Lead Commissioning Officer

Shape services. Influence change. Improve outcomes for children and families.

At Barnsley, we’re ambitious for our children, young people and families. We’re looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Lead Commissioning Officer who can turn evidence, insight and collaboration into services that deliver better outcomes.

This is a varied portfolio role within Children’s Services. You will lead several commissions, projects and areas of service development concurrently, rather than focusing on a single contract or service.

Your portfolio may include activity at different stages of the commissioning cycle, from understanding needs and developing strategy through to procurement, mobilisation, contract management, performance monitoring, service improvement and evaluation.

You will need to balance competing priorities, maintain oversight across your portfolio and adapt your approach as needs, evidence and organisational priorities develop. Working with colleagues, partners, providers and communities, you will bring structure and momentum to complex activity and ensure each commission remains focused on improving outcomes for children, young people and families, while delivering quality and best value.

What you’ll be doing

· Working collaboratively with colleagues, partners, providers and communities, you will:

· Manage a varied portfolio of commissions, projects and service development activity across Children’s Services.

· Lead multiple commissions concurrently, which may be at different stages of the commissioning cycle.

· Maintain oversight of progress, risks, dependencies, resources and outcomes across your portfolio.

· Work flexibly across different service areas, responding to changing needs and priorities within Children’s Services.

· Act as the lead commissioner for designated services, themes and programmes.

· Develop strategies, business cases and service specifications informed by evidence, local need and available resources.

· Analyse complex information to identify emerging pressures, gaps in provision and opportunities for improvement.

· Lead procurement, mobilisation, contracting and service remodelling activity.

· Monitor provider performance and ensure commissioned services deliver agreed outcomes and quality standards.

· Manage commissioning budgets and support the effective allocation of resources.

· Build constructive relationships with senior leaders, elected members, providers, partners, service users and carers.

· Prepare clear and influential reports and presentations for a wide range of audiences.

· Promote co-production, continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.

· You will have the confidence to ask the right questions, challenge constructively and bring people together around a shared purpose.

This role offers variety, responsibility and the opportunity to make a visible difference to the way services are designed and delivered.

About you

You will bring significant experience of commissioning, contracting or service planning, together with a strong understanding of the commissioning cycle and procurement processes.

We’re looking for someone who:

· Can confidently manage a Children’s Services portfolio, leading multiple commissions concurrently while balancing competing priorities and maintaining momentum.

· Can lead complex projects and programmes from development through to delivery.

· Understands how data, intelligence and lived experience can be used to shape services.

· Has experience of contract and performance management.

· Can develop strategies, service specifications and high-quality business documents.

· Is confident managing budgets and working within financial constraints.

· Can negotiate, influence and build effective relationships at all levels.

· Is comfortable working in a changing environment and managing competing priorities.

· Is committed to quality, inclusion and improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

· Understands the pressures affecting local government, partners, providers and communities.

· You will need a relevant Level 6 qualification or extensive equivalent experience, supported by a relevant Level 3 qualification. Where applicants do not hold a Level 6 qualification, they will need to demonstrate the comparative experience set out in the role profile.

Why join us?

You’ll join a collaborative commissioning team with the opportunity to work across organisational and sector boundaries, influence strategic decisions and support meaningful service improvement.

We value:

· Honesty: being open, transparent and accountable.

· Teamwork: working together to achieve more.

· Excellent service: putting people at the heart of what we do.

· Pride: taking ownership and recognising success.

Interested?

If you are an experienced commissioner who wants to lead change, strengthen services and help improve outcomes for children, young people and families, we would love to hear from you.