Commissioning Manager

Venn Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced Commissioning Manager to lead their Home Finding & Support Service. This role involves managing operations, overseeing placements, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality services for vulnerable children. Candidates should have strong brokerage skills and experience in children’s services legislation. This is a full-time contract position based in Northamptonshire, with an expectation of in-office work two days a week.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in brokerage/operational commissioning within children’s services.
• Strong knowledge of children’s services legislation and commissioning cycles.
• Ability to manage complex budgets and produce analytical reports.
• Ability to manage complex budgets and produce clear, analytical reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Home Finding & Support Service operations.
• Review and improve operational processes and policies.
• Negotiate with providers and develop team skills.
• Negotiate with providers and develop team skills in provider engagement.
• Embed benchmarking tools and Circle to Success in provider discussions.
• Develop strong market relationships to meet local sufficiency duties.
• Support cultural change within the service.
• Contribute to the annual service plan.

Skills

Brokerage skills

Negotiation skills

Relationship-building

Project management

Project management

Job description

Overview

Commissioning Manager – Home Finding & Support Service / Brokerage Team Manager (Interim) at Venn Group, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. Location: Northamptonshire (Ideally 2 days in office per week). Contract: Until end of November 2025 initially. Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday. DBS: Enhanced (Child Only) required. Start Date: ASAP.

Pay

Base pay range: This range is provided by Venn Group. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Commissioning Manager with strong brokerage (operational commissioning) skills to lead their Home Finding & Support Service. This is a pivotal role managing both the operational leadership of the service and ensuring high quality, evidence-based placements for vulnerable children and young people. You will work closely with the Service Manager to shape services that meet statutory sufficiency duties, deliver best value, and improve outcomes for children and their families.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Home Finding & Support Service operations
• Oversee brokerage activities ensuring timely, high-quality, value-for-money placements
• Review and improve operational processes, policies, and joint funding arrangements
• Negotiate with providers and develop team skills in provider engagement
• Embed benchmarking tools and Circle to Success in provider discussions
• Develop strong market relationships to meet local sufficiency duties
• Support cultural change within the service
• Contribute to the annual service plan

Qualifications

• Proven experience in brokerage/operational commissioning within children’s services
• Strong knowledge of children’s services legislation, commissioning cycles, and sufficiency duties
• Excellent negotiation, relationship-building, and project management skills
• Ability to manage complex budgets and produce clear, analytical reports
• Experience of working with public, private, and voluntary sector organisations at both strategic and operational levels

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Management and Other

Industries

• Government Administration