Head of Strategy & Commissioning - Sport, Libraries and Wellbeing
Salford City Council
About us
Salford is a city that is proud of its past and ambitious for its future. We are committed to improving outcomes for our residents and creating opportunities for people to live healthy, fulfilling lives. We know that sport, libraries and wellbeing services play a vital role in this helping people stay active, connected, informed and supported. That’s why we are investing in these services and transforming how they are delivered, with a focus on prevention, inclusion and community impact. This is an exciting time to join us, with strong partnerships and a clear ambition to deliver better outcomes for our communities.
About the Role
This is a high-profile leadership role with real purpose, influence and impact.
As Head of Strategy & Commissioning Sport, Libraries & Wellbeing, you will lead the vision and strategic direction for these vital services across the city. You’ll play a central role in shaping how we improve health, wellbeing and opportunity for our communities, now and for the future.
Working across organisational boundaries, you will:
- Set and deliver ambitious, city-wide strategies aligned to health, wellbeing and community priorities
- Lead the commissioning and oversight of services, ensuring they deliver measurable impact and value
- Act as the Council’s lead client for Salford Community Leisure, driving strong partnerships and performance
- Build and influence relationships across health, education, culture and the voluntary sector
- Secure external funding and investment while driving innovation, digital transformation and service improvement
- Champion a whole-system approach, bringing partners together to tackle inequalities and improve lives
This is a rare opportunity to shape services at scale and making a lasting difference to how residents live, learn and thrive.
About you
We’re looking for a confident and experienced senior leader who can inspire others and deliver change in complex environments.
You will bring:
- Strong experience of leading strategy, commissioning or transformation at a senior level
- A proven ability to build partnerships and influence across organisations and sectors
- Commercial awareness and experience managing contracts, performance and value for money
- Confidence operating with senior leaders, elected members and external stakeholders
- A track record of turning vision into real, measurable outcomes
Most importantly, you’ll be driven by purpose and are motivated to improve lives, reduce inequalities and create meaningful, lasting change for our communities.
Should you wish to learn more about the role before submitting your application, or if you have any additional queries, please contact darren.grice@salford.gov.uk
Want to know more about Salford?
As an authority we are dedicated to improving the lives of our residents, and as an employer we are passionate about helping individuals to thrive in their work. We are committed to developing a diverse and inclusive culture and are proud of our professional accreditations which champion this.
Find out about our city as a place to live, work & grow, and learn more about the amazing work we are doing. You’ll also find out about the wealth of benefits we have to offer you on our Salford pages!
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