Senior Commissioning Manager - SEND

Cheshire East Council; Crewe; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire East Council in Crewe is seeking a Senior Commissioning Manager (SEND) to lead strategic commissioning across Children's Services. You will shape portfolios, drive market development, and ensure value for money and improved outcomes for children, young people and families.

The role requires strong experience in commissioning for children, strategy development, procurement, and contract management within the public sector, with a focus on SEND Code of Practice and safeguarding

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic portfolio lead for defined commissioning areas (e.g. SEND) with accountability for outcomes and spend.
• Develop and refresh portfolio commissioning and joint commissioning strategies.
• Lead needs assessment, demand and sufficiency analysis using data and intelligence.
• Shape and manage provider markets, including statements and frameworks.
• Lead complex procurement, contracting and negotiation within the portfolio.
• Oversee contract management and performance assurance, addressing underperformance and safeguarding concerns.

Skills

Strategic portfolio leadership

Needs assessment & market analysis

Contracting & procurement

Performance management

Public sector experience

Education

Degree or equivalent experience in commissioning

Job description

Cheshire East Council

Senior Commissioning Manager - SEND

£54,994 - £62,777 per annum

Crewe

At Cheshire East, we're on an exciting improvement journey across children's services, and commissioning is at the heart of delivering better outcomes for children, young people and families.

We're creating a new, dedicated children's commissioning and placements service designed specifically to meet the needs of children and young people across Cheshire East. This is a unique opportunity to join a newly established, forward-thinking and ambitious team and help shape the future of children's commissioning from the ground up.

Whether your experience comes from local government, the NHS or another commissioning environment, you'll be joining a team that values collaboration, innovation and fresh thinking, with a shared commitment to improving lives.

About the Role

Provide strategic portfolio leadership for commissioning across SEND. Whilst the post has a specific area of focus, post holders will be expected to work flexibly across all portfolios to meet business need and priorities as required. This includes Children's Social Care (CSC) and joint commissioning programmes of 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.

The successful candidate will:

• Act as the strategic portfolio lead for defined commissioning areas (e.g. SEND), with clear accountability for outcomes, quality, sufficiency and spend. Matrix work across CSC and joint commissioning 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.