Contract & Commissioning Manager

You must already have a valid right to work in the UK documentation, as we cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role. As a Contract & Commissioning Manager, you'll lead the commissioning and contract management of services that support the delivery of high-quality council housing across Manchester. You will ensure that services not delivered by the Council's in-house direct labour organisation are commissioned effectively, managed professionally, and provide the best possible value for money. You'll help Housing Services deliver safe, sustainable, accessible, and well-maintained homes for residents, ensuring commissioned services meet legislative requirements, performance standards, and customer needs. Your work will contribute to the Council's wider ambition of providing high-quality social housing and improving outcomes for Manchester residents. In this role you will:

• Lead the development and delivery of commissioning, commercial and contract management strategies across Housing Services.
• Oversee procurement, tendering and contract management processes to ensure high-quality and value-for-money services are secured.
• Monitor contractor performance, budgets and key performance indicators, addressing underperformance and driving continuous improvement.
• Work with Housing Services colleagues, corporate services, contractors, suppliers and external partners to deliver strategic priorities.
• Support service improvement, policy development, project delivery and the achievement of regulatory and organisational objectives.
Pre-employment checks If you are successful, your appointment will be subject to completing the relevant pre-employment checks. These checks will be carried out as part of our recruitment process and includes:
• Satisfactory references and, For guidance on how to write your personal statement, please visit .
If you're invited to assessment, we'll look at a wider range of the role requirements. For more detail, please see the role profile. Use of AI You may use AI to support your application, but all examples must be your own and based on real experience. Applications may be withdrawn if content is misleading or presents someone else's experience as your own. Internal candidates may also face disciplinary action. Guaranteed Assessment Scheme Applicants who meet the essential shortlisting criteria and are eligible under the will be progressed to the assessment stage. Support and Adjustments If you're successful in securing a role, we'll make every effort to provide the support, equipment and reasonable adjustments you need to carry out your duties. Where needed, we'll consider adapting aspects of the role. Find out more about our .

We are looking for an experienced commissioning and contract management professional with strong commercial acumen and a proven ability to deliver high-quality services within a housing or related environment. You will be a strategic thinker with excellent communication, negotiation and relationship management skills, capable of managing complex contracts, budgets and stakeholder relationships while driving service improvement and delivering positive outcomes for residents. We'll use the following essential criteria to decide which candidates to invite to assessment. Please ensure candidates are directed to use their personal statement to provide evidence against each criterion, supported by relevant examples:
• Demonstrable experience of commissioning, procuring and contract managing complex services, including monitoring performance, managing providers and delivering value for money.
• Strong commercial, financial and strategic skills, including budget management, service planning, procurement processes, risk management and the ability to respond to changing priorities and future service requirements.
• Knowledge of housing services, regulatory requirements and procurement practices, together with excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively to improve services and achieve organisational objectives.
  
  Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city. You'll help improve lives and support our local communities. Working together, we can create better public services for everyone.
  
  Up to 26 days' annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years' service.
• Buy up to two extra weeks' leave.
• Up to 3 days' volunteering leave.
• A 35-hour working week for full-time roles.
• Annual pay reviews and recognition of three trade unions.
• A defined benefit pension scheme.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave.
• Employee discounts and perks.
Learn more at . Our commitment to inclusion At Manchester City Council, we're dedicated to creating a workplace that fully reflects the diversity of our local communities. We actively encourage applications from people of all ages and backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from applicants from ethnic minority communities and disabled people, who remain underrepresented in parts of our workforce.