West Northamptonshire Council
Head of Strategic Commissioning - Early Life and Living Well
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Head of Strategic Commissioning
Are you an experienced commissioning leader who can bring partners together, influence change and improve outcomes for residents?
This is an exciting opportunity to lead strategic commissioning across West Northamptonshire, shaping integrated, person-centred services that support people throughout their lives. You will play a key role in ensuring services respond to local needs, provide value for money and help residents live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives.
As our Head of Strategic Commissioning, you will lead the development and delivery of an all-age commissioning approach spanning early years through to older adulthood.
Working across Adult Social Care, Public Health, Education and Supported Housing, you will oversee complex commissioning programmes and help shape high-quality, sustainable services that achieve better outcomes for residents.
You will work closely with colleagues across the council, as well as partners in the NHS, education, housing, voluntary and community sectors and the wider provider market. You will bring people together around shared ambitions, influence system-wide transformation and ensure that residents’ voices are central to how services are designed and delivered.
The role reports to the Corporate Director of Integrated Commissioning and includes responsibility for leading and developing a team of strategic commissioning, market development and quality improvement professionals.
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Responsibilities
You will lead the development and delivery of an All-Age Commissioning Strategy, aligned with our corporate priorities and wider health and wellbeing ambitions. Working across different services and stages of life, you will oversee the full commissioning cycle, from understanding local need and designing services through to procurement, contract management and review.
You will build strong strategic relationships with the NHS, education providers, housing associations, voluntary and community organisations and other partners, while supporting the development of a diverse, resilient and high-quality provider market. You will champion co-production so residents’ experiences and views shape commissioning decisions, and use performance insight to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
You will also manage commissioning budgets, support financial sustainability across the council and provider sector, and lead, support and develop a talented commissioning team.
Requirements
You will be an experienced senior commissioning professional with the vision, credibility and leadership skills to work across complex organisations and partnerships.
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You will have a strong understanding of commissioning principles and the full commissioning cycle, alongside knowledge of relevant legislation and policy across areas such as adult social care, public health, education and housing.
You will be confident working with senior leaders, elected members and external partners, bringing people together to navigate competing priorities and deliver meaningful change.
You Will Also Bring
You will bring experience of leading complex commissioning programmes across multiple service areas, managing significant budgets and delivering efficiencies. You will have strong partnership working, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to use evidence and insight to solve problems and shape better services.
You will also understand provider markets, contract management and outcome-based commissioning, and have experience of leading teams and developing commissioning capability. A commitment to inclusive practice, co-production and improving outcomes for residents is essential, alongside a degree or equivalent qualification, ideally in a relevant discipline, and evidence of continued professional development.
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