Senior Commissioning Manager - Joint Commissioning

Cheshire East Council; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave

Hybrid/remote working where possible

Salary sacrifice schemes

Enhanced pension

Bike to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Cheshire East Council is seeking a Senior Commissioning Manager – Joint Commissioning to lead strategic commissioning across Children’s Social Care and SEND, translating priorities into deliverable plans that improve outcomes for children and families. The role requires strong experience in needs assessment, market engagement, and complex procurement.

The successful candidate will drive joint commissioning strategies, manage provider markets, and ensure governance, value for money, and

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in commissioning, public service or related field.
• Substantial experience of commissioning services for children and young people.
• Demonstrable experience of strategy development, market management, contracting and performance within a complex public-sector environment.
• Extensive understanding of the commissioning cycle.
• Knowledge of SEND Code of Practice, Children Act duties, and procurement regulations.
• Strong safeguarding understanding and quality assurance principles.
• Experience applying needs assessment, outcomes-based commissioning, benefits realisation and options appraisal techniques.

Responsibilities

• Act as the strategic portfolio lead for joint commissioning with accountability for outcomes, quality, sufficiency and spend.
• Develop, deliver and refresh portfolio commissioning and joint commissioning strategies and action plans.
• Lead needs assessment, demand and sufficiency analysis to shape commissioning intentions and business cases.
• Shape and manage provider markets, including market position statements and regional arrangements, engaging with providers.
• Lead complex procurement, contracting and negotiation to ensure value for money and social value.
• Oversee contract management and performance assurance, addressing underperformance and safeguarding concerns.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Joint commissioning

Market management

Procurement governance

Performance management

Education

Degree or equivalent in commissioning/public service

Job description

At Cheshire East we’re making significant, tangible investments in our foundations. This includes strengthening our commissioning function, expanding workforce development and creating clearer, more ambitious pathways. To realise these ambitions, we’re seeking experienced, flexible individuals who want to help us shape the future.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Commissioning Manager – Joint Commissioning, based at Delamere House, Crewe.

About the Role

Provide strategic portfolio leadership for commissioning across the Council and with system partners. Whilst the post has a specific area of focus, post holders will be expected to work flexibly across and understand wider programmes of work to meet business need and priorities as required. This includes Children’s Social Care (CSC) and SEND programmes of work as well as wider council work.

The role will lead the full commissioning cycle for allocated portfolios, translating system priorities and strategies into deliverable plans that secure sufficiency, quality, value for money and improved outcomes for children, young people and families. Joint commissioning arrangements will be delivered in line with statutory council responsibilities and national directives e.g. SEND Cope of Practice.

The successful candidate will:

• Act as the strategic portfolio lead for joint commissioning, with clear accountability for outcomes, quality, sufficiency and spend. Matrix work across CSC and SEND programmes.
• Develop, deliver and periodically refresh portfolio commissioning and joint commissioning strategies and action plans aligned to statutory duties, system priorities and the Council’s commissioning framework.
• Lead needs assessment, demand and sufficiency analysis for the portfolio, using data and intelligence to shape commissioning intentions, market interventions and business cases.
• Shape and manage provider markets, including development of market position statements, frameworks and regional commissioning arrangements, and proactive engagement with independent and VCS providers.
• Lead complex procurement, contracting and negotiation activity within the portfolio, ensuring compliance with public procurement law and achievement of value for money and social value.
• Oversee contract management and performance assurance for commissioned services, working closely with QA colleagues to address underperformance, safeguarding concerns and provider failure.

The successful candidate will bring

• Degree of equivalent experience in commissioning, public service or related field.
• Substantial experience of commissioning services for children and young people.
• Demonstrable experience of strategy development, market management, contracting and performance within a complex public-sector environment.
• Extensive understanding of the commissioning cycle.
• Demonstrable knowledge of SEND Code of Practice, Children Act duties, and procurement regulations.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding expectations and quality assurance principles.
• Application of needs assessment, outcomes-based commissioning benefits realisation and options appraisal techniques.

In return we are able to offer:

• Enhanced annual leave - Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
• Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Flexible working pattern - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme - Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’s no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme - Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
• Enhanced public pension - Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• Cycle to work scheme - Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
• Employee assistance programme - Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
• Discounted gym membership - Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:
  • Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
  • Off-Peak Racket Sports
  • Athletics Tracks
  • Sauna/Steam/Spa

Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you!

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better reflect and serve our local communities, and together, we can build something truly special.