About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced system leader with a passion for transforming health and care services? Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dynamic and influential leader to drive the commissioning, development and delivery of integrated pathways across all-age mental health, learning disabilities and children's services.
Working across a complex partnership landscape, you will lead large-scale transformation programmes that improve population health outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver high-quality, person-centred care. A key priority will be advancing integrated neighbourhood health models, promoting proactive, preventative and community-based approaches that meet the needs of our most vulnerable communities.
You will build strong partnerships across NHS organisations, local authorities, primary care, voluntary and community sector organisations, ensuring seamless care pathways and reducing fragmentation across services. As a senior system leader, you will champion innovation, collaborative commissioning and service redesign, supporting the delivery of Trust and Integrated Care Board priorities.
Main duties of the job
Leading multidisciplinary teams, you will oversee governance, performance, stakeholder engagement and resource management while promoting co-production, inclusion, prevention and early intervention. Using your expertise across the full commissioning cycle, from needs assessment and pathway redesign to procurement, contract management and evaluation, you will drive continuous improvement and sustainable service delivery.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of health and care across Bradford, making a lasting difference to local communities through collaboration, innovation and shared accountability.
Closing date: 27th September 2026
Shortlisting: 28th September 2026
Interviews: 5th October 2026 TBC
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 4500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person Specification
Knowledge Essential
Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and commissioning services within agreed timeframes. Significant knowledge and experience of health and/or care commissioning and contracting functions, and the challenges involved in delivering high-quality public services.
Desirable
Understanding of the Mental Health Act, the Mental Capacity Act, Community Treatment Orders, Mental Health Assessments, the Care Act, the Health and Social Care Act, the Transforming Care Programme, and the Children's Act.
Qualifications Essential
Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in a commissioning environment.
Experience Essential
Experience of partnership working with a wide range of stakeholders including: developing positive relationships; putting in place agreed performance, budget, governance and risk management processes; managing processes for evaluation, tracking benefits and outcomes. Experience of managing financial resource, being involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes. Proven experience in a commissioning or pathway design role within the NHS, public sector, or complex multi-agency environment. Experience of working with a wide range of partners including ICB, local authority and VCSE at a senior level.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address New Mill
Victoria Road
Saltaire
BD18 3LD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/ (Opens in a new tab)