Commissioning Strategic Lead – Adult Social Care

Location: Cambridgeshire – Hybrid Working Rate: £345 per day PAYE IR35: Inside IR35 Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: 6 months May become permanent for the right candidate Start: ASAP Interview: Microsoft Teams

We are recruiting an experienced Commissioning Strategic Lead to provide senior leadership across a substantial Adult Social Care commissioning portfolio in Cambridgeshire. This is a high-profile interim opportunity, leading the largest of three commissioning teams and maintaining momentum across several major, complex commissioning and procurement programmes.

The portfolio includes a new Homecare Framework valued at approximately £750m, three Supported Living and Residential Frameworks valued at £771m+, a Day Opportunities Framework worth approximately £60m, and the recommissioning of the Integrated Community Equipment Service.

## The Role

As Commissioning Strategic Lead, you will provide strategic direction across a broad Adult Social Care portfolio, with responsibility for major commissioning programmes, service improvement, market sustainability and positive outcomes for residents.

You will:

Lead the procurement and implementation of major Adult Social Care frameworks and services.

Provide strategic leadership across areas including homecare, supported living, residential care, day opportunities, community equipment, care homes and self-directed support.

Ensure complex commissioning programmes remain on track and deliver against strategic objectives.

Lead and develop a sizeable commissioning team.

Drive service improvement and support the development of a sustainable care market.

Work collaboratively across commissioning, contracts, brokerage and market development.

Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, partners and providers.

Contribute to strategic planning, organisational development and wider service improvement.

Support the Head of Service and deputise when required. ## Leadership Responsibility

You will lead the largest of the service's three commissioning teams, with:

7 Commissioning Managers – direct reports 4 Commissioners – indirect reports The service has recently undergone a restructure focused on strengthening place-based and localised commissioning and co-production. You will therefore need to be comfortable leading within a flexible, project-focused and matrix working environment. ## About You

We are looking for an established senior commissioning professional who can quickly take ownership of a complex portfolio and provide confident leadership from day one. You should be able to demonstrate:

Significant Adult Social Care commissioning experience. Senior-level commissioning and strategic leadership experience. A strong track record of delivering complex, high-value commissioning and procurement programmes. Experience within a public sector setting. Strong programme and project leadership skills. Excellent stakeholder and provider relationship management. Experience leading and developing commissioning teams. The ability to lead teams effectively through organisational change. Strong knowledge of market shaping, service improvement and commissioning strategy. The ability to operate confidently with senior management and deputise at Head of Service level.

The successful candidate will need to quickly build relationships, provide confident leadership and maintain delivery across a demanding portfolio of strategic programmes.

## Contract Details

This is a 6-month interim assignment, working 37 hours per week on a hybrid basis. This opportunity would particularly suit an experienced Strategic Commissioning Lead, Head of Commissioning, Senior Commissioning Manager, Adult Social Care Commissioning Lead or Interim Commissioning Consultant with substantial local authority or wider public sector experience