Commissioning & Partnerships Manager

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Overview of the job

The purpose of the Commissioning and Partnerships team is to work closely with operational and contract managers within the region, commercial colleagues, policy leads, external partners/commissioners, providers and service users to identify service needs, review existing services, build partnerships, develop knowledge and build expertise within the business, design new services, source providers and then monitor the effectiveness of commissioned services to promote innovative and strategic solutions and deliver quality, value for money services that meet service user needs and reduces reoffending.

The Commissioning and Partnerships Manager will lead in the development and implementation of strategic commissioning for a specific portfolio of services or need areas, managing activities across the full commissioning cycle to deliver the regional priorities working closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

They will report into the Head of Community Integration and line manage Commissioning and Partnerships Officer(s).

Summary

The post holder will review, manage and deliver commissioning and/or recommissioning of services or projects within their given portfolio, for example accommodation or personal well-being.

They will act as the expert in relation to the strategic commissioning of outcomes for need areas within given portfolio, providing professional advice and recommendations to support the delivery of the regional strategy.

They will lead on the development and implementation of partnership arrangements with key stakeholders, nationally, regionally and locally, in relation to commissioned projects and services within their portfolio.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

Their key responsibilities include:

Production and implementation of service/need specific commissioning plans within specific portfolio as part of short, medium and long-term regional commissioning strategy.Ensuring service/need specific commissioning plans align with regional, national and wider community safety and criminal justice priorities.Ensuring commissioning plans within given portfolio meets the diverse needs of service users, are financially robust, offer value-for-money, incorporates innovative approaches and builds on best practice.Where relevant, manage delegated budget for commissioning projects within specific portfolio.Leading and managing team to deliver agreed activities.Supporting operational staff and managers to deliver their responsibilities for the portfolio area. This may include offering consultancy and advice, developing training plans for teams/region, delivering local training and briefings.Responsible for providing a clear evidence base to inform review of services, recommendations, and commissioning planning.Responsible for understanding the effectiveness of current NPS and wider service delivery within portfolio area and identifying best practice for commissioning future services, current recommendations and new specifications.Responsible for leading the development of a portfolio of evidence-based service specifications and the development of any new service specifications required, engaging with service users, operational leads and other stakeholders as appropriate.Responsible for joint working with MoJ Commercial to develop competition strategies for services/needs within portfolio.Responsible for establishing and leading cross-regional and multi-agency project groups to support development of services within specific portfolio.Responsible for establishing productive and effective relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders at a local, regional and national level in line with designated portfolio area to support commissioning activity.Responsible for proactively identifying, following up and negotiating opportunities for joint-working or co-commissioning services by working with a variety of external stakeholders, such as PCCs, police, local authorities, NHS and voluntary sector organisations, to maximise the potential investment in services.Responsible for leading regional involvement in grants and procurement processes, including ensuring appropriate market warming and engagement is undertaken, key grants and procurement documents are produced and provide evaluation of bids.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Behaviours

Seeing the Big PictureMaking Effective DecisionsCommunicating and InfluencingWorking TogetherChanging and ImprovingLeadership

Essential Experience

Experience of commissioning and/or recommissioning services, including assessing need, reviewing services and developing service specifications.Significant experience of undertaking research and formulating options, along with problem solving abilitiesExperience of procurement and grants within the public sector context.Significant experience of developing successful partnerships and integrated working arrangements.Experience of influencing and negotiating at a senior levelExperience of working in a community safety, criminal justice, social care, housing or health care setting.Experience of managing resources to a budget.Experience of project managementExcellent oral and written communications skills

Desirable

Experience of working within probation and offender services.Experience of managing staff.Experience of using a Dynamic Purchasing System.Experience of leading and participating in collaborative commissioning processes

Technical requirements

Desirable: Qualification in procurement and supply e.g. via the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).