About Us An exciting opportunity has arisen for a manager with experience in business support, finance, and analytics to join Children's Commissioning.
This pivotal role offers the chance to shape a growing data and analytics function, driving strategic decisions and delivering impactful transformation.
Here at West Sussex County Council, we are ambitious for all our children and young people, and we are committed to improving our services.
The recent Ofsted report of Children's Social Care shows how far we've come, and we continue to drive forward our 'Children First' improvement plans.You will join us as at a key time on our journey where investment in the commissioning workforce is at an all time high.
Children's Commissioning is responsible for ensuring children, young people and their families have access to the right services at the right time, whether that be a foster family, therapeutic provision, or a special school placement.We are looking for people who get things done.
We are looking to recruit an innovative, passionate and exceptionally effective Service Manager to help play a central role in driving forward children's commissioning that reflects and supports positive outcomes for our children!Our goals and vision are to align with partners internally and externally to commissioning the best quality services, at the best possible price, to give our children the best start in life.
The Opportunity Salary: £58,131 to £61,445 per annum Contract Type: Permanent Working Pattern: Full time – 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday Location: Based at County Hall, Chichester or Bridge House, Worthing with hybrid working available and to be discussed at interview.
Do you have extensive experience of Analytics and Finance in a Commissioning environment?Do you have excellent people management skills and can lead and inspire a team?Can you work at pace and manage competing demands effectively?If you answered yes to all the above and want to make a difference to the children in your community, then we have the job for you… As the Service Manager for Business Support and Analytics you will: Develop and implement a forward-thinking data and analytics strategy aligned with organisational priorities.Build and lead a high-performing data and analytics team, establishing clear structures, processes, and a culture of collaboration.Oversee and manage the robust financial operations of children's social care, ensuring compliant spend and accurate financial forecasting.Deliver digital transformation, leveraging data to drive strategic commissioning and innovation.Enhance reporting capabilities, ensuring insights are actionable and influential at all levels.
You will also support with projects alongside external service providers and internal teams to develop key areas of our business.
This post will have a specific focus on the production of innovative qualitative and quantitative data that supports our commissioners with projects that improve services for vulnerable children as well as standing information produced using Power BI and other tools.You will bring: Proven leadership experiencein data and analytics, ideally within a matrix management structure.A strong track record of building and developing teams, creating clear pathways for success.Expertise in designing and implementing strategiesthat maximise the impact of data.Experience managing digital transformation programmesthat improve processes and outcomes.Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and foster collaborationExtensive experience in finance and/or procurement operations, including both internal/external spend, forecasting and demand management.Organisational and administrative skills to support and manage a customer focused business support team.
The role will also require you to have a good understanding of statutory social care and/or health services and an appetite to drive up standards and continually improve our service.
For more information on all the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.
Benefits As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do.
We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.
Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including: For a full list, this can be found at our