Service Development and Contracts Manager (Redeployment 23562) in Ipswich

Suffolk County Council Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich. IP1 2BX - Hybrid (a minimum of office-based working at least two days a week).

Salary: £46,185 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Service Development and Contracts Manager in the Children and Young Peoples Service’s Strategic Commissioning Team, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on ensuring quality homes for Suffolk’s children in care. Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.

Your role and responsibilities

• Manage provider relationships and contract performance, predominately but not exclusively with purchased foster care agencies, ensuring delivery supports positive outcomes for Children in Care.
• You will undertake market analysis and carry out provider engagement.
• Commission Fostering Services that deliver against demand and children’s need within Suffolk and participate in Regional Commissioning initiatives.
• Identify and convert opportunities to establish new provider relationships, in addition to strengthening ones already established, to enable enough homes for Children in Care.
• Use feedback from stakeholders, including the child’s voice, to help inform Service Development.
• Strive to ensure best value.

Although this list provides examples of what you will be doing it’s not intended to be exhaustive, and you will have personal objectives linked to our People Plans and Strategies that will be discussed and agreed with your line manager when you start.

You will need

• Our ideal candidate would need knowledge and experience of commissioning fostering services and related quality assurance. However, applications will also be welcomed if you can demonstrate transferable skills and previous experience in a relatable role.
• You should have experience of service improvement and effective performance management.
• You will have the ability to clearly articulate a strategic vision, sense of direction and management expectations to motivate other professionals and providers.
• You will need to demonstrate your ability to communicate openly and honestly in the spirit of collaboration and demonstrate skills and attitudes that promote effective partnership and teamwork.
• You will be committed to listening to children and stakeholders and to working collaboratively with them to design, deliver and monitor services.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

This role is a new role to add to the four existing Service Development and Contract Manager (SDCM) posts that sit within CYP’s Strategic Commissioning Team. This friendly and busy team has a broad focus and includes: the Strategic Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting, the Home Finding Team, Staying Close Team and the Strategic Lead for Housing Development. This role reports directly to the Strategic Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting whose team of three existing SCDM’s and a Commissioning and Contracts Officer are responsible primarily for the contract management and development of different types of externally purchased homes for Children in Care. The Home Finding Team Manager also reports directly to the Strategic Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting which enables close working and effective communication between the two teams to help ensure there are sufficient homes for children in care.

Due to the need for collaboration and effective communication among team members, there is an expectation that all Team members will work from the Endeavour House Office base every Tuesday and at least one other day as a minimum. You will also be required to attend meetings and occasional events at other locations.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Rachel Rowe (Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting) or Tina Hines (Head of Strategic Commissioning) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 263730 or emailing rachel.rowe@suffolk.gov.uk or Tina.Hines@Suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply

• Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).
• Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
• Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP. You should use the Supporting Statement template. Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4. We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
• If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 11 June 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.