Job Details

Director of Commissioning
Health and Adult Social Care
Interim Opportunity

A UK local authority is seeking an experienced Director of Commissioning to provide strategic leadership across adult social care, health and related community-based services.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for shaping and delivering a modern, evidence-led and person-centred commissioning function. Working across the council, NHS partners, providers, the voluntary and community sector, and residents, you will lead commissioning strategy, market development, service redesign, procurement and contract oversight to improve outcomes, reduce inequality and ensure high-quality, sustainable services.

The role requires a strong system leader who can operate confidently across organisational boundaries and within a complex political and partnership environment. You will lead integrated commissioning activity, strengthen governance and accountability, and ensure commissioning decisions are informed by need, performance, finance, market intelligence and resident voice.

You will also play a key role in shaping services that promote prevention, independence and better community-based support, while ensuring commissioned services are safe, effective, financially sustainable and aligned to statutory responsibilities. This includes oversight of major commissioning programmes, market shaping activity, procurement, quality assurance, safeguarding and contract performance.

We are looking for a senior commissioning leader with significant experience gained within local government, the NHS, integrated care or another comparably complex public service setting. You will bring a strong track record of leading strategic commissioning, transformation and service redesign, alongside experience of managing substantial budgets, leading major procurement or recommissioning activity, and working successfully with senior stakeholders across partnership settings.

The successful candidate will combine strategic judgement with strong commercial and financial acumen, excellent communication skills, and the ability to lead high-performing teams through change. You will be comfortable advising senior leaders and elected members, navigating complexity and maintaining a clear focus on quality, value and outcomes for residents.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading strategic commissioning across adult social care, health-related and community support services
• Developing commissioning strategies, service models and delivery plans aligned to statutory and partnership priorities
• Driving integrated commissioning with health and wider system partners
• Leading market shaping, service redesign and major commissioning programmes
• Overseeing procurement, contract management, governance and decision-making activity
• Ensuring strong financial stewardship, quality assurance, safeguarding and performance oversight
• Leading and developing a high-performing commissioning function

You will bring:

• Significant senior-level commissioning leadership experience
• A strong background in transformation, service redesign and strategic delivery
• Experience of complex partnership working across organisational boundaries
• Strong understanding of commissioning, procurement, market shaping, quality assurance and contract management
• Strong financial and commercial capability
• The credibility to influence at senior level in politically sensitive environments
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished commissioning leader to take on a high-profile role with broad strategic scope and significant impact across health and adult social care.