Team Manager - Children's Commissioning

As Team Manager for Children's Commissioning, you will lead a team responsible for commissioning high-quality, value-for-money services that meet the needs of children and young people across Coventry. You will have a key strategic role in:

• Leading the commissioning of services for Looked After Children
• Managing commissioning staff and resources
• Developing innovative service models based on identified needs
• Ensuring robust contract management, quality assurance, and safeguarding standards
• Working collaboratively with partners across health, social care, and the voluntary sector
• Managing budgets and ensuring effective financial oversight
You will also play a critical role in shaping commissioning strategies, influencing service development, and ensuring the voices of children and young people are embedded in service design and delivery. This is a 8 month fixed term opportunity All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader with:
• Strong knowledge of commissioning in children's services or a related field
• Experience of managing staff and leading complex commissioning or procurement processes
• A solid understanding of safeguarding, legislation, and policy relating to children, particularly Looked After Children
• Excellent partnership-working and negotiation skills
• The ability to manage budgets and deliver value for money
• Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills
You will be confident in leading change, influencing across organisations, and delivering improved outcomes for children and young people. Within our team men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds are currently under-represented across our middle-management team, as a result we would like to encourage both men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds to apply for this post. This does not prevent any other applicants with a protected characteristic or a non-protected characteristic from applying.

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do. Our Values are:
• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.
The Children's Commissioning Team is a collaborative and forward-thinking service dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people across Coventry. We work closely with partners across health, social care, education, and the private & voluntary sector to design and deliver high-quality, value-for-money services for children in care. The team is committed to innovation, continuous improvement, and ensuring that the voices of children and families shape the services we commission. We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias. At Coventry City Council, we are embarking on an incredible journey to create a brighter future for Coventry's children. As a 'Good' Local Authority, we believe in pushing boundaries and delivering excellence for children and families. Our vision is clear, and our social workers are unwavering in their commitment to putting children and families at the centre of their practice. Be part of our inspiring team, making a meaningful difference in the lives of Coventry's children. Together, let's create a nurturing environment where every child's potential can flourish., Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities. If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition