Assistant Director Children’s Commissioning

TL;DR

Assistant Director Children’s Commissioning: Providing strategic leadership and oversight for the Council’s Children’s Commissioning and Start Well Brokerage functions with an accent on SEND, Early Help, and residential provision. Focus on market shaping, transformation programmes, and ensuring sustainable commissioning models that deliver improved outcomes for children and families.

Location: Must be based in or able to work from Romford, UK

Salary: £93,006 - £102,705pa

Company

The hirify.global is a forward-thinking local government authority committed to innovation, community welfare, and sustainable development.

What you will do

• Provide strategic leadership for Children’s Commissioning and Start Well Brokerage services.
• Lead commissioning cycles across SEND, Early Help, mental health, and residential care.
• Oversee market management and placement sufficiency to ensure high-quality, cost-effective outcomes.
• Drive transformation and improvement programmes to strengthen preventative support models.
• Develop commissioning strategies and partnership plans with NHS, schools, and voluntary sectors.
• Ensure all services meet statutory, safeguarding, and performance requirements.

Requirements

• Significant experience of strategic commissioning leadership within children’s services or social care.
• Strong knowledge of statutory responsibilities relating to Children’s Services, SEND, and safeguarding.
• Proven experience leading within complex, politically sensitive, and multi-agency environments.
• Ability to build influential partnerships across local government, health, and education.
• Experience in leading transformation and financial sustainability programmes.
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Supportive and inclusive working environment guided by ICARE values.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement with options to buy additional leave.
• Access to learning, development, and leadership opportunities.
• Health and wellbeing support initiatives.

Hiring process

• Multiple assessment stages including stakeholder panels and formal interviews.
• Anonymised recruitment process.