Strategic Transport Commissioner for SEND & Youth

Cambridge County Council; Huntingdon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing package

Additional annual leave (4 weeks)

Flexible bank holidays

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AV

Development opportunities and coaching

Paid volunteering hours

IDEAL diversity network

Employee Recognition Awards

Our Cambs Rewards discounts

Car Lease

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a confident, collaborative, and strategic commissioner to shape sustainable transport systems for children and vulnerable residents. You will lead strategic commissioning for home-to-school travel, manage complex budgets, and drive cross‑sector partnerships with NHS, providers and community partners.

You will champion continuous improvement, oversee the full commissioning cycle, and steer innovation to deliver better outcomes while achieving value and

Qualifications

• Understanding of the wider SEND and home-to-school travel landscape and delivering change.
• Extensive knowledge of SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice and local authority duties.
• Experience leading change, able to influence and lead through complexity.
• Understanding of commissioning, contracts, markets, or service design in public sector.
• Experience working in partnerships across organisations.
• Commercial and financial awareness, including budget management and delivering efficiencies.
• Ability to think system-wide using data and evidence to inform decisions.
• Excellent communication skills engaging senior officers and partners.
• 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 robust SEND travel support.
• Oversee the full commissioning cycle, including needs analysis, service review, market shaping, procurement, contract negotiation, and performance management.
• Work with finance, operations contract management, quality improvement, brokerage and procurement to ensure a joined-up approach.
• Lead innovation and service transformation to improve outcomes, manage demand and deliver savings.
• Manage and influence significant budgets, identify investment opportunities and financial savings.
• Represent the council at senior internal and external forums, NHS partners, providers, regulators.
• Provide expert advice, briefing and challenge to senior leaders on commissioning and system-wide issues.

Skills

SEND legislation

Leading change

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic commissioning

Job description

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a confident, collaborative, and strategic commissioner to shape sustainable transport systems for children and vulnerable residents. You will lead strategic commissioning for home-to-school travel, manage complex budgets, and drive cross‑sector partnerships with NHS, providers and community partners.

You will champion continuous improvement, oversee the full commissioning cycle, and steer innovation to deliver better outcomes while achieving value and