Strategic SEND & School Travel Commissioner

Cambridgeshire County Council; Huntingdonshire; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing package

Additional annual leave (salary sacrif

Flexible bank holidays

Pension contributions

Professional development

Paid volunteering hours

Peer support groups

Employee recognition

Our Cambs Rewards discounts

Job summary

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a confident, strategic commissioner to shape home-to-school transport for children and young people. You will lead on SEND travel arrangements, drive service improvements and work with partners across health, schools and providers.

Reporting to the Head of Commissioning, you will oversee the full commissioning cycle, manage large budgets, influence market development and deliver savings while ensuring inclusion and safeguarding.

Qualifications

• Detailed understanding of SEND legislation and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Proven track record delivering change in commissioning, contracts, markets or service design.
• Experience leading cross‑organisational partnerships and complex stakeholder environments.
• Commercial and financial awareness including managing large budgets and delivering efficiencies.

Responsibilities

• Set a clear strategic vision and commissioning priorities for home-to-school transport, focusing on SEND travel arrangements.
• Oversee the full commissioning cycle: needs analysis, market shaping, procurement, contract negotiation and performance management.
• Collaborate with finance, operations contract management, quality improvement, brokerage and procurement to align delivery.
• Lead service transformation, test new delivery models, manage demand and deliver financial savings.
• Represent the council at senior forums, governance boards and with NHS partners; advise senior leaders on commissioning and system-wide issues.

Skills

SEND knowledge

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial & financial acumen

Change management

System thinking

Communication skills

Contract & procurement

Equality, diversity & inclusion

Job description

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a confident, strategic commissioner to shape home-to-school transport for children and young people. You will lead on SEND travel arrangements, drive service improvements and work with partners across health, schools and providers.

Reporting to the Head of Commissioning, you will oversee the full commissioning cycle, manage large budgets, influence market development and deliver savings while ensuring inclusion and safeguarding.