingdom 09.2012 - 09.2014
GCSEs - Secondary School/High School
Thomas Aveling School
United Kingdom 09.2007 - 06.2012
Skills
- Contract management, negotiation and procurement
- Operations management and oversight
- Analytical, critical-thinking and strategic evaluation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Risk management and compliance monitoring
- Performance management and monitoring
- Quality assurance and audit
- Project oversight and management
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Certificate of Accreditation - IOSH Managing Safely
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health IOSH
02.2025 -
Senior Contract Manager - Operations
Home Office
11.2023 - Current
Award - IIA Award in Compliance Audit and Assurance
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
06.2023 -
Operations Manager
Home Office
05.2023 - 11.2023
Contract Management Foundation - Government Contract Management
Government Commercial Function
03.2023 -
Deputy Compliance Manager
Home Office
08.2022 - 05.2023
Engagement Officer
Home Office
02.2021 - 08.2022
Administrative Support Officer
Home Office
09.2019 - 02.2021
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
British Transport Police (BTP)
01.2018 - 09.2019
Army Reserve
Royal Logistics Corps
02.2017 - 01.2018
Food and beverage assistant
Bridgewood Manor Hotel (QHotels)
07.2016 - 01.2018
Higher National Diploma - Public Service Management Level 5
Midkent College of Higher and Further Education
09.2015 - 09.2016
Higher National Curriculum - Public Services Level 4
Midkent College of Higher And Further Education
09.2014 - 09.2015
A-Levels - Public Services Level 3
Midkent College
09.2012 - 09.2014
GCSEs - Secondary School/High School
Thomas Aveling School
09.2007 - 06.2012
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