Commissioning Manager

Commissioning Manager – Home Finding & Support Service / Brokerage Team Manager (Interim)

Location: Northamptonshire (Ideally 2 days in office per week)

Contract: Until end of November 2025 initially

Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday

Rate: £350+ per day (Umbrella, negotiable) Inside IR35

DBS: Enhanced (Child Only) required

Start Date: ASAP

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 bench marking 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

About You

The client is looking for someone who has:

• 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