P(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] heterogeneous catalyst system comprised of anionic [Mn(tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin)(OAc)] ([Mn(TPPS)(OAc)]) embedded within cationic cross‐linked polymeric ionic liquid (poly[(3‐acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride], p(APTMACl)) hydrogel matrices was used for the selective aerobic oxidation of olefins. P(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] hydrogel was synthesized by radical polymerization in a solution of cationic APTMACl as an ionic liquid monomer, N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as cross‐linking agent, ammonium persulfate as initiator and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylmethylenediamine as accelerator in the presence of anionic [Mn(TPPS)(OAc)]. P(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] was characterized using Fourier transform infrared, diffuse reflectance UV–visible and atomic absorption spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry was used for measuring the glass transition temperature. Catalytic activity of p(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] was investigated in the aerobic oxidation of olefins with emphasis on the effect of various parameters such as temperature, catalyst amount, substituent effect, etc. The catalyst was easily recovered from the reaction medium and could be re‐used for another seven runs without significant loss of activity.