Strategic Commissioner - Transport & SEND Innovation Leader

Recruitment Hub; Huntingdon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing package

Flexible bank holidays

Pension contributions via AVCs

Development opportunities

Volunteer hours

Discounts via Our Cambs Rewards

Car Lease scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a confident, collaborative commissioner to shape home-to-school transport services with a strategic and operational remit, focusing on SEND and inclusion. You will manage the full commissioning cycle, work with partners across health and education, and drive service transformation to deliver better outcomes for residents and value for money.

The role reports to the Head of Commissioning and involves engaging senior leaders, delivering efficiencies and

Qualifications

• Detailed understanding of SEND and home-to-school travel landscape.
• Extensive knowledge of SEND legislation and local authority responsibilities.
• Experience leading change and influencing across complex environments.
• Understanding of commissioning, contracts, markets, or service design in the public sector.
• Experience working in partnership environments and across boundaries.
• Commercial and financial awareness, including managing large budgets.
• Ability to think system-wide using data, insight and evidence.
• Excellent communication with senior officers, elected members, providers, and external partners.
• Clear commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Set a clear strategic vision and commissioning priorities for home-to-school transport for children and young people, focusing on SEND.
• Oversee the full commissioning cycle, including needs analysis, service review, market shaping, procurement, contract negotiation, and performance management.
• Collaborate with finance, operations contract management, quality improvement, brokerage and procurement to develop a joined-up approach.
• Lead innovation and service transformation to improve outcomes, manage demand and deliver savings.
• Manage and influence significant budgets, identifying investment opportunities and financial savings.
• Represent the council at senior internal and external forums, NHS partners, providers and regulators.
• Provide expert briefing and challenge to senior leaders on commissioning, market and system-wide issues.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial and financial awareness

Change management

Partnership development

Data-driven decisions

Excellent communication

Job description

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a confident, collaborative commissioner to shape home-to-school transport services with a strategic and operational remit, focusing on SEND and inclusion. You will manage the full commissioning cycle, work with partners across health and education, and drive service transformation to deliver better outcomes for residents and value for money.

The role reports to the Head of Commissioning and involves engaging senior leaders, delivering efficiencies and