Commissioning & Quality Manager

Luton Borough; Luton; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Luton Borough is seeking a Commissioning & Quality Manager to lead commissioning programmes within the Children, Families and Education Directorate. This key role oversees development, quality assurance and performance management across services to meet local and national priorities.

You will build strong relationships with providers, commissioners and service users, drive service redesign and ensure value for money across contracts, with accountability for planning through evaluation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading commissioning programmes and quality assurance in public services.
• Ability to manage complex projects with strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Knowledge of commissioning cycles, performance measurement and policy implementation.
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in commissioning or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation, quality assurance and performance management of commissioning programmes.
• Manage projects and contracts to ensure services deliver outcomes and value for money.
• Drive service redesign and improvement from planning through evaluation.
• Build relationships with providers, commissioners, service users and carers to influence planning and delivery.

Skills

Commissioning and quality management

Programme and project management

Change management

Data analysis and insights

Microsoft Office / IT skills

Education

Postgraduate qualification in commissioning or relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - 2nd Floor Town Hall Extension

£47,181 to £50,269 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance

Working Hours

37

Location

2nd Floor Town Hall Extension

Closing Date

13/09/2026

Job Category

Childrens Integrated Commissioning Team

Directorate

Children, Families and Education Services

Business Unit

Job Introduction

Salary: £47,181 to £50,269 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours: 37 hours a week
Contract type: Permanent

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

What You’ll be doing

We are seeking a Commissioning & Quality Manager to join our Children, Families and Education Directorate. This is a key role responsible for leading the development, implementation, quality assurance and performance management of commissioning programmes that support the delivery of local and national priorities.

Working within the Commissioning and Resources Service, you will lead on a range of commissioning projects and contracts, ensuring services are delivered effectively, achieve agreed outcomes and represent value for money. You will play a pivotal role in service redesign and improvement, managing programmes from planning through to implementation and evaluation.

The successful candidate will oversee commissioned services in line with Luton’s Sufficiency Strategy and joint commissioning plans, ensuring providers meet contractual requirements and deliver high-quality services that meet the needs of children, young people and families.

A key aspect of the role will be building strong relationships with stakeholders, facilitating meaningful engagement with service providers, commissioners, service users and carers to ensure their voices influence service planning, commissioning and delivery.

You will also support the wider leadership of the service, deputising for the Senior Commissioning Manager when required and contributing to the continuous development of commissioning practices across the department.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for a skilled commissioning professional with demonstrable experience of commissioning and the commissioning cycle, or managing services and complex projects, including performance and quality management. You will have a strong track record in programme, project and change management, alongside experience of developing and implementing operational policies and procedures. Confident in analysing and interpreting data, you will be able to produce meaningful insights that inform strategic planning and decision-making, with excellent IT skills across Microsoft Office applications, databases and research tools.

You will be a proactive and influential communicator, capable of driving change, building positive relationships and working collaboratively with a wide range of partners, providers and stakeholders. With strong planning, presentation and facilitation skills, you will be able to develop and adapt strategies, manage competing priorities and achieve positive outcomes. A sound understanding of the commissioning cycle is essential, together with a relevant postgraduate qualification (or equivalent experience). Above all, you will be committed to continuous professional development and passionate about improving services and outcomes for children, young people and families.

Application Process

Only LBC employees and LBC agency workers may apply for this position.

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also, any adult cautions (simple or conditional) and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However, in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.