Commissioning Lead in Northampton

About the role

If you’re ready to lead innovation, shape services and make a lasting difference, this is your opportunity to step into a pivotal leadership role where you shape how support is commissioned for children, young people and families. With major national reforms, increasing complexity of need, and significant developments across children’s services, we are looking for 2 exceptional Commissioning Leads to help drive the next phase of our journey.

As a Commissioning Lead, you’ll lead strategic planning and commissioning across a range of services, care and support, taking a lead in our long-term strategic commissioning plans that enable us to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in Northamptonshire.

As Commissioning Lead - Family Help and Disability: you will be responsible for our services, care, support and strategies related to Family Help and Disability. The portfolio leads on the commissioning of services and support that enable families to stay together and thrive together, such as multi-systemic therapies, wraparound support, homecare and community support and short breaks. You will also take a lead on our commissioning strategy for short breaks, ensuring that disabled children and their families have access to a range of high-quality short breaks across the continuum of care and support.

As Commissioning Lead - Children in Care and Leaving Care: you will be responsible for our services, care, support and strategies related to children in care and young people leaving care. The portfolio leads on the joint commissioning of care and support that enables children and young people to live in a home that best meets their needs, such as foster care, children’s homes, supported accommodation, step down support and support to return home. You will also take a lead on our children’s social care sufficiency strategy, ensuring we have high quality homes and support locally for children and young people where they feel they belong, receive the right care at the right time and are well supported to prepare for adult life.

What will you be doing?

• You’ll lead from the front, taking ownership of commissioning strategies and translating them into impactful services that improve outcomes.
• You’ll design and deliver strategic commissioning plans aligned to local priorities, legislation and partnership goals, ensuring co-production with children, young people and families.
• You’ll lead major commissioning programmes—from needs analysis and market engagement through to procurement, contract award and performance management.
• You’ll work collaboratively with practitioners, clinicians, procurement and legal teams to deliver high-quality, outcome-focused services.
• You’ll build strong partnerships across health, education, voluntary and independent sectors, influencing stakeholders and driving integrated service delivery.
• You’ll shape the provider market, identifying gaps and creating innovative solutions that respond to emerging needs.
• You’ll manage large-scale procurement activity, including writing specifications, leading tenders and negotiating contracts to achieve best value.
• You’ll oversee contract performance, intervening where required and driving continuous improvement across services.
• You’ll lead, motivate and develop your team, setting clear direction and ensuring delivery against ambitious objectives.

About you

• You’re a strategic thinker and experienced commissioning professional who thrives on delivering meaningful change.
• You bring strong experience in commissioning, procurement and service development within a public sector or integrated care environment.
• You have in-depth knowledge of children’s services, SEND, health systems and relevant legislation.
• You’re confident leading complex programmes, managing significant budgets and delivering value-for-money outcomes.
• You’re an influential leader who can build trusted relationships, negotiate effectively and bring stakeholders together around a shared vision.
• You’re highly analytical, able to interpret data, develop business cases and present clear, compelling reports to senior leaders and decision-makers.
• You’re resilient and adaptable, able to navigate complexity, manage risk and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• You’re passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families, with a strong commitment to safeguarding and inclusion.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check.

When applying please ensure your supporting statement details 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

• 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 pension 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

At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils.

Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed.

At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.

Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference.