Commissioning and Contracts Manager

North Northamptonshire Council; Kettering; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council is seeking a Commissioning Manager to lead commissioning, procurement, market management and contract oversight for children and young people aged 0–25 in the North Northamptonshire area. The role aims to ensure high-quality, outcome-focused, cost-effective services aligned with local needs and statutory requirements, including family hubs and integrated pathways.

Reporting to the Head of Service, the post holder will develop and manage commissioning and

Qualifications

• Experience of commissioning, contract management, service development or partnership working.

Responsibilities

• Inform multi-agency commissioning strategies reflecting local need, system priorities, statutory responsibilities and national reforms.
• Undertake comprehensive needs analysis using data, intelligence and forecasting to inform commissioning plans, market shaping and sufficiency activity.
• Lead market management for provision, including mapping supply, identifying gaps, developing provider relationships, and contributing to sufficiency plans that reduce reliance on high-cost placements.
• Lead procurement activity for services, including specification development, tendering, evaluation, commercial negotiation and award processes, ensuring compliance and value for money.
• Strengthen contract management and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring providers deliver safe, effective and outcome-focused services aligned to contractual requirements.
• Support annual fee uplift negotiations with Independent and non-maintained special schools, providing evidence-based recommendations to senior leaders.
• Ensure co-production with children, young people and families, and meaningful partnership working with Education, Social Care, Health, NCT, ICB, providers and regional partners.

Job description

This role will lead the commissioning, procurement, market management and contract oversight of services for children and young people aged 0–25. The postholder will ensure services are high-quality, outcome-focused, cost-effective, and aligned with local needs and statutory requirements. The role supports the commissioning and development of family support, early intervention and integrated community services within the wider children and families portfolio.

Reporting to the Head of Service for Commissioning and Contracts for a specific market, the post holder is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the commissioning and contractual aspects of all relevant contracts within their market area, in line with the service strategy.

This role aligns the contract and commissioning functions to ensure that every contract is meaningful, outcomes-based, and value-for-money.

Supporting the development of joint commissioning strategies to develop and improve services across the Children’s Directorate. The key objectives are:

• Development of multi-agency strategies to inform decisions about the future shape of services, both statutory and non-statutory, in order to meet the needs of Children across North Northamptonshire
• Robust needs analysis of local population.
• Mapping of existing service provision with identification of service gaps
• Procurement of services with a clear service specification of what needs to be provided to meet the service outcomes
• Contract Management and review of contracts with associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance monitoring arrangements in place

The postholder plays a key role in supporting the development of provision and services across a complex and high-pressure system with rising demand, national reforms, and significant financial challenges. The Commissioning Manager is central to:

• supporting the delivery and development of the Family Hubs model and associated services
• developing integrated pathways and partnerships to improve outcomes for children, young people and families
• supporting transformation and sustainability across early help and family support services
• ensuring effective, lawful and efficient commissioning, contract management and performance oversight of Family Hubs and related provision

What will you be doing?

Role Responsibilities

• Inform multi-agency commissioning strategies that reflect local need, system priorities, statutory responsibilities and national reforms.
• Undertake comprehensive needs analysis and use data, intelligence and forecasting to inform commissioning plans, market shaping, and sufficiency activity.
• Lead market management for provision, including mapping supply, identifying gaps, developing provider relationships, and contributing to sufficiency plans that reduce reliance on high‑cost placements.
• Lead procurement activity for services, including specification development, tendering, evaluation, commercial negotiation and award processes, ensuring compliance and value for money.
• Strengthen contract management and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring providers deliver safe, effective and outcome‑focused services aligned to contractual requirements.
• Support annual fee uplift negotiations with Independent and non‑maintained special schools, providing evidence‑based recommendations to senior leaders.
• Ensure co‑production with children, young people and families, and meaningful partnership working with Education, Social Care, Health, NCT, ICB, providers and regional partners.

About you

We're looking for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families and who enjoys turning ideas into high-quality services that make a real difference in local communities.

You will bring experience of commissioning, contract management, service development or partnership working, along with a collaborative and solution‑focused approach. You will be confident building positive relationships with providers, partners and colleagues, and able to work across organisational boundaries to achieve shared goals.

You'll be comfortable using data, insight and feedback to understand what is working well, identify opportunities for improvement and support informed decision‑making. You'll also be skilled at managing competing priorities, navigating complexity and maintaining focus on delivering positive outcomes.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who enjoys working with others, embraces change and is committed to developing effective, sustainable services that meet the needs of children, young people and families. With strong communication skills, attention to detail and a proactive mindset, you'll play an important role in helping services evolve and succeed.

For any queries about the role, please contact Laura Priestnall at [e-mail]