Chief Officer – Commissioning and Governance
Salary: £112,369 – £123,394 (Pay award pending)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion House
Closing Date: Midnight, 31st May 2026
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.
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
* A relevant degree qualification or substantial strategic leadership experience across commissioning, 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.
Corporate Leadership Responsibilities
* Drive system-wide improvement through commissioning, market management, workforce development, operational infrastructure, safeguarding partnership governance, and directorate-wide transformation.
* Ensure strong corporate alignment with finance, HR, digital and strategy, providing strategic oversight of programme delivery and organisational improvement across the Directorate.
* Work collaboratively across the council, the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership, and wider stakeholders to ensure that the Directorate has the infrastructure, systems, and partnerships necessary to support high quality services and improved outcomes for children and young people.
* Provide expert strategic advice to elected Members, senior leaders and partners on matters relating to commissioning, governance, resource management and organisational development, and contribute to shaping the strategic direction of the Directorate.
* As a member of the Directorate’s senior leadership team, collectively support the Director of Children’s Services in the strategic leadership, performance and delivery of the Directorate and the wider Council.
* Operate as corporate leaders, contributing to the development and delivery of whole‑council priorities and working collaboratively across services and directorates to ensure the Council operates as a single, integrated organisation.
Chief Officers Will
* Act as corporate leaders across the Council, contributing to cross‑directorate initiatives, transformation programmes, organisational priorities and achieving the Leeds Ambitions.
* Work collaboratively with Directors, Chief Officers and senior leaders to ensure coherent and integrated service delivery.
* Lead and manage complex political and partnership relationships.
* Develop effective working relationships with elected Members, providing high‑quality strategic advice to inform decision‑making.
* Represent the Directorate and the Council in local, regional, and national partnerships.
* Contribute to the collective leadership of the Directorate, supporting the Director of Children’s Services in delivering strategic priorities and statutory responsibilities.
* Deputise for the Director of Children’s Services when required, providing senior leadership on politically sensitive or high‑profile issues.
* Provide system leadership for the Directorate’s resources, governance and operational infrastructure functions.
* Act as the enabling function for the Directorate, ensuring services are effectively resourced, governed and supported to deliver improvement.
* Work in partnership with all Chief Officers to ensure services are effectively resourced, governed and supported to deliver their priorities.
* Ensure effective governance arrangements are in place across the Directorate to support robust decision‑making and accountability.
* Provide strategic advice to elected Members, senior leaders and partners on matters relating to resource management, governance and organisational development.
* Work closely with corporate services including finance, HR, digital and strategy to ensure effective coordination and support for the Directorate.
* Support the Director in maintaining strong governance arrangements and effective engagement with committees.
Commissioning, Markets and Customer Services
* Provide leadership and oversight of the Directorate’s commissioning, market management and customer service functions.
* Ensure commissioning arrangements are effective, deliver value for money and support improved outcomes for children and families.
* Strengthen relationships with providers and partners to ensure sustainable and high‑quality service provision.
* Promote a strong customer focus across the Directorate, including effective management of complaints and feedback.
* Support integrated commissioning arrangements with partners across health, education and the wider system.
Infrastructure and Operational Support
* Ensure that the local authority meets its statutory duties to secure sufficient high‑quality, sustainable early years and school‑age places – working closely with the Chief Officer Education.
* Provide strategic oversight of learning infrastructure services including transport and assets that support education provision across the city.
* Ensure operational infrastructure services operate effectively and support the delivery of education and children’s services.
* Oversee the development and management of systems that support service delivery across the Directorate.
* Ensure health, safety and wellbeing arrangements are effectively implemented across relevant services.
Workforce Development and Organisational Change
* Provide strategic leadership for workforce development and organisational change across the Directorate.
* Ensure the workforce has the skills, capability and leadership capacity required to deliver high‑quality services.
* Oversee the development of learning and development programmes that support professional practice and service improvement.
* Support the development of traded and commercial services where appropriate, including the Learning Resource and Provision Centre.
* Promote a culture of continuous learning, innovation and improvement.
* Provide oversight of the Directorate’s relationship with the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership.
* Ensure effective governance and administrative support arrangements for safeguarding partnership activity.
* Strengthen partnership working with statutory and voluntary sector partners across the city.
* Support the development of effective partnership arrangements with health agencies including Leeds ICB.
* Promote collaborative approaches to delivering improved outcomes for children and families.
Transformation and Continuous Improvement
* Provide leadership for directorate-wide transformation and programme governance, ensuring effective delivery of reform and improvement programmes.
* Ensure appropriate programme management capacity is in place to support large‑scale change across Children and Families.
* Maintain and develop an effective assurance system for areas of direct responsibility.
* Work with colleagues across the Directorate and corporate centre to ensure reforms and improvement programmes are successfully delivered.
* Promote the use of performance data, insight and evaluation to support effective decision‑making and service improvement.
* Strengthen the Directorate’s capacity to deliver sustainable organisational change.
* Provide strategic oversight of financial planning and resource management across the Directorate.
* Work closely with finance colleagues to ensure robust financial stewardship and effective budget management.
* Support the Director in overseeing the financial sustainability of services including the management of the Dedicated Schools Grant.
* Ensure resources are used effectively to deliver best value and improved outcomes.
* Promote efficient and sustainable use of resources across the Directorate.
Leadership of People
* Provide leadership and oversight of Heads of Service and senior managers.
* Develop a high‑performing workforce that delivers excellent outcomes for children and families.
* Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
* Ensure effective workforce planning, leadership development and performance management.
* The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.
Qualifications
Relevant degree qualification or substantial experience in working in this field together with substantial senior leadership and management experience relevant to the service area.
Working Context
Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the city and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.
Essential Requirements
* Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to children’s social care and corporate parenting services.
* Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
* Detail knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions, and Corporate Leadership Team.
* Evidence of working with partners and key stakeholders and of forging and driving successful partnership programmes to deliver cross sector priorities and outcomes.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility across sectors to enhance reputation and form positive relationships.
* Experience of successful leadership and management of large‑scale complex change programmes with an understanding of the strategic issues that face integrated work.
* Evidence of ability to make reasoned and logical decisions allied with high level organisational skills.
* Significant successful senior leadership experience.
* Substantial experience of operating in a political environment and of managing politically sensitive issues.
* Extensive experience of exercising sound judgement and providing clear advice at senior level.
* Experience of developing and implementing highly complex strategies leading to successful outcomes.
* Substantial experience of operating in a political environment and of managing politically sensitive issues.
* Strong understanding of governance, commissioning, and resource management within complex public sector organisations.
* Experience of leading large-scale transformation and organisational change programmes.
* Experience of working effectively with partners across local government, health and the wider public sector.
* Excellent communication and influencing skills.
* Experience of managing politically sensitive issues and providing strategic advice to elected Members and senior leaders.
Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city.
* Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti‑discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
* Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Perform all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
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