Commissioning Programme Leader

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Job title: Commissioning Programme Leader
Salary: PO6 *GBP*49,764 – *GBP*52,805
Hours: 37
Contract: 1 x Permanent
Location: Merrion House: Hybrid working available
We are looking for a Commissioning Programme Leader (Permanent PO6) to join the Working Age Adults (WAA) Commissioning Team in Adults and Health. This is an exciting opportunity to join an established and exceptionally supportive and creative team, working together to provide good quality, person-centred accommodation and community services in Leeds for the benefit of Leeds citizens with support needs. Every day brings new opportunities to learn and is a great opportunity for someone passionate about ensuring people receive the care and support they should have.
Does this sound like you?
The new post-holder will be working primarily within the Learning Disability sector within the WAA Team although managing programmes of work throughout the team. The focus of this position is on taking a leadership role to support key work that the Learning Disability Sector is currently engaged in. One aspect is service review, development and innovation to commission new services to meet the needs of individuals whose needs are exceptionally complex and challenge the whole integrated care system. Another is large scale reviews particularly of the existing supported living services in the City and working with others, particularly Care Management Teams, Health teams and Providers to improve the service offer.
You will play a key role in developing and maintaining productive relationships with service providers to achieve high quality services and value for money. You will lead on the development of innovative ways of achieving value for money on an on-going basis
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 Programme Leader, you will bring to the role:

• Ability to provide visible and effective leadership which empowers, enables and develops staff to achieve results.
• Ability to identify and implement change programmes, improve service quality and support a culture that drives up standards and performance.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences at all levels, including presenting high level information and reports on complex issues in an appropriate way.
• Ability to manage complex programmes and projects and lead project teams.
• Ability to deliver the statutory responsibilities of the team and use them positively to assist clients.

About The Role
Your responsibilities will be
To develop and deliver major programmes, projects and services, providing direction for the work of staff teams and delivery partners and accessing and maximising resources, improving performance and quality in order to achieve desired outcomes to agreed (and often tight) deadlines.
To lead on commissioning new services, re-commissioning of existing services or decommissioning services.
To demonstrate strong and effective leadership and management in line with the Council values and standards.
To ensure value for money considerations are taken into account in service review, design and delivery.
To take a line management role for a cohort of Commissioning Manager and Officers, including managing performance and attendance and assessing and meeting development needs through appraisals, supervision meetings and team meetings, and to demonstrate strong and effective leadership in line with the Council values and standards.
The learning disability sector is at the forefront of Integrated Commissioning arrangements with health partners, in particular West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (WYICB).
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
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
An information session will be held on the 23rd July 2025 via Teams, at 11:00. If you are wanting to attend this, please contact Emma Murphy to book your place.
Interviews will be held on 11th & 13th August 2025.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Helen Bradshaw, Joint Commissioning Manager Call 0113 37 89572 or email or Lauren Lewis, Commissioning Programme Leader, .
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
To assist the Heads of Commissioning by undertaking aspects of cross-directorate commissioning and contract management at a Principal Officer level.
To be responsible for the management of a portfolio of work which contributes to the delivery of one or more of the following:

• Service review, development and innovation
• Commissioning activity that contributes to the Directorate and Council priorities. Commissioning takes many forms and includes negotiating individual care packages, large scale reviews and procurements and working with others to improve the service offer.
• Development of strategy and policy relating to services for key client groups
• Programme and contract management to maximise outcomes and to ensure value for money and quality.

You will lead the evaluation and performance management of contracts with commissioned services and play a key role in developing and maintaining productive relationships with service providers to achieve high quality services and value for money. Through your detailed knowledge and skills relevant to commissioning and contract management, you will demonstrate the leadership and qualities commensurate to the level of Manager .
You will provide leadership within the commissioning function to ensure the proper financial management and performance assurance of such contracts. You will lead on the development of innovative ways of achieving value for money on an on-going basis. You will provide line management to Project Officer level roles, undertake staff appraisals and support the personal development of team members as required.
Responsibilities

• To act as the team contact for specific strategic functional areas and work streams for Adults and Health Commissioning.
• To develop and deliver major programmes, projects and services, providing direction for the work of staff teams and delivery partners and accessing and maximising resources, improving performance and quality in order to achieve desired outcomes to agreed (and often tight) deadlines.
• To lead on commissioning new services, re-commissioning of existing services or decommissioning services.
• To develop consistent approaches to commissioning and to facilitate joint working within the Directorate, across the Council and with partners as appropriate.
• To initiate and direct market development initiatives on behalf of the Council and relevant commissioning/transformation boards.
• To develop effective working relationships with the independent and third sector operating in the health and care and support sectors to develop flexible and creative services and understand issues impacting on sustainability.
• To contribute to the development of key policy and strategy relating to commissioning.
• To ensure all areas of work are informed by relevant research, intelligence and performance data, including contributing to and using the outcomes of any needs analyses.
• To communicate complex concepts and information effectively, including the outcomes of service reviews and options appraisals, and deliver communication products that are appropriate to the audience, including presentations, reports for Members, partnership forums, the Director and Council management teams at all levels.
• To demonstrate strong and effective leadership and management in line with the Council values and standards.
• To develop and maintain strong and productive working relationships with senior officers in other Directorates, Members, key partners and stakeholders in the City, and deputise for senior staff at meetings and events, where required.
• To develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the Council, Directorate and Strategic Partnership plans and priorities, including the implications for service areas.
• To lead the effective evaluation of projects and contracts, including data collection; collation and scrutiny of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance management information; benchmarking; report writing and the implementation of practical outcomes and lessons learned.
• To lead effective consultation and engagement with service users and other stakeholders, and ensure that the outcomes are used to influence commissioning, service design and delivery.
• To ensure value for money considerations are taken into account in service review, design and delivery.
• To maximise resources for the City including developing and supporting partnership and service area bids for resources and be accountable for resources, including managing audit and inspection processes and mitigating any risks.
• To take on budget holder responsibilities, as required by the Chief Officer or Head of Service and ensure that spending relating to the post holder responsibilities is kept within any budgetary allocations and that action is taken to meet any efficiency targets.
• To ensure systems are in place and operating effectively to meet LCC obligations for accurate and timely ordering from and payments to providers of commissioned services.
• To be accountable for ensuring compliance with any Governance requirements relating to the work of the Service, including those relating to commissioning and procurement, financial management and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers.
• To take a line management role for a cohort of Commissioning Manager and Officers, including managing performance and attendance and assessing and meeting development needs through appraisals, supervision meetings and team meetings, and to demonstrate strong and effective leadership in line with the Council values and standards.
• To identify training needs within the team and to lead and participate in the development of activities necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills within the team.
• To ensure that 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.
• 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.

Qualifications: None required.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills

• Ability to lead strategic partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Ability to provide visible and effective leadership which empowers, enables and develops staff to achieve results.
• Ability to lead contract management and funding arrangements of a range of services and to manage performance effectively.
• Ability to identify and implement change programmes, improve service quality and support a culture that drives up standards and performance.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences at all levels, including presenting high level information and reports on complex issues in an appropriate way.
• Ability to lead the development of appropriate systems and procedures to enable effective data capture and analysis to formulate options in response to complex issues, and inform commission priorities.
• Ability to think creatively and to solve problems in a constructive way.
• Ability to manage complex programmes and projects and lead project teams.
• Ability to work effectively, flexible and collaboratively as part of a wider, multidisciplinary team where team members work positively toward a shared goal.
• Ability to work to strict deadlines with conflicting priorities and to manage personal work and time effectively.
• Ability to access and interpret local/national strategy and communicate this quickly and effectively to all interested parties.
• Deliver the statutory responsibilities of the team and use them positively to assist clients.
• Ability to contribute to the strategic direction of the service and Directorate.
• Ability to manage finances and work within a budget.

Knowledge

• A knowledge of local/national government legislation appropriate to the role.
• Understanding of appraisal and evaluation techniques.
• Understanding of change management principles.
• Working knowledge of programme and project management principles and best practice.
• Understanding of commissioning, procurement and contract management principles and practice.
• An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Council and other key agencies and stakeholders in the city.
• A knowledge of the city key strategic plans including the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Inclusive Growth Strategy.

Experience

• Of commissioning, procurement and contract management of services.
• Of working effectively with internal and external partners to lead strategic partnerships and programmes and deliver cross sector or cross service projects to achieve positive outcomes.
• Of communicating appropriately with a wide range of people, through a variety of different methods and gaining the commitment of a range of stakeholders/influencing views and behaviour to meet set objectives.
• Of developing services to meet continuously changing needs.
• Of managing the effective deployment and support of human resources.
• Of leading, coaching and motivating teams and individuals.
• Of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Of delivering person centred care & support in a whole system setting.
• Of managing in a political environment and working on politically sensitive issues.
• Of managing and controlling significant budgets and achieving budgetary targets.
• Of driving service improvement through the provision of advice, support and challenge.
• Of interpreting and analysing complex information and data.
• Of delivering effective consultation to support service design, delivery and evaluation.

Essential Behavioural And 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 equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies 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 It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
Knowledge

• Knowledge of the Council decision-making processes, governance requirements and the Council policies and procedures that would apply to the Service and the wider Directorate.

Experience

• Of conducting Equality Impact Assessments and ensuring that inclusion and equality objectives are met.
• Of working in a regulatory environment and working with, or in provider services.

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