Commissioning Lead

SDSA; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Hybrid working

Secondment arrangements may differ

Job summary

SDSA Leicester hosts the RCC role to lead the East Midlands Regional Care Cooperative’s commissioning and sufficiency work. The postholder will shape regional strategy, influence provider markets and coordinate data-driven decisions to improve outcomes for children and families across the region.

The role combines strategic commissioning, market engagement and partnership leadership, with hybrid working and regular East Midlands travel. Fixed-term up to 31 March 2028, subject to funding.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Regional Sufficiency Strategy, turning data into clear priorities and advocating outcomes-focused commissioning.
• Build open relationships with fostering, residential and specialist providers, using market intelligence to identify risks and opportunities.
• Develop joint commissioning approaches across ten East Midlands authorities, ensuring compliance and value with procurement, legal, and finance teams.
• Foster trusted partnerships with local authority leads to involve children, families and practitioners in commissioning activity.

Job description

Job Role: Commissioning Lead, East Midlands Regional Care Cooperative (RCC)

Salary & Benefits: £75,000–£85,000 a year, 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, generous pension scheme, hybrid working arrangements. Secondment arrangements may differ.

Contract type: Fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity until 31st March 2028, with continuation subject to funding and approval. Any secondment arrangement will be subject to agreement with the successful candidate's current employer.

Basis: Full time (37.5 hours)

Employment location: The role will be based in Leicester, with hybrid working and regular travel across the East Midlands.

Job category: Leadership, children's social care and commissioning, sufficiency, market shaping and improvement, programme management.

Host organisation: RCC roles will be hosted by SDSA Leicester on behalf of the East Midlands local authorities.

Help shape the future of children’s care, regional sufficiency and collaborative commissioningacross the East Midlands. The East Midlands is creating one of the country’s new Regional CareCo-operatives (RCCs) – a major public sector reform programme covering all ten upper-tier localauthorities, bringing together regional commissioning, sufficiency planning, fostering development,market engagement, data and improvement activity through a powerful new collaborative model.

Role Overview

The RCC Commissioning Lead will lead the development and delivery of the East Midlands RegionalCare Cooperative’s commissioning and sufficiency activity.

Sitting at the heart of the RCC’s ambition to reshape regional sufficiency, the postholder willhelp reduce reliance on high-cost, unstable and distant placements by supporting local authoritiesto understand demand, influence provider markets and commission more effectively together. Therole combines strategic commissioning, market understanding, data and intelligence, providerengagement and partnership leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Regional sufficiency and strategy: Lead the Regional Sufficiency Strategy, turn data and intelligence into clear priorities, and promote needs-led, outcomes-focused and ethical commissioning.
• Market shaping and provider engagement: Build open, constructive relationships with fostering, residential and specialist providers, and use market intelligence to identify risks, gaps and opportunities.
• Collaborative commissioning and procurement: Develop joint commissioning approaches across the ten East Midlands local authorities, and work with procurement, legal, finance and contract colleagues to ensure compliance and value.
• Partnerships, delivery and improvement: Build trusted relationships with local authority commissioning and sufficiency leads, and ensure children, young people, families, carers and practitioners help shape commissioning activity.

Successful applicants contacted: By Friday 2nd October 2026

Interviews held: Week commencing 5th October 2026, at the SDSA Office in Leicester City Centre

All applications will be acknowledged via email within 48 hours of receipt. If you have not receivedconfirmation within this time, please call 0116 299 5942.