Overview
In this role you will lead a portfolio of commissions within Children’s Services, turning evidence and collaboration into improved outcomes for children and families. Working across the commissioning cycle, you will shape strategies, procure services, mobilise contracts and monitor delivery. You’ll balance priorities, manage budgets and build strong relationships with leaders, providers and communities. This is an impact-driven opportunity to drive service improvement at scale in Barnsley. You join an award-winning team with a culture of collaboration, development and flexible working.
Pay / Benefits
- flexible working
- health and wellbeing support
- training and development opportunities
- pension scheme
- employee rewards and discounts
- work-life balance support
Responsibilities
- Manage a varied portfolio of commissions, projects and service development activity across Children’s Services.
- Lead multiple commissions concurrently at different stages of the commissioning cycle.
- Maintain oversight of progress, risks, dependencies, resources and outcomes across the portfolio.
- Work flexibly across different service areas in response to changing needs and priorities.
- Act as lead commissioner for designated services, themes and programmes.
- Develop strategies, business cases and service specifications informed by evidence and local need.
- Analyse complex information to identify pressures, gaps and opportunities for improvement.
- Lead procurement, mobilisation, contracting and service remodelling activities.
- Monitor provider performance and ensure services deliver agreed outcomes and quality standards.
- Manage commissioning budgets and support effective allocation of resources.
- Build constructive relationships with senior leaders, providers, partners, service users and carers.
- Prepare clear and influential reports and presentations for diverse audiences.
- Promote co-production, continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.
Key requirements
- Significant experience of commissioning, contracting or service planning.
- Ability to manage a Children’s Services portfolio with multiple concurrent commissions.
- Experience leading complex projects from development to delivery.
- Understanding of how data and lived experience shape services.
- Experience in contract and performance management.
- Ability to develop strategies, service specifications and high-quality business documents.
- Experience managing budgets within financial constraints.
- Strong negotiation, influencing and stakeholder relationship skills.
- Comfort with change, prioritisation and pressure.
- Commitment to quality, inclusion and improving outcomes for children and families.
- Knowledge of local government pressures affecting partners and communities.
- collaborative mindset
- influencing and negotiation
- analytical thinking
- commissioning cycle
- procurement
- contract management
Lead Commissioning Officer in Barnsley employer: barnsley council
GROW is an exceptional employer dedicated to empowering women and fostering a supportive work environment. With a focus on employee growth, we offer training and development opportunities that enable our team to make a meaningful impact in the lives of women within the criminal justice system. Located in Rotherham, our culture is built on compassion, creativity, and collaboration, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about social change.
