Commissioning and Contracts Officer

About The Role

Working Hours:

35 Hours per week

Contract Type:
Full time / Permanent

Working Style:
Hybrid-Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office).

Additional Payments:
Essential car user allowance

Closing Date: 08 July 2026

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method:
Face to Face

This role is subject to:

• Legal right to Work:
  In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
• 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here.
  
  We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders, and it is available upon request.

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a G7 Contracts and Commissioning Officer to join our Contracts and Commissioning Team, working within the Centralised Placements Service. This role sits within a high‑performing, motivated and supportive team that plays a vital role in securing safe and appropriate care for Manchester’s children.

The Placements Service is central to ensuring that children and young people who cannot live at home are supported to live in safe, nurturing environments. Working city‑wide, the service collaborates closely with social care teams, the fostering service and external providers to secure the best possible care arrangements.

This is a fast‑paced, five‑day‑a‑week service that values creativity, flexibility and solution‑focused practice. As a Contracts and Commissioning Officer, you will work alongside colleagues to support care planning, promote children and young people’s voices, and contribute to improved outcomes. You will also play a key role in ensuring providers deliver high‑quality care that represents value for money and meets children’s individual needs.

If you are passionate about making a difference for children and young people, we would welcome your application.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Janell Wilken on  or jan to arrange a convenient time.

The post‑holder will be required to:

• Respond to emergency placement requests, often working to pressured deadlines.
• Work collaboratively across Children’s Social Care to support permanence planning and ensure children have caregivers who can meet their long‑term needs.
• Work within Our Manchester behaviours, ensuring all communication with external providers, carers and colleagues remains child‑focused.
• Support the effective operation of the Placements Service, ensuring children are introduced to their caregivers in a way that is kind, respectful and promotes a sense of belonging.
• Lead and contribute to specialist placement searches for children with disabilities and for young people with experiences of trauma and attachment difficulties, recognising the impact of lived experience.
• Collect, collate and present referral and monitoring data to support analysis and reporting to senior management, ensuring alignment with the Sufficiency Strategy.
• In partnership with Commissioning colleagues, contribute to the development and management of relationships with independent residential and fostering providers across Manchester and the Greater Manchester region.

This is not a remote role, and the successful candidate will be expected to work in line with the Council’s flexible working policy.

We are seeking a motivated, resilient and child‑focused professional who:

• Promotes innovation, creativity and continuous improvement within placement and commissioning activity.
• Is kind, reliable and approachable, with a good sense of humour and a strong commitment to going the extra mile for children.
• Understands the critical importance of effective placement‑finding and the impact this can have on…