Assistant Director Integrated Commissioning & Procurement

Town Hall Extension, Albert Square,
Manchester, M60 2LA

£91,985 - £101,692

Manchester

About the role

Assistant Director Integrated Commissioning & Procurement
Salary £91,985 – £101,692

Shape the Future of Public Services – Senior Leadership Opportunity in Procurement & Commissioning

Manchester is a thriving, modern city with a global reputation for culture, leisure and sporting success. Not only one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe, and a vital engine of economic growth for the north west and the UK, we’re also a pioneer in public service reform, reshaping services in ways that influence thinking far beyond our boundaries. 

There’s no better place to bring your talents than one of the country’s most dynamic public service organisations in one of Europe’s most progressive cities. Are you a visionary leader ready to make a lasting impact across a large, complex organisation? This is a rare opportunity to step into a strategic role driving procurement and commissioning excellence at scale.

We’re looking for an accomplished professional who brings significant senior leadership experience and a proven ability to transform corporate procurement and commissioning functions. If you thrive in delivering innovation, value for money, and meaningful outcomes for communities, this could be your next challenge.

Why This Role?

You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how services are designed, delivered, and optimised—leading major transformation programmes that deliver real social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Working at the heart of decision-making, you’ll collaborate with elected members, senior stakeholders, and partners across Greater Manchester and beyond, influencing strategy and driving impactful change.

What You’ll Be Doing

Providing strategic leadership for integrated commissioning and corporate procurement

Leading the development of a forward-thinking commissioning plan focused on high-value priorities

Managing the full commissioning lifecycle – from procurement to contract management and service redesign

Driving improvements in performance, governance, and contract management frameworks

Leading complex commercial negotiations to secure the best outcomes

Ensuring full compliance, value for money, and maximum community impact

Championing innovative, outcome-based commissioning approaches
Building strong partnerships across council services and regional/national systems

What You Bring

please evidence your experience in each area in your supporting statement as we will be shortlisting from these criteria

Extensive senior leadership experience in procurement and/or commissioning

A proven track record of delivering strategic transformation and savings programmes

Strong commercial acumen including supplier management, contract negotiation, and market engagement

Experience working within complex partnership environments (local government, health systems, GM)

Deep understanding of governance, regulation, and public sector frameworks

The ability to harness data and analytics to inform decisions and drive performance

Be the Difference

This is more than a leadership role—it’s your chance to drive meaningful change, shape innovative service delivery models, and contribute to stronger, more sustainable communities.

Ready to lead from the front? Apply now and be part of something transformative.

Closing date: 16th July 2026

In person panels: Last week of July or First week of August

Apply Now

Useful links

Associated Documents

Role Profile

Welcome from Tom Wilkinson
Interim Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer

Hello and thank you for your interest in the role of Assistant Director of Procurement at Manchester City Council.

Manchester is a city with huge heart and even greater ambition. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and even prouder of the people who make it possible.

Having recently taken on responsibility for Corporate Services, I am keen to work with an individual who recognises the critical role procurement and commissioning play in delivering the Our Manchester Strategy. This role sits at the centre of how we achieve value for money, drive innovation, and ensure that our services deliver the best possible outcomes for our residents and communities.

You will be joining a Leadership Team responsible for Finance, Legal, ICT, Policy and Performance, and Assurance—working collaboratively to support each other, the wider organisation, and the city. Within this, procurement is fundamental; shaping how we engage with markets, manage suppliers, and deliver social, economic and environmental value through everything we do.

This is a significant opportunity to lead strategic procurement and integrated commissioning across the Council, overseeing the full lifecycle from design to delivery. You will play a key role in strengthening governance, improving contract management, and driving forward transformation programmes that make a real difference.

We are looking for a leader who brings strong commercial expertise, strategic vision, and a commitment to partnership working. Someone who is confident operating at scale, able to influence senior stakeholders and elected members, and passionate about using innovation and data to deliver continuous improvement.

This is an important moment for us. As we continue to transform how we deliver services, we are seeking someone who leads with integrity, builds strong relationships, and is committed to achieving better outcomes for the people of Manchester.

You’ll be joining a talented and dedicated team in a council that truly lives its values. If you are motivated by the opportunity to shape a modern, high-performing procurement function and contribute to Manchester’s continued success, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Tom Wilkinson
Interim Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer

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