Are you a visionary leader with a passion for improving outcomes for children, young people, and families? We have a fantastic opportunity available for a Head of Strategic Commissioning and Transformation to join our Children's Services Team at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full-time, permanent basis. As Head of Strategic Commissioning and Transformation, you will play a pivotal role in our children's services, responsible for shaping and delivering high-quality, child-centred services through strategic planning, commissioning-led transformation, and robust quality assurance.
Key responsibilities include:
1. Leading strategic planning and transformation across Early Help, Social Care, Education, SEND, and Home Finding.
2. Driving innovation and continuous improvement through evidence-based commissioning.
3. Overseeing contract management, market development, and performance monitoring.
4. Championing co-production and ensuring the voices of children and families inform service design.
5. Managing a high-performing team including Commissioning Managers and the Home Finding Team Manager.
6. Representing the service in multi-agency forums and strategic partnerships.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
We will review applications on a daily basis and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, workers, and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and other relevant employment checks. Due to high application volumes, we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.
Essential qualifications and experience:
* Proven senior leadership experience in Commissioning and Transformation.
* Strong understanding of commissioning principles, contract management, and market shaping.
* Excellent strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to lead complex change programmes.
* Experience of change management and leadership.
* Experience of relational, partnership working, stakeholder management, both internal and external.
* Commitment to equity, inclusion, and co-production.
* Politically astute with excellent stakeholder engagement skills.
Wokingham Borough is located in Berkshire, offering excellent transport links to Reading and London. Our area features a vibrant market town, attractive villages, and scenic countryside. We host high-performing schools, international businesses, and a strong local economy with excellent public facilities and low crime levels, providing an exceptional quality of life.
Join us at this exciting time and enjoy extensive employee benefits, including:
* Generous annual leave of 31 days (rising to 36 days after 5 years of service) plus Bank Holidays.
* Excellent local government pension scheme.
* Employee assistance program with 24/7 wellbeing helpline.
* Local & lifestyle discounts.
* Use of a free onsite gym at Shute End office.
* Salary sacrifice schemes for cars and cycles.
* And much more!
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