Assistant Director – Commissioning and Partnerships| 9760 | Permanent Contract (or 2-year Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity) | 37 hours per week | £77,732 to £86,720 per annum | Grade O | County Hall | Onsite working will be required a minimum of 3 days per week 

Are you passionate about improving the lives of children, young people, and families? Do you thrive on partnership working, system leadership, and driving high‑impact change? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping Norfolk’s early help and prevention landscape.

About the Role

We’re seeking a motivated and visionary leader to head up the strategic commissioning of prevention and early help services for children and families across Norfolk. This role is central to ensuring that children and young people flourish, inequalities are reduced, and services across health, education, social care and the voluntary sector work together seamlessly.

As a key part of the Safeguarding, Partnerships and Opportunities leadership team, you will collaborate with senior colleagues across the CYP system, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), Public Health, and a wide network of partners to deliver an integrated approach to early help. You will also deputise for the Director of Safeguarding, Partnerships and Opportunities when required.

What You’ll Lead

You will oversee a diverse portfolio of commissioned early help services, including:

• Early Childhood and Family Service (ECFS)
• Youth Advisory Boards (YABs)
• Youth Early Support Service (YESS)
• Young Carers and Parent Carers
• Domestic Abuse & Unhealthy Relationships services (DAUR)
• Best Start in Life (BSiL) programmes

• Partnership projects across Public Health, the ICB, and community services

   

What the Role Delivers

In this senior leadership role, you will lead Norfolk’s integrated commissioning of prevention and early help services, shaping a coherent countywide strategy and delivering high‑quality, outcome‑focused provision for children, young people and families. You will oversee a diverse portfolio of commissioned services, drive continuous improvement and innovation, and ensure strong performance management and value for money. Working collaboratively with the ICB, Public Health, the DfE and wider partners, you will lead major programmes such as Best Start for Life Family Hubs, strengthen youth and participation strategies, manage significant budgets, provide strategic advice to senior leaders, and develop high‑performing staff teams to ensure services meet local needs and support positive outcomes.

About You

We’re looking for an inspiring and credible senior leader who brings:

• Significant senior management experience in children’s services commissioning
• Strong understanding of legislative frameworks, service planning and procurement
• Experience leading large‑scale change in complex environments
• Excellent communication, partnership‑building and influencing skills
• Confidence managing significant budgets and making evidence‑based decisions
• A collaborative, strategic mindset with a passion for improving outcomes

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria. For an informal discussion, please email Carla Donovan, EA to Service Director- carla.donovan@norfolk.gov.uk or Deborah Adams (HR Consultant)- deborah.adams@norfolk.gov.uk. 

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement 
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need. 
• Financial benefits such as:
  • ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.   
  • A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
  • Relocation expenses (where applicable)
  • An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
  • Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions.

  • Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes

  • Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)

  • A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

Closing Date: 10 February 2026 at 23:55

Interview Dates: Tuesday 17th February and Friday 20th February- onsite County Hall

nWe have miles of beautiful coastline and our unique Broads, thriving market towns and a city with a proud cultural heritage.  Our economy is growing and driven by innovation in a number of sectors, including energy and food.  We also have ambitious plans for new housing and a building programme for schools across Norfolk.  Our county a great place to live, work and visit, and is an excellent environment for businesses to start, grow and innovate.

We are the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 850,000 Norfolk residents. We take the lead in critical policy areas, working with 84 elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county.

We provide a high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation.

We work in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities such as District and Parish Councils to provide the people of Norfolk with excellent services.
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