Commissioning Manager - Commissioning, Transformation & Governance

What will you be doing?

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and families?  Join Northamptonshire Children’s Trust as a Commissioning Manager and lead the change in designing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based services. This pivotal role will drive forward strong relationship based commissioning, ensuring services align with our business plan and meet the needs of vulnerable children and their families. The post holder will have specific responsibility for the commissioning of services for children with disabilities and will work in collaboration with partners to improve joint commissioning for children with SEND.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Design, develop, and review commissioned services to achieve positive outcomes for children and Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Business Plan priorities.
• Ensure services meet national and local strategic priorities, achieving best value and compliance with statutory expectations.
• Conduct detailed local needs analysis to inform service delivery and address gaps in provision.
• Manage and review contracts against Service Level Agreements and Key Performance Indicators, providing regular performance reports.
• Identify funding opportunities and partnership arrangements to maximize resources.
• Engage with children, young people, and families to inform service development.

For an informal chat about the role please call Sarah Burr on 07738 459552.

About you

We are seeking a candidate who excels at building relationships and networks to effectively implement change, with a strong understanding of Children's Services, current legislation, and relevant initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience with the commissioning cycle and strategic frameworks. Additionally, you should have a background in public sector accountability, demonstrate the ability to influence at a strategic level, and hold a degree.

When applying please ensure your supporting statement covers how you fulfil the essential criteria set out in the person specification as this will be used for shortlisting. You will need to provide a full employment history including any gaps since leaving full time education.

Our benefits

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

About us

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust was established in November 2020 to deliver Children’s Services to the newly established North and West Northants County Councils. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils; this provides the organisation with unique opportunities to explore new ways of working and to be more agile and adaptable in its approach to service delivery. We are developing a culture that allows the very highest quality of professional practice to flourish and evolve, delivering at the cutting edge of new innovation.