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- Tasks: Lead strategic commissioning to improve services for children and families in North Northamptonshire.
- Company: Join North Northamptonshire Council, dedicated to transforming lives and enhancing community outcomes.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, hybrid work options, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while working in a supportive and innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Degree-level education, management qualifications, and experience in commissioning and local government required.
- Other info: We are committed to inclusivity and support for the Armed Forces community.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
About The Role
We are seeking a dynamic individual to support the Council’s priority of improving outcomes for children and the wider population in North Northamptonshire.
In this role, you will inspire others and lead the identification, driving, and securing of opportunities to improve and transform services through strategic commissioning of education and children’s social care.
As the lead for Children’s commissioning and partnerships, you will be accountable to the Executive Director of Children’s Services (DCS).
This role will be central to the effective delivery of high-quality services and will require an individual who can manage complex relationships, drive change, and ensure that commissioning decisions are made based on data and evidence.
What will you be doing?
In this strategic role, you will take on significant responsibility across the commissioning, performance, contract management, and quality assurance functions within the directorate.
Your Key Responsibilities Will Include
- Leading and overseeing commissioning, performance, contract management, and quality assurance functions, ensuring continuous improvement across the directorate.
- Driving innovation in service delivery, business processes, and efficiency in partnership with the Executive Director of Children’s Services.
- Working with colleagues and partners within Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, health providers, and commissioned public health and education providers to identify and implement the best service delivery models that ensure high-quality outcomes and a positive customer experience.
- Developing and implementing a commissioning framework and strategy that supports smooth interactions between the Council, service providers, and statutory bodies, ensuring compliance with contractual and statutory duties.
- Leading the Youth Offer Board and youth work approaches, ensuring that statutory duties are met and early help interventions support young people in reaching their potential.
- Championing the Voice of the Child, ensuring that the needs and views of children and young people are reflected in the Council’s improvement activities and commissioning decisions.
- Supporting the Executive Director of Children’s Services in overseeing improvement plans and performance failures, working with providers to implement suitable rectification measures.
- Assisting the Assistant Director for Education in ensuring sufficient education provision and developing strategies to maximise the impact of high-quality education.
- Representing the Children’s Services Directorate on the corporate Commissioning and Procurement Board, providing expert advice and insights on commissioning in Children’s Social Care, SEND, education, and learning provision.
- Maintaining a professional working relationship between the Council, Children’s Trust, and other providers, supporting transformational change in social care, education, and public health services.
- Ensuring the provision of regular, timely, and coordinated management information to support service planning and operations within the directorate.
- Deputising for the Executive Director of Children’s Services when required.
- Undertaking any other duties commensurate with the role.
About You
You will bring:
- A degree-level qualification and a post-graduate management qualification.
- Membership of a relevant professional body and a commitment to continuous professional development.
- Strong background in commissioning, contract management, and procurement at a strategic level.
- Experience in multi-disciplinary service development and managing diverse teams through change.
- Proven track record in local government or social care, with senior-level experience in a political environment.
- Budget management experience in a public sector setting and a history of managing senior staff and building external partnerships.
- Leadership and strategic commissioning expertise, including needs assessments and outcomes-based frameworks.
- Strong influencing, negotiation, and collaboration skills with internal and external stakeholders.
- Positive, resilient, and flexible with the ability to handle competing demands.
Our benefits
Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.
You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!
Why choose us?
We Offer a Vibrant Working Environment With
- a competitive salary
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
About Us
Our Values and Behaviours
Our Values Define Who We Are And How We Operate, By Forming The Foundation For How We Interact With Our Customers, Colleagues And Provide Our Services. They Are Also At The Forefront Of Our Decision Making And Delivery And Are
Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy
Our Key Commitments
Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.
We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.
North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.
We aim to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.
Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)
Attached documents
- Job description and person specification
Apply
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Assistant Director of Commissioning and Innovation employer: North Northamptonshire Council
Contact Detail:
North Northamptonshire Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director of Commissioning and Innovation
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. Understanding the nuances of commissioning, performance management, and quality assurance will help you articulate your relevant experience during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in local government and social care sectors. Engaging with current or former employees of North Northamptonshire Council can provide valuable insights into the organizational culture and expectations for this role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've driven change and innovation in previous roles. Highlighting your strategic thinking and ability to manage complex relationships will demonstrate your fit for this leadership position.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current trends and challenges in children's services and social care. Being knowledgeable about recent developments will show your commitment to continuous improvement and your readiness to contribute effectively from day one.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Director of Commissioning and Innovation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description and understand the key responsibilities and qualifications required for the Assistant Director of Commissioning and Innovation position. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with these requirements.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasize your background in commissioning, contract management, and procurement. Provide specific examples of your achievements in these areas, particularly in a local government or social care context.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Demonstrate your leadership and strategic commissioning expertise by discussing your experience in managing diverse teams and driving change. Use concrete examples to illustrate your ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders.
Align with Council Values: Make sure to reflect the values and commitments of North Northamptonshire Council in your application. Show how you embody customer-focused, respectful, efficient, supportive, and trustworthy behaviors in your professional experiences.
How to prepare for a job interview at North Northamptonshire Council
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with leading commissioning, performance, and contract management functions.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Demonstrate your ability to drive innovation and change within service delivery. Prepare examples of how you've successfully implemented strategic initiatives in previous roles, particularly in local government or social care.
✨Highlight Your Relationship Management Skills
This role requires managing complex relationships with various stakeholders. Be ready to share specific instances where you've effectively collaborated with partners, health providers, or other organizations to achieve positive outcomes.
✨Emphasize Data-Driven Decision Making
Since the role involves making commissioning decisions based on data and evidence, prepare to discuss how you've utilized data in past roles to inform your strategies and improve service delivery.
