Assistant Director Commissioning, Adults and Communities
Bolton Council
Grade Chief Officer Grade 5, SCP4 - £85,172 to SCP 9 - £98,578. Extended Points available up to SCP11 (£107,517) Contract: Permanent Role specifics An appropriate management/professional qualification, experience of working at a senior management level in a complex system, experience of commissioning, including needs analysis, public involvement and co-production, procurement, contracting and purchasing procedures. Interview date: Tuesday 13th October 2026, 2nd Stage Members Panel Wednesday 14th October 2026. For further information about this role, contact: Rachel Tanner, Director Adult Services (DASS), Communities & Integration. PA: Jenna.Shaw@bolton.gov.uk Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Please read the detailed information at the bottom of this advert before you make an application as it may be rejected if we detect AI use. If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application Ask us about flexible working options to fit with your work/life balance - #HappytoTalkFlexible The Role Bolton has a rich and proud heritage, and a bold plan for a bright and prosperous future, powering this is a £1 billion programme of regeneration in several key residential and commercial developments in our town. In Bolton 2040, we also have a clear vision as a vibrant place, built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses, and healthy residents. We are proud to be rated Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which highlighted strong governance, committed leadership and well-embedded strengths-based, preventative and partnership approaches that are delivering positive outcomes for people. To secure Bolton 2040, we are transforming our Council, working in partnership across the Borough and Greater Manchester to modernise and maximise the potential of our people and place. You’ll be joining at an exciting time and support our journey from 'Good' towards 'Outstanding', coproducing commissioning strategies, market shaping and looking at new ways of working and innovation to enable people to lead glorious ordinarily lives. You will drive delivery of quality and outcomes, to achieve Boltons vision adopted from Social Care Futures and codesigned with people 'We all want to live in the place we call home, with the people and things we love, in communities where we look out for one another, doing things that matter to us'. About the role: Reporting to the Director of Adults, Communities and Integration, you will lead Adult’s Social Care and Communities (Community Safety and Housing) Commissioning in the context of integrated working. You will support the Director (DASS) in providing leadership to all aspects of commissioning, including performance management, policy development and the delivery of key projects. Your leadership and expertise will ensure that all our care commissioning reflects local need and priorities while maximising resources. Engagement and co-production with people and their carers will be at the heart of your approach. You will be central to the success of our strategic vision for the delivery of health and social care services across adult social care and communities. You will also be at the forefront of building partnership working to transform health and social care in Bolton. Your responsibilities will include: About You This is a role for a candidate with a strong track record in leading commissioning services and with a well-established expertise in social care. You will be an outstanding communicator able to demonstrate how you have established and nurtured effective partnership working. You will be able to evidence the leadership and drive to succeed in a dynamic and changing context as we forge ahead with further integration. Professional requirements Applicants must hold an appropriate management/professional qualification, have experience of working at a senior management level in a complex system, and experience of commissioning, including needs analysis, public involvement and co-production, procurement, contracting and purchasing procedures. Working in Bolton Bolton Council offers flexible and hybrid working, a strong commitment to staff development, and an excellent environment for public health practice. Informal discussion For an informal conversation about the role, please contact: Rachel Tanner, Director Adult Services (DASS), Communities & Integration About Us This is your opportunity to join us at an exciting time as we have strong ambitions for the borough. Bolton is a great place to work. We are a welcoming organisation that wants to contribute to a place where people feel active, connected and prosperous. We are passionate about improving the outcomes and experience of Bolton people. We want Bolton to be a vibrant place built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses and healthy, engaged residents. As an employer we want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits, including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes. In addition, we offer a generous annual leave allowance, flexible work opportunities, access to a Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services. Our Values are really important to us, read all about them below, along with all our great staff benefits, the job description/person specification for the role and the important legal bits, and our Top Tips too. Ready to apply? Then please click Apply and upload your anonymised CV detailing your employment history and a supporting statement explaining how your skills knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role, with reference to the person specification. Within Greater Manchester, local authorities have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please see greater.jobs for further information before you apply. This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English as per the person specification. This organisation has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. That means we will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester local authority or NHS organisation that has signed the commitment, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority, giving you access to our service-related benefits. Please see the home page of greater.jobs for more information. For more information about working for Bolton Council, please see greater.jobs; for advice and support with your application, contact recruitment@bolton.gov.uk Supporting Documents
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Ready to apply?
Location
Victoria Square, , Bolton, BL1 1RU, United Kingdom
Job ID
3382
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What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?
AI refers to technology that can create or refine content, such as text, ideas, summaries, or planning. It can help improve productivity, problem-solving, and creativity.
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When it comes to recruitment, we take a human-centred approach.
This means:
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Shortlisting is based on objective criteria required for the job
Interviews are conducted in person or via teams by the hiring manager for the role
All hiring decisions are made by hiring managers, not algorithms
AI does not make decisions in our recruitment process and our managers are being upskilled to spot AI in applications, particularly when this might have been used in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. If something in an application raises a question or concern, we will test this out with assessments or at the interview stage to confirm authenticity.
Our aim isn’t to catch anyone out but to make sure we’re getting to know the real you, giving every candidate a fair chance and finding the right person for the role.
Using AI in Your Application
When it comes to job applications, what matters most to us is you. We want to see your personality, your experience, and what excites you about joining our team.
We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.
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How to use AI Effectively and Responsibly
Your application is your chance to show us:
Who you are
What you can bring
The values you hold
Why you want to make a difference
AI can help you organise your thoughts or improve clarity but it cannot express your unique voice, experiences, or motivations.
AI is most helpful when used to:
Help you structure the information you are providing to evidence the criteria
Give examples of how to use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Proof-read to highlight grammar or spelling errors
Provide inspiration if you're finding it difficult to find the right words to explain something
But remember: your honesty, lived experience, and motivations are irreplaceable.
Do’s and Don’ts for Using AI in the Recruitment Process
Do:
Use AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement
Ask AI to help tidy up your writing or clarify structure
Use it to brainstorm examples, then rewrite them in your own voice
Reflect on AI suggestions and adapt them to match your experience
Use AI to help with research, but express your understanding yourself
Don’t:
Copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your application
Let AI exaggerate or invent experience you do not have
Rely on generic statements that don’t reflect the specific role requirements
Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice
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