Strategic Commissioning Manager (Children and Young People) - Fostering and Children's Social Care

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK is seeking a Strategic Commissioning Manager to lead transformative change in health and social care commissioning. This leadership position within the Children and Young People Team involves overseeing the commissioning cycle, focusing on fostering services. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in commissioning and a degree-level education. Key benefits include a fair culture and opportunities for professional development. The role allows for flexible working arrangements, promoting a good work-life balance.

Benefits

Health and well-being initiatives

Flexible working arrangements

Discounted gym memberships

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in commissioning within health or social care.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage complex projects effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic commissioning and contract management activities.
• Translate population needs into integrated service provision.
• Manage and develop a team of Commissioning Officers.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across services.

Skills

Commissioning within health or social care

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Continuous improvement

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Job description

Are you ready to lead transformational change in health and social care commissioning? Buckinghamshire Council is looking for a dynamic and experienced Strategic Commissioning Manager to join the Children and Young People Team within our Adults and Health directorate. This is a key leadership role where you'll help shape and deliver integrated, high-quality services that improve outcomes for our communities. Our new Commissioning and Procurement Hub ensures collaboration with our clients to develop and execute a procurement strategy to achieve their defined success criteria. We bring together experiences and lessons learned to ensure the most effective approach. Our new Commissioning and Procurement Hub supports all stages of the commercial lifecycle, complementing client teams to maximise value. As Strategic Commissioning Manager, you will oversee the commissioning cycle for one of our key portfolios, specifically focusing on Children and Young People with an emphasis on fostering services. Fostering is a key area of development for Buckinghamshire Council, and there is a strong commitment to expanding and strengthening this service to meet the growing needs of children in care. You will work collaboratively with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and other partners to ensure that services are safe, effective, and provide value for money.

Responsibilities

• Leading strategic commissioning and contract management activities.
• Translating population needs into integrated service provision.
• Managing and developing a team of Commissioning Officers.
• Driving innovation and continuous improvement across services.
• Engaging with providers, communities, and stakeholders to shape services.
• Ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and safeguarding standards.
• Supporting business planning, financial oversight, and risk mitigation.
• Deputising for the Strategic Commissioning Lead when required.

This role offers the opportunity to influence long‑term service planning and contribute to shaping the future of commissioning in Buckinghamshire. Any‑Desk: As an 'any‑desk' worker, you'll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in commissioning within health or social care.
• Expert knowledge of the commissioning cycle and relevant legislation.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A track record of delivering innovative, outcome‑focused services.
• The ability to manage complex projects and competing priorities.
• A collaborative mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement.

You’ll be educated to degree level (or equivalent), with a passion for improving lives through high‑quality public services. You’ll also be comfortable working across organisational boundaries and leading multi‑agency initiatives.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are - Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy. By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

Benefits

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well‑being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that's why we're working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation. From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it's important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments. We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like‑minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work‑life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.