Commissioning Manager - REQ002471

Job title: Commissioning Manager

Salary: PO4 *GBP*44,711 - *GBP*47,754

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: Fixed Term to 31/03/2026

Location:Merrion House, Leeds (hybrid)

The Commissioning and Market Management Service in the Children and Families Directorate is seeking applications for the post of Commissioning Manager (PO4).

As a Commissioning Manager you thrive on working in partnership with a range of partners and stakeholders to develop commissioning practice that improves outcomes for children, young people and their families.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Commissioning Manager, you will bring to the role:

Experience in commissioning and/or project management and/or front line working with children and families with transferable skills.
Flexibility to contribute to all aspects of commissioning, contract management and quality assurance across the Children and Families Directorate.
A passion for learning with the ability to challenge and drive change.
A restorative mind-set, focussed on improving outcomes for children and young people.
The ability to use own initiative and take ownership of work programme.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Children and Families Commissioning & Market Management Service. This specific role sits within the Adoption Commissioning Team and supports the Adoption England Central Team (hosted by Leeds City Council) Adoption England | Regional Adoption Agencies

The role is critical to the development of pan-regional and national commissioning of adoption support to ensure:

Adopted children, young people, and their families have access to timely, high-quality support that meets their needs.
Staff have a shared understanding of what good looks like, are confident that they can offer families high-quality support for a fair price and understand what services they need and commission them in the best way to meet these requirements.
There is a vibrant adoption support market consisting of a range of flexible providers whose offers are shaped by need. Streamlined processes provide better support to providers and trusted relationships between them and commissioners give them the confidence to invest and develop their offer.

Funding for Adoption England is currently only guaranteed to 31st March 2026 and as such this post is being advertised as fixed-term. However, there is potential for the post to be made permanent should funding be confirmed from April 2026. If you are currently a Leeds City Council employee and would like to apply for the role as a secondment, please speak to your line manager.

We welcome applications from people who have lived or professional experience of adoption.

Regardless of your previous experience all successful candidates will be required to undertake continuous professional development. You will gain or strengthen best practice knowledge of various aspects of children service delivery, technical commissioning skills including commercial acumen and value for money techniques. As a core service in Children and Families, you will be integral to decision taking.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Cat Henderson on catherine.henderson@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least *GBP*38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

Working as part of the Commissioning Service, across a number of project areas you will manage effective delivery of commissioning and contract management outcomes, modelling values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country, and our partnership aspiration to be a Child Friendly City.

Through commissioning and contract management processes you will support and manage colleagues to deliver our collective responsibility to keep all children safe. Using the principles of project management, you will lead and undertake aspects of the commissioning programme including:

Leading on and contributing to the Strategic Review of services

Manage across a numbers of project areas, contracts and lead colleagues in the management of complex services.
Leading, managing and co-ordinating projects
Leading and contributing to the procurement of services
Using appropriate tools and practice to identify and quantify need.
Undertaking data analysis of service performance and completion of reports which can influence decision making
Managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient service delivery
Lead project teams to design and develop services to improve children outcomes and meet need whilst ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
Managing and supporting teams to design and implement suitable mechanisms to measure impact and co-ordinate the evaluation of contracts and the practical application of lessons learned
Supporting the active involvement of children and young people and families in how Children and Families services are commissioned and delivered and how they contribute to the ambitions of the Council as set out in the City Plan for Leeds, ensuring that children and young people have a voice and their views are heard
Developing and maintaining knowledge of key work programmes and service area priorities
Developing and maintaining systems and processes such as Safeguarding, Quality Assurance, Information Governance, Performance and Risk Assessments across the team.

Responsibilities:

Identify, develop and utilise project management techniques to support the strategic review of services, commissioning of new services and the re-commissioning/decommissioning of existing services as required. This will involve the complete commissioning cycle from needs assessment to delivery and review.
To lead and co-ordinate joint working within the directorate, across the council and with external partners as appropriate
To coordinate and manage contracts and portfolio of services including effective relationship management with partners, value for money and achievement of quality standards and efficiencies where required.
To lead, manage and oversee the development of processes and practices that will deliver and support key developments in the commissioning function.
To provide expertise and guidance on the commissioning process to strategic leads in the Children Services Directorate
Manage and support others to regular monitoring meetings associated with the portfolio of contracts and ensure that delivery is achieving expected targets and outcomes.
To develop impact indicators for services and agree performance management approaches through close working with the Contract Management Service.
To lead and manage project groups and meetings to include key stakeholders in any commissioning outcome
To actively facilitate children and young people voice in all aspects of commissioning and to contribute to the sustaining of a culture that consistently meets the needs of, and listens to, children, families and stakeholders.
To adopt a restorative approach in your interactions with colleagues, providers, service users and stakeholders and to provide high support and high challenge to providers as part of driving continuous improvement
To lead on the preparation and presentation of complex information in a variety of formats to a range of audiences including preparation of reports and briefings to support effective decision making at a strategic and political level within the Council.
To manage and support others to undertake effective evaluation of projects and contracts including data collection; collation and scrutiny of performance management information; benchmarking; report writing; and the implementation of practical outcomes and lessons learned.
Work effectively with the Corporate Procurement Team to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement procedures and to ensure the commissioning team to undertake its responsibilities in relation to the procurement of commissioned services.
To utilise a working knowledge of relevant Council, Directorate and Partnership plans and priorities and understand the implications for service areas
To prepare and deliver reports, briefings, guidance and support to senior officers, elected members and staff across the council in relation to one or more service areas
To lead a team and represent Commissioning Lead / Manager on specified work areas where required.
To support the development of key policy and strategy relating to the commissioning of services
To ensure due regard is taken of equality and diversity when designing, delivering or reviewing policies, strategies, services and human resources and ensure that any mitigating actions are delivered.
To lead on ensuring compliance with governance and procedural requirements relating to the work of the team. This may include in relation to commissioning, contract management, procurement and financial management.
To provide line management and supervision within the service area and for Commissioning Officers
To maximise resources for the City including supporting partnerships and service area bids for resources
To ensure commissioning activity takes place within available budgets, efficiency targets are met and services provide value for money.
Using a restorative approach, make a positive contribution to the development of working practices within the commissioning and market management team.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

The responsibilities below are generic that would be expected of LCC employees

Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Qualifications

Essential requirements: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

The ability to analyse information for meaning, quality and implication and develop reports and recommendations on the basis of this information
Ability to develop up to date knowledge in an identified commissioning project area.
Research skills to identify local, regional and national best practice and its utility in Leeds
The ability to analyse performance information of existing services for impact on outcomes and cost
Strong communication skills with the ability form positive relationships
Ability to identify, form and maintain positive working relationships, including a range of stakeholders and including external businesses
To challenge constructively colleagues in the local authority and in services for efficiency and effectiveness in support of the commissioning process
To develop constructive working relationships with senior managers and leaders that support their engagement in the commissioning process
Ability to interpret information on service failures and create reflective learning for oneself and colleagues
ICT skills suitable to collate and present statistical and financial information and associated reports and presentations
The ability to manage a range of issues concurrently; dividing and allocating own time to ensure objectives are met
Ability to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex managerial problems
Ability to deal with conflict effectively
To ability to provide appropriate briefings both written and verbal to a range of audiences including partners, Elected Members and senior managers
Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Knowledge of a range of evaluation tools to analyse impact including equality impact
Knowledge of the stages of the commissioning cycle including needs assessment, service development, implementation and review.
Knowledge of a range of commissioning approaches and how they may be applied to achieve best outcomes.
Knowledge of suitable project management tools including risk management approaches to ensure projects are delivered successfully
Knowledge of the main implications of legislation and governance relevant to a local authority commissioning service across a range of financial values from small to large.
Knowledge of key national policy implications for the commissioning of services in Leeds.
Knowledge of the market considerations for the delivery of Children Services in a local authority area.
Knowledge of current local and national issues impacting upon a range of children services
Management/supervisory experience across children services with specific responsibility for implementing policy via service delivery and outcomes.
Experience of working in a multi-agency environment and forging productive working relationships with senior officers, partners and business organisations
Experience of incorporating the views of children and young people in aspects of service design and commissioning processes
Experience of managing, supporting and developing individuals and teams and promoting a can doattitude within a context of continuous improvement and improved outcomes for children and young people
Experience of effective staff management and financial accountability within recognised rules and procedures and within a context of delivering successful outcomes for service users
Experience of health & safety and risk management and safeguarding practices (including CSE) to ensure the well being and safety of staff and service users.
Experience of leading and managing projects, supporting an end to end commissioning process
Experience of working in a project-led environment and using appropriate project techniques

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements: Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

The ability to develop cost benefit analyses which support effective decision making
Ability to understand and develop the relevant market of providers to ensure procurement programmes reach a successful conclusion
Knowledge and familiarity of current working practices of key partners to support commissioning activity. (education, early years, youth work, family support, complex needs, youth offending, social work, public health, children transport, residential and housing support services)
Understanding/experience of a range of improvement methodologies to drive service improvement
Experience of delivering creative and innovative solutions in children services
Experience of leading service improvement activity to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people

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