Senior Commissioning Manager

Medirest Signature; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a Senior Commissioning Manager to lead strategic commissioning and manage adult social care contracts. The role offers hybrid working options, with a focus on innovation and collaboration to shape high-quality services in the community. Candidates with public sector leadership experience and a strong commissioning background are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Up to 29 days annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme membership

Health and wellbeing benefits

Career development opportunities

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Proven commissioning experience, ideally in local authority.
• Strong understanding of the commissioning cycle.
• Visible leadership skills in managing service areas.

Responsibilities

• Plan major commissioning projects and lead service delivery.
• Chair multi-disciplinary meetings for complex issues.
• Manage Adult Social Care contracts effectively.

Skills

Leadership

Commissioning

Stakeholder Engagement

Contract Management

Financial Management

Job description

• Suffolk County Council - Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX - Hybrid option with a minimum 3 days per week in the office
• £70,086 - £75,538 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
• Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, we're reimagining what local government can achieve. We're a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation, collaboration, and making a real difference in our communities. When you join us as a Senior Commissioning Manager, you'll be part of a team that empowers its people to explore new ideas, shape the care market in Suffolk and ensure high quality services.

Ready to reimagine your career and the impact you can make?

Your role and responsibilities

There is no typical day as our Senior Manager. For example, in just one day, you could be engaged in planning a major commissioning project, work with other senior leaders to develop a more joined up approach to service delivery and finally chair a multi-disciplinary meeting to resolve a complex contractual issue. What you do matters and makes a difference.

We need you and your leadership skills to lead a team of talented experts to deliver the following key activities;

• A clear approach to strategic commissioning activity
• Leading change in a complex organisational environment
• Effective contract management of all Adult Social Care contracts
• Ensuring effective co-production of services and people with lived experience and their carers are consulted
• Management and leadership of required savings plan/ transformation programmes

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

You will support the Assistant Director to lead a large team of motivated people (around 80) that ensure over 500 care providers are delivering high quality services covering a diverse range such as home care, supported housing, day services, care homes etc.

We have an ambitious vision for the future and need our services to change and innovate. You will be at the forefront of shaping our care market, engaging with other public sector leaders to find ways to improve our preventative approach and connect people into their community reducing the need for long term care and support.

Our services matter to people and you will be at the heart of making sure that we get it right and outcomes for people are improved.

The team has embraced hybrid working and as a Senior leader you should plan to be in the office 3 days a week. To promote team interaction our office days are usually Mondays and Wednesdays.

What we're looking for

We're seeking an experienced leader who can bring the following:

• Proven commissioning experience, ideally within a local authority setting. We will also consider candidates from health or commercial sectors with transferable skills.
• A strong understanding of the commissioning cycle and the ability to lead complex projects from inception to delivery.
• Visible leadership skills, with the ability to manage a service area, support a team, and deputise for the Assistant Director when required.
• Ability to deliver financial efficiencies through commissioning, including managing budgets and achieving value for money in challenging contexts.
• The ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, including service users, providers, and public sector partners.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report (suffolk.gov.uk) .

For more information

Please contact Clare Smith (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by emailing [e-mail] .

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (docx).

Step 2 - Click Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload asupporting statementanswering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template .

1. Tell us about a challenging commissioning scenario you faced (e.g., provider failure, budget cuts, unexpected demand). How did you navigate it, and what did you learn?
2. Tell us about your approach to being a visible leader across a service area. How do you ensure effective communication and accountability?
3. Describe your experience with managing large-scale budgets, including budget setting, forecasting, and monitoring. What are your key considerations in ensuring financial sustainability?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing [e-mail] or calling 03456 014412.If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 22 June 2025

Interview date: 4 July 2025

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .