At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformation and governance for children's services in Leeds.
- Company: Dynamic local government focused on improving outcomes for children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, impactful work, and the chance to shape community services.
- Other info: Join a values-driven team committed to excellence and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families in Leeds.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in governance or commissioning within public sector.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 117800 £ per year.
Creating the conditions for excellent service delivery. Leeds is a city with bold ambition for children and families. We are proud of our strong values, our commitment to inclusion and our relentless focus on improving outcomes. We are driven by our Leeds Ambitions, prioritising the actions that will have the most impact for people in our city over the next decade. Working together with partners, communities and families, our shared goal as Child Friendly Leeds is that every child and young person will have the best start in life and be supported to thrive.
To help lead this next phase of improvement, we are recruiting three exceptional Chief Officers to join our Children and Families Directorate. These are influential, system‑leading roles that will work collectively as part of a strong and values‑driven senior leadership team, shaping the future of services across the city.
Reporting to the Director of Children and Families, the Chief Officer for Commissioning & Governance will play a pivotal enabling role at the heart of the directorate. With responsibility for directorate‑wide assurance, financial sustainability, commissioning and governance, you will ensure Children and Families is equipped to deliver lasting improvement for the city.
Your impact
- You will provide strategic leadership across commissioning, market management, learning infrastructure, workforce development, organisational change and safeguarding partnership governance.
- Working closely with fellow Chief Officers, you will ensure services are effectively resourced, supported and governed to deliver their priorities.
- You will lead directorate‑wide transformation and programme governance, strengthening assurance, performance oversight and delivery capability.
- Partnering with corporate finance, HR, digital and strategy, you will ensure strong alignment and robust infrastructure that enables innovation and improvement.
- You will oversee significant budgets, support financial sustainability (including Dedicated Schools Grant oversight), and ensure value for money, risk management and strong governance underpin everything we do.
- You will also play a central role in partnership governance, including oversight of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership.
About you
- You will be a senior leader with substantial experience in resources, governance, commissioning or organisational leadership within local government or a complex public sector environment.
- You will bring a relevant degree qualification or substantial strategic leadership experience across resources, governance or infrastructure services.
- A proven record of leading transformation and change at scale.
- Excellent judgement and the ability to operate confidently in political environments.
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries and with diverse partners.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
You will be motivated by creating the conditions for excellent service delivery – and by helping Leeds deliver lasting value for children, families and communities.
Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 31st May 2026.
Chief Officer - Commissioning and Governance in London employer: Tile Hill Executive Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Tile Hill Executive Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Officer - Commissioning and Governance in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, attend events, and connect with others on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. We want you to show how your experience aligns with their mission, especially when it comes to improving outcomes for children and families in Leeds.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your vision for service delivery and how you can contribute to the transformation of services. We believe that confidence is key, so rehearse your answers to common interview questions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. We’re excited to see how you can help us create lasting value for children and families in Leeds.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Officer - Commissioning and Governance in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for improving outcomes for children and families shine through. We want to see how your values align with our commitment to inclusion and service delivery.
Be Specific: Use concrete examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your strategic leadership skills. We love seeing how you've led transformation and change in previous roles, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Chief Officer for Commissioning & Governance. Highlight your experience in governance, commissioning, and financial sustainability, as these are key areas for us.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a seamless application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tile Hill Executive Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of Chief Officer for Commissioning and Governance. Familiarise yourself with Leeds' ambitions and how they align with your experience in governance and commissioning. This will help you articulate how your background can contribute to the city's goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your strategic leadership abilities, especially in transformation and change management. Think about specific instances where you've successfully led teams or projects, particularly in complex public sector environments, and be ready to discuss these in detail.
✨Understand the Financial Landscape
Since you'll be overseeing significant budgets, brush up on financial sustainability principles and risk management strategies. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured value for money in previous roles and how you would approach budget oversight in this position.
✨Engage with the Community Focus
Leeds is all about creating conditions for excellent service delivery. Be ready to talk about how you've worked with diverse partners and communities in the past. Highlight your communication and influencing skills, as these will be crucial in fostering collaboration across organisational boundaries.