Service Director - Commissioning and Partnerships

Sandwell is a borough with ambition, momentum and a determination to deliver better outcomes for children, young people and families. Recognised as one of the most improved councils in the country, we have made significant progress on our improvement journey, but we know there is more to do. We are building on that success by strengthening partnerships, modernising services and creating a culture focused on excellence, innovation and impact.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join our Children and Education leadership team as Service Director – Commissioning & Partnerships, a pivotal role at the centre of our ambitions for children, young people and families across Sandwell.

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative leader who can shape the future of commissioning, partnership working and service transformation. This is a role with significant influence, leading the functions that provide the insight, governance, planning and partnerships needed to deliver sustainable improvement across the whole system.

You will provide strategic leadership across commissioning, partnerships, participation and engagement, governance, business administration, data intelligence and performance. You will lead ambitious commissioning strategies, develop innovative approaches to service delivery and ensure that services are designed around the needs of children, young people and families.

Working across organisational boundaries, you will build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, partners, health organisations, education providers, the voluntary sector and wider stakeholders, ensuring a joined-up approach to delivering better outcomes. You will champion the voice of children and families, embedding participation and co-production into decision-making and service design.

This role is central to ensuring that resources are targeted effectively, services are informed by evidence and intelligence, and that robust governance, quality assurance and performance management arrangements support continuous improvement. You will play a key role in shaping strategic priorities, driving innovation and ensuring the Council is well positioned to meet future challenges and opportunities.

There is a genuine appetite for improvement across Sandwell. We have invested in our services, strengthened our leadership and are committed to building a high-performing organisation that delivers for residents. We are ambitious about becoming outstanding and are looking for leaders who share that ambition, are comfortable with challenge and are motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting difference.

We are seeking an influential leader with a strong track record in strategic commissioning, partnership development, transformation and performance improvement. You will bring excellent relationship-building skills, political awareness and a strong understanding of governance, commissioning and public service delivery. Most importantly, you will be passionate about creating opportunities and improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

As part of our senior leadership team, you will help shape the future of Children and Education Services, influence borough-wide priorities and contribute to one of local government's most exciting improvement stories. You will work alongside ambitious colleagues who are committed to collaboration, innovation and delivering meaningful change for the communities we serve.

If you are ready to lead at scale, build powerful partnerships and drive transformational change that improves lives, we would love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 6th September