Head of Service: External Programmes and Commissioning

Overview

As Head of Service, you will lead commissioned programmes and externally funded initiatives supporting children, young people and families. You’ll steer service design, procurement, and contract management, while building cross-sector partnerships to improve outcomes. You’ll drive performance, value for money, and governance, ensuring co-production shapes delivery. This role offers strategic influence within a transforming Children and Families system, focused on evidence-based impact and sustainable change.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working
• access to rewards and benefits program

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development, commissioning and delivery of programmes serving children, young people and families across Staffordshire
• Oversee service design, procurement, commissioning and contract management to keep services effective and responsive
• Build and maintain partnerships with internal teams, providers, community organisations and multi-agency partners
• Lead performance, quality assurance and outcomes monitoring to drive continuous improvement
• Manage significant budgets and funding streams with governance and delivery of change programmes
• Champion co-production ensuring voices of children, young people, parents and carers shape service design and evaluation

Key requirements

• Significant experience leading government-funded programmes and commissioning child-focused services in a multi-agency environment
• Strong professional knowledge of children’s services design and commissioning
• Experience leading service development, organisational change and transformation programmes
• Understanding of legislation, statutory frameworks and best practice across children’s services including social care, education, youth services and SEND
• Experience developing and monitoring performance frameworks, QA arrangements and market management approaches
• Experience producing high-quality impact reports and presenting outcomes to stakeholders

• leadership
• stakeholder engagement
• partnership development
• programme management
• commissioning and procurement
• contract management

…