Assistant Director People Commissioning & Business Support

Salary: £96,350 – £108,925

Welcome from Iain MacBeath, Strategic Director, Adult Social Care & Health, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Director of Integration, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Thank you for your interest in the role of Assistant Director – People Commissioning & Business Support at City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

This is a pivotal time for Bradford. As a district, we are ambitious, diverse, and determined to deliver better outcomes for our residents. Our communities are vibrant and resilient, but they also face complex challenges. That’s why we are transforming how we commission and deliver care and support—placing people at the heart of everything we do. This role is central to that transformation.

As Assistant Director, you will lead commissioning across adult social care, children’s services, and public health—shaping services that are inclusive, responsive, and co-designed with the people who use them. You will also lead our business support and transformation functions, ensuring we are data-driven, efficient, and focused on continuous improvement.

You’ll be joining a passionate and committed leadership team, working across the council and with our NHS and voluntary sector partners to deliver integrated, high-quality services. You’ll also play a key role in our relationship with the Care Quality Commission and other regulators, ensuring we meet our statutory duties and deliver real value for money.

We’re looking for someone who shares our values—someone who is collaborative, ambitious, and committed to making a difference. If you’re ready to lead with purpose and help shape the future of care and health in Bradford, we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you once again for considering this opportunity. I look forward to learning more about what you can bring to our team.

Are you a strategic, values-driven leader with a passion for commissioning, transformation, and delivering high-quality services that improve lives?

Bradford Council is seeking an exceptional individual to join our senior leadership team as Assistant Director – People Commissioning & Business Support. This is a pivotal role at the heart of our Adult Social Care and Health Directorate, with a remit that spans commissioning, market development, contract management, and business support across adult social care, children’s services, and public health.

About the Role

Reporting to the Strategic Director of Adult Social Care and Health, you will lead a workforce of over 200 staff and influence over £300 million in care purchasing budgets. You will be responsible for:

  • Leading commissioning strategies and ensuring value for money across a diverse portfolio of services.

  • Driving quality improvement and market shaping in collaboration with local, regional, and NHS partners.

  • Overseeing business support functions including performance, intelligence, systems, and financial support services.

  • Ensuring compliance with statutory duties under the Care Act, Children and Families Act, and Public Health responsibilities.

  • Championing co-production, personalisation, and citizen engagement in service design and delivery.

  • Acting as a key relationship manager with external regulators such as the Care Quality Commission and the Regulator of Social Housing.

About You

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced senior leader who can demonstrate:

  • A successful track record in strategic commissioning, transformation, and partnership working.

  • Strong financial acumen and experience managing large-scale budgets and contracts.

  • A collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.

  • A deep understanding of the legal, political, and operational context of local government and health and care systems.

  • A commitment to inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.

You will bring a professional or management qualification (or equivalent experience), and a passion for delivering services that make a real difference to people’s lives.

Why Bradford?

Bradford is a vibrant, diverse, and ambitious district with a proud heritage and exciting future. As one of the youngest and fastest-growing cities in the UK, we are committed to delivering inclusive growth, tackling inequalities, and transforming public services to meet the needs of our communities.

 Join us and be part of a leadership team that is shaping the future of health and care in Bradford.