Overview
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a Commissioning Manager – Children & Young People in the Children's & Skills Directorate. We are on a transformational journey to improve the experience of the children and families we work with. Children’s Services is our top priority within our Council Plan, and we are placing children at the heart of all that we do. The Children's Commissioning and Placements Team is a specialist team focused on achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people. They take their corporate parenting responsibilities very seriously and are always willing to go the extra mile to provide support to colleagues – often seen as the ‘constant’ and the go-to team in a complex system, acting as boundary spanners across social care, health and education. They are a team that truly delivers on the Council values of being ambitious, open, honest and keeping its promises. They assess and understand the need for service provision, providing contract management and quality assurance of provision. They co-produce evidenced-based plans and strategies, to support both in-house service design and the commissioning of external providers to deliver services for children, young people and families.
The Commissioning Manager will lead the delivery of a range of allocated commissioning projects and developing a range of commissioning strategies and plans. This will also include taking the lead for the commissioning and contract monitoring/quality assurance of services to support Children in Need and Children Looked After.
Responsibilities
* Lead the delivery of a range of commissioning projects and the development of commissioning strategies and plans.
* Take the lead for commissioning and contract monitoring/quality assurance of services for Children in Need and Children Looked After.
Qualifications
* Educated to Postgraduate Level or the ability to demonstrate through extended experience, an equivalent level of experience and knowledge.
* Experience of commissioning and/or contract management within social care or education.
* Experience of partnership working and working across organisational boundaries.
* Experience of supervising and/or managing teams and individuals to deliver complex tasks.
* Experience of leading change in services e.g. Service redesign.
* Experience of working with providers in the setting and monitoring KPI’s and using performance management tools.
* Experience of budget management and financial control of projects.
* Knowledge of business intelligence methods in order to understand and interpret data and statistics.
* Experience of monitoring and evaluating the quality of services, including support and challenge to providers to ensure good outcomes for children and young people.
Benefits
* A range of flexible working options including a flex-time scheme
* Generous annual leave entitlements with the opportunity to purchase up to 10 days additional leave per year
* Access to our Employee Assistance Programme – a 24-hour independent, free and confidential advice and support service
* Family and carer friendly policies
* Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
* Employee benefits including staff discounts, subsidised travel passes and Cycle 2 Work Scheme
Contacts:
Cathryn Greenway – Strategic Commissioning Manager – cathryn.greenway@solihull.gov.uk
Aimee Wright, Head of Service – Commissioning for Children and Young People – aimee.wright@solihull.gov.uk
To apply, please click on the link below.
Closing date – 14 September 2025
Interviews will be held on 29 September 2025.
This is an essential car user post as the demands of the job make it operationally essential and there is a contractual requirement to make a suitable vehicle available to ensure the requirements of the job can be carried out effectively.
Applicants must be able to drive, have a driving licence and be a car owner; however, for disabled applicants, reasonable adjustments will be made where required.
This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers.
Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.
Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Attachment: Commissioning Manager JDPS August 2025.docx
Job details
* Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
* Employment type: Full-time
* Job function: Project Management and Information Technology
* Industries: Human Resources Services
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