Commissioning Service Manager

Full time | Civic Recruitment Limited | United Kingdom

Posted On 30/04/2026

Job Information

Interim & Executive Management

City Milton Keynes

Province Buckinghamshire

Postal Code MK1

Job Description

3 Month Contract With A local Authority

Job Purpose

To lead the strategic development and delivery of commissioning across adult, children’s and housing services, ensuring integrated, outcome-focused services that meet local needs. The role is responsible for driving partnership working, market development, and service transformation across health, social care and wellbeing systems, while ensuring effective use of resources and high-quality service provision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of commissioning strategies across multiple service areas.
• Drive integration and partnership working across health, social care, housing, and wider wellbeing services.
• Oversee commissioning activity, ensuring robust needs analysis, outcome-based specifications, and effective contract monitoring.
• Lead market development, encouraging a diverse and sustainable provider base, including voluntary and user-led organisations.
• Provide expert advice, reports, and briefings to senior leaders, elected members, and partner organisations.
• Support and deputise for the Head of Commissioning, ensuring delivery of local and national priorities and targets.
• Engage service users, partners, and the public in service design and decision-making.
• Lead and contribute to performance improvement initiatives and transformation programmes.
• Manage commissioning budgets, ensuring financial targets are met and risks are identified and addressed.
• Lead, manage, and develop staff, ensuring high performance, effective supervision, and resolution of complex HR matters.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across local authorities, NHS, voluntary, and independent sectors.
• Provide specialist policy and strategic advice to senior boards across the council and wider health and care system.

Requirements

• Degree in commissioning or a related field (or equivalent experience), with a recognised management qualification or equivalent.
• Significant experience in strategic planning, commissioning, and service delivery with a proven track record of achievement.
• Specialist knowledge of commissioning, project management, and health and social care systems, supported by relevant training or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of legislative frameworks and statutory requirements in health and social care.
• Demonstrated experience of managing complex projects and programmes in challenging environments.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and develop actionable plans.
• Strong influencing, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills at a strategic level.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex and sensitive information to varied audiences.
• Evidence of building effective partnerships and collaborative working across organisations.

Additional Information

• Hours: 37
• Location: Milton Keynes (with requirement to work across multiple locations and partnerships)

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