• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX, Hybrid work with a minimum of office-based working at least two days a week
• Salary: £46,185 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Service Development and Contracts Manager in the Children and Young Peoples Service’s Strategic Commissioning Team, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on ensuring quality homes for Suffolk’s children in care.

Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

Day to day tasks may include:

• Manage provider relationships and contract performance, predominately but not exclusively with purchased foster care agencies, ensuring delivery supports positive outcomes for Children in Care
• You will undertake market analysis and carry out provider engagement
• Commission Fostering Services that deliver against demand and children’s need within Suffolk and participate in Regional Commissioning initiatives
• Identify and convert opportunities to establish new provider relationships, in addition to strengthening ones already established, to enable enough homes for Children in Care
• Use feedback from stakeholders, including the child’s voice, helps inform Service Development
• Strive to ensure best value

Although this list provides examples of what you will be doing it’s not intended to be exhaustive, and you will have personal objectives linked to our People Plans and Strategies that will be discussed and agreed with your line manager when you start.

You will need

• Our ideal candidate would need a knowledge and experience of commissioning fostering services and related quality assurance. However, applications will also be welcomed if you can demonstrate transferable skills and previous experience in a relatable role.
• You should have experience of service improvement and effective performance management.
• You will have the ability to clearly articulate a strategic vision, sense of direction and management expectations to motivate other professionals and providers.
• You will need to demonstrate your ability to communicate openly and honestly in the spirit of collaboration and demonstrate skills and attitudes that promote effective partnership and teamwork.
• You will be committed to listening to children and stakeholders and to working collaboratively with them to design, deliver and monitor services.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

This role is a new role to add to the four existing Service Development and Contract Manager (SDCM) posts that sit within CYP’s Strategic Commissioning Team. This friendly and busy team has a broad focus and includes: the Strategic Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting, the Home Finding Team, Staying Close Team and the Strategic Lead for Housing Development. This role reports directly to the Strategic Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting whose team of three existing SCDM’s and a Commissioning and Contracts Officer are responsible primarily for the contract management and development of different types of externally purchased homes for Children in Care. The Home Finding Team Manager also reports directly to the Strategic Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting which enables a close working and effective communication between the two teams the help ensure there are sufficient homes for children in care.

Due to the need for coloration and effective communication among team members, there is an expectation that all Team members will work from the Endeavour House Office base every Tuesday and at least one other day as a minimum. You will also be required to attend meetings and occasional events at other locations

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report

For more information

Please contact Rachel Rowe, Commissioning Lead for Corporate Parenting, or Tina Hines, Head of Strategic Commissioning, for a casual conversation. You can reach them by either calling 01473 263730 or emailing rachel.rowe@suffolk.gov.uk or tina.hines@Suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 – Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP.

• You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).
• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by either emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process. 

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 28 June 2026.

Promoted as SPJ (Standard Plus Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).