Strategic Lead, Health, Education & SEND Transformation

Dorset Council UK; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset Council seeks an exceptional strategic leader to join the All-Age Commissioning Service as Principal Lead Commissioning - Health, Education and SEND. You will steer a broad portfolio, drive SEND reform, coordinate education planning and balance budgets while partnering with schools, NHS Dorset and local authorities to secure sustainable, inclusive outcomes for children and young people.

You will influence policy, shape markets, and deliver system-wide improvements across health, education

Qualifications

• Significant expertise in children’s services commissioning and SEND/education commissioning.
• Proven track record of large-scale transformation and service improvement.
• Experience leading across complex partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong commissioning, market development and sufficiency planning expertise.
• Commercial and financial acumen, including management of substantial budgets.
• Experience translating national policy into local improvement and co-production.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across SEND Reform, Health and Education commissioning.
• Drive market development, sufficiency planning and integrated commissioning.
• Lead cross-agency collaboration with schools, NHS and local partners.
• Shape policy implementation, place planning and resources for SEND pathways.
• Represent Dorset across regional networks and influence system-wide strategy.

Skills

Children's services commissioning

SEND and education commissioning

Commissioning market development

Commercial and financial acumen

Policy translation to local impact

Inclusion and co-production

Education

Postgraduate study or professional qualifications

Job description

Dorset Council seeks an exceptional strategic leader to join the All-Age Commissioning Service as Principal Lead Commissioning - Health, Education and SEND. You will steer a broad portfolio, drive SEND reform, coordinate education planning and balance budgets while partnering with schools, NHS Dorset and local authorities to secure sustainable, inclusive outcomes for children and young people.

You will influence policy, shape markets, and deliver system-wide improvements across health, education