Director of Children's & Education Commissioning & Partnerships

At Nottingham City Council, we are ambitious for our children, young people and families. As we continue to transform Children's & Education Services, we are seeking an exceptional strategic leader to join us as Director of Children's & Education Commissioning & Partnerships. This is a pivotal role with responsibility for ensuring Nottingham has the right services, in the right place, at the right time, to meet the needs of children and families across the city. Leading our commissioning function, you will work across social care, education, health and wider partnerships to develop innovative, sustainable and outcome-focused solutions that improve lives and deliver value for money. Working at the heart of our leadership team, you will shape commissioning strategies that respond to changing demand, influence local and regional markets, and strengthen provision for children, young people and families. Your leadership will be critical in supporting service transformation, improving sufficiency and ensuring commissioning activity contributes to better outcomes across the whole system. We are looking for a dynamic and commercially astute leader with significant experience of commissioning, transformation and partnership working within a complex organisation. You will have a strong track record of delivering strategic change, building effective relationships across multiple agencies and influencing stakeholders at the highest levels. You will bring the confidence to challenge, innovate and think differently, alongside a commitment to putting children and families at the centre of decision-making. Whether shaping markets, developing new models of delivery or driving improvement through commissioning, you will be motivated by making a tangible difference to the lives of Nottingham's children. In return, you will have the opportunity to lead a high-profile portfolio at a time of significant change and ambition for Children's & Education Services, working alongside committed colleagues and partners who share a determination to deliver the very best outcomes for children and families.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Degree level qualification, Leadership and Management qualification and evidence of continuing professional development at senior leadership level.
• Significant senior leadership experience in commissioning, transformation, procurement or service redesign.
• A strong understanding of children's services, partnership working and statutory responsibilities.
• Experience of developing and implementing strategic commissioning approaches within a complex environment.
• A proven track record of delivering large-scale change and service improvement.
• Strong commercial, financial and contractual awareness.
• Excellent influencing, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to operate effectively within a politically led organisation.
• A commitment to improving outcomes and reducing inequalities for children, young people and families.
  
  At Nottingham City Council, we put children, families and citizens at the heart of everything we do.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future of Children's & Education Services in Nottingham and play a leading role in delivering our ambition for children and families. If you are a strategic leader with the vision, drive and expertise to help shape the future of commissioning, we would love to hear from you., Children's Social Work Do you want to make a positive difference for the children, young people and families that you work with? If the answer is yes then Nottingham City is the place for you. In Nottingham City, we are committed to helping families secure positive change for their children and young people. We have excellent, dedicated staff and are keen to welcome new workers to join our team as we continue on a journey of service improvement, delivering consistently good services for children, young people and their families. Our commitment to our staff reflects our determination to improve our services. We firmly believe that staff need the right support to be able to do an excellent job every day. Children and families are at the heart of our practice and at the very core of our Council Plan. Social work can be challenging, which is why we place a strong emphasis on positive teamwork, ensuring you have the support around you to do your work well. Our senior leadership team care deeply about both the children we work with and the staff who support them, and are committed to helping you do your best work. Nottingham is an innovative, vibrant and fast-growing Core City, entering a new era of regeneration. It is home to two world-class universities working in partnership with Nottingham City Council and has one of the best public transport networks in the country, including an extended tram system and strong rail links. The city also offers a flourishing arts, events and music scene, excellent sports facilities and clubs, and a wide choice of restaurants and a buzzing night-time economy. Nottingham is fast becoming a highly desirable place to live and work.