Our client based in Cambridgeshire is seeking an experienced Commissioning Strategic Lead to provide strategic leadership across a significant Adult Social Care commissioning portfolio. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly accomplished commissioning professional to lead the delivery of several large-scale and complex strategic programmes whilst supporting the ongoing transformation, sustainability, and development of Adult Social Care services.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in maintaining momentum across a broad range of commissioning priorities, including homecare, supported living, residential services, day opportunities, community equipment services, care homes, and self-directed support. Working within a fast-paced and evolving environment, you will provide strong leadership to commissioning teams, oversee major procurement and recommissioning activity, and contribute to strategic planning and organisational development as a key member of the Adult Social Care Commissioning Management Team.
You will work closely with senior leaders, health partners, providers, stakeholders, and commissioning colleagues to ensure services deliver high-quality outcomes, support market sustainability, and meet the changing needs of local communities.
What will your responsibilities be?
- Providing strategic leadership across a complex Adult Social Care commissioning portfolio, ensuring the successful delivery of key commissioning priorities and transformation programmes.
- Leading the procurement and implementation of major commissioning programmes, including homecare, supported living, residential care, day opportunities, and community equipment services.
- Managing a large commissioning team, including Commissioning Managers and Commissioners, providing leadership, support, supervision, and professional development.
- Driving service improvement, market sustainability, innovation, and positive outcomes for adults, carers, and communities.
- Leading complex commissioning and procurement projects from planning and design through to implementation and evaluation.
- Developing and maintaining effective relationships with providers, health partners, local stakeholders, and community organisations.
- Supporting co-production approaches and ensuring the voices of people who use services and carers are considered throughout commissioning activities.
- Working closely with Contracts, Brokerage, Market Development, and operational teams to deliver integrated commissioning solutions.
- Providing strategic advice and support to senior leaders and contributing to service planning, organisational development, and transformation initiatives.
- Deputising for the Head of Service where required and representing Adult Social Care Commissioning at senior-level meetings and forums.
- Managing programme risks, dependencies, resources, performance measures, and governance arrangements across a range of complex projects.
- Ensuring commissioning activities deliver value for money, improve outcomes, and contribute to sustainable service delivery.
- Monitoring market performance and identifying opportunities to develop innovative, responsive, and high-quality care and support services.
- Leading teams through change and supporting the implementation of new ways of working within a matrix and project-based environment.
Qualifications and Experience:
To be successful in this role you must have;
- Relevant qualification in Commissioning, Project Management, Public Sector Leadership, Health & Social Care, Business Management, or a related field.
- Significant experience leading Adult Social Care commissioning functions within a local authority, health, or public sector environment.
- Proven track record of delivering large-scale commissioning, procurement, transformation, and service redesign programmes.
- Experience leading and managing teams through organisational change and service transformation.
- Strong knowledge of Adult Social Care commissioning, market shaping, procurement processes, and service development.
- Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships across health, social care, provider markets, and partner organisations.
- Excellent programme and project management skills, including governance, risk management, financial oversight, and benefits realisation.
- Experience supporting market sustainability, provider engagement, and the development of innovative care and support services.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, analytical, and influencing skills.
- Ability to work strategically whilst maintaining oversight of operational delivery within a fast-paced environment.
Why Liquid Personnel?
- Free DBS and compliance service
- Twice weekly payroll and ‘Faster Pay’ service, getting you paid more quickly
- Access to exclusive roles that aren’t available from other agencies
- Free access to Liquid’s exclusive social work training and CPD portal
- Your own dedicated consultant with extensive social work knowledge
- Access to a wide selection of social work positions across the UK
- “Refer a Friend” bonus – get £500 for each social worker you refer who we successfully place*
- “Find your own job” bonus – get £250 for bringing your own position to us *
Liquid Personnel is an equal opportunities employer. Liquid Personnel Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. * Terms and conditions apply to our bonus schemes.
Reasonable Adjustments:
If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity by contacting our team. With this information, we will provide appropriate support to you throughout the process and into your work placement.
We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.
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