About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and tenacious Service Manager to lead a new Market Engagement Team focused on strategic planning and operational reviews of contractual arrangements to ensure children who could benefit from family‑based care or step down from residential care are supported.
Key Responsibilities
* Drive commercial focus to deliver children's placement sufficiency and value for money.
* Lead the Market Engagement Team in strategic planning across the Bristol market to meet the needs of children and young people.
* Conduct operational reviews of contractual arrangements supporting child placement decisions.
* Achieve significant savings as part of the transformation programme ‘Stable Homes’ and deliver target benefits.
* Commission services for children, negotiating, diplomatically challenging, and driving change within the organisation.
* Communicate confidently with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring regulatory compliance and financial viability.
Qualifications & Experience
* Strong leadership experience with a proven track record of leading and sustaining organisational change.
* Experience commissioning services in children’s care or a comparable sector.
* Good understanding of the financial and regulatory environment within which children's homes and placements are based.
* Excellent negotiation, diplomacy and challenge skills within a commercially focused environment.
Additional Requirements
This role is subject to a Basic DBS Check.
Equal Opportunity
We are a Disability Confident employer and any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support.
Benefits
As part of an excellent rewards package, you will receive membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, a generous annual leave allowance, and a supportive work environment that balances service need and individual choice.
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