Operations, Finance and Contracts Manager (Music Service & Music Hub) | 11089 |

Permanent Contract | 37 hours per week | £50,166 to £54,277 per annum | Grade L | Countywide, Norfolk

Norfolk County Council is the lead organisation for the Norfolk & Suffolk Music Hub, a dynamic partnership of education, cultural and community organisations working together to ensure every child and young person has access to high-quality music education.

The Music Service delivers a wide range of traded and grant-funded services, including instrumental and vocal tuition, ensembles, performances, professional development and instrument services. Alongside this, the Music Hub coordinates a broad programme of funded activity across Norfolk and Suffolk, supported by the Department for Education and administered by Arts Council England.

We are now seeking an experienced and commercially astute Operations, Finance and Contracts Manager to join our senior leadership team and play a pivotal role in supporting the continued growth, sustainability and success of both the Music Service and Music Hub.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape a nationally significant music education partnership. You'll provide leadership across financial management, procurement, commissioning, contract management, governance and operational delivery, ensuring that public funding is managed effectively, commissioned services deliver impact, and children and young people continue to benefit from outstanding music education opportunities. This is a new role and pivotal to the service.

The Role

• Managing budgets, financial planning, forecasting and reporting across Music Service and Music Hub activity.
• Providing commercial and financial advice to support strategic decision-making and service sustainability.
• Leading procurement, commissioning and contract management, ensuring compliance and value for money.
• Overseeing quality assurance, provider performance and risk management.
• Ensuring strong governance, accountability and compliance for grant-funded and traded activity, including reporting to funders.
• Managing operational support functions such as business support and instrument services.
• Building effective relationships with schools, partners, internal teams and national stakeholders.
• Supporting wider traded service development across Children’s Services.

About you

• Significant experience of financial management, budget planning and monitoring within a complex organisation.
• Experience of procurement, commissioning and contract management, including working within regulated governance frameworks.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to provide financial insight to influence strategic decisions.
• Experience of monitoring performance, managing risk and holding providers to account for service delivery.
• Knowledge of governance, compliance, audit and accountability requirements within public sector or grant-funded environments.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and present complex financial and performance information.
• Experience of leading teams and managing operational services.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills, with the confidence to work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality services for children and young people.