Wokingham Council - Children's Commissioning Manager

Main Accountabilities

1. Strategic Planning and Programme Delivery

Lead key transformation programmes aligned to strategic priorities and local needs.

Develop and implement commissioning strategies

Monitor and evaluate programme impact, ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes, timelines, and budgets.

2. Commissioning Excellence and Market Development

Undertake needs assessments and gap analyses to inform commissioning decisions.

Develop and manage commissioning cycles, including service specifications, procurement, contract management and monitoring

Provide performance reports for commissioned services

Support market shaping and provider development to ensure a diverse, high 1 quality, and sustainable service offer.

3. Partnership, System Leadership and Engagement

Work in collaboration with other Managers in the team to lead the strategic direction, development, and delivery of commissioning activity across the department, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and fostering a culture of shared leadership and continuous improvement

Facilitate collaborative working across internal teams and external partners to deliver integrated services.

Lead relational commissioning approaches, fostering trust-based partnerships and co-production.

Represent the service in multi-agency forums and strategic boards.

Ensure children, young people, and families are meaningfully involved in commissioning and transformation activity. Embed participation and feedback mechanisms to inform service design and evaluation.

Promote inclusive and equitable approaches that reflect the diversity of the local population.

4. Governance and Performance

Provide high-quality reports, briefings, and presentations to senior leaders, elected members, and stakeholders.

Ensure compliance with statutory duties, procurement regulations, and safeguarding requirements.

Monitor performance indicators and contribute to strategic planning and reporting.

5. Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities for innovation and service redesign/commissioned services, drawing on best practice, research, and lived experience to improve outcomes and efficiency

Lead complex programmes of change/commissioning, ensuring effective governance, stakeholder engagement, and delivery.

Embed a culture of learning and improvement across commissioned services.

Lead service reviews and transformation projects to improve quality, efficiency, and outcomes.

If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.