Strategic Commissioning Manager (Older People Team)

Overview

Are you passionate about shaping and improving outcomes in Home Care and wider community services?

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking a forward-thinking Strategic Commissioning Manager with extensive experience to lead and transform key elements of our Older People commissioning portfolio, particularly our homecare commissioning portfolio.

Our work is rooted in the values of dignity, independence and community wellbeing. This role plays a pivotal part in ensuring that Home Care services across Buckinghamshire are high quality, sustainable, person‑centred and deliver strong value for money.

You will join our integrated Commissioning and Procurement Hub, which brings together strategic and operational commissioners with colleagues in Quality Assurance, Brokerage and Procurement. This structure supports high‑quality commissioning, innovation and a joined‑up approach across the full commissioning cycle. The Hub also offers excellent opportunities for professional development across a range of strategic commissioning and procurement functions.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

The Community Care portfolio covers a broad range of commissioned services and strategic responsibilities, focusing on the following key service areas:

• Home Care
• Hospital Discharge Pathways and intermediate care, including the Home from Hospital contract
• Day Services

About the role

Key areas of the role:

1. Home Care Strategic Leadership

You will provide end‑to‑end strategic oversight of Home Care services, including commissioning, market development, performance, quality, and provider engagement.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading the development, performance management and strategic shaping of the Home Care Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV) to ensure it remains flexible, compliant, competitive and high performing.
• Supporting the development and implementation of frameworks and revised contracts for spot-purchasing homecare in line with the latest procurement regulations, and in collaboration with similar work for other care markets.
• Ensuring the DPV and related arrangements evolve in line with national policy, local demand, workforce trends, provider sustainability and best practice.
• Strengthening market resilience and working proactively with providers to improve quality, capacity, stability and innovation.

2. Home Care Projects & Service Redesign

You will play a leading role in the development and delivery of key Home Care transformation projects, including:

• Designing and implementing new Home Care pathways, service models and market interventions.
• Leading improvement programmes linked to strategic partnerships, winter pressures, hospital flow, and wider health pathways.
• Using data, insight and provider intelligence to anticipate challenges, support decision-making and shape future service models.

3. Strategic System Leadership

Building on the system-facing responsibilities in the current role description, you will:

• Work collaboratively across NHS partners, voluntary sector organisations, and internal stakeholders to align Home Care commissioning with hospital discharge pathways and community care strategies.
• Lead needs assessments, business planning and long‑term strategic commissioning activities.

Please note, there is no line management responsibility within this role, but the post holder will provide indirect support to Commissioning Officers and Commissioning Support Officers.

Any-Desk:
As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

You will be a confident and strategic leader with:

• Substantial experience in commissioning Home Care or other community‑based services.
• Strong understanding of dynamic purchasing systems, frameworks or large‑scale procurement models (e.g. DPV/DPS).
• Expert knowledge of the commissioning cycle, relevant legislation, and adult social care frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead system-wide projects, manage complex multiple stakeholder relationships and translate strategic objectives into deliverable programmes.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to use data and insight to drive improvement.
• A commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable individuals.
• A degree-level education (or equivalent) and relevant professional qualifications.

Please refer to the job summary attached for full details about the role.

Other information

Ready to shape the future of care for older adults in Buckinghamshire? Apply today and join a team committed to making a difference.

For more information, contact: Ceri Winter, Strategic Commissioning Lead at [email protected]

You should be able to travel throughout the county as required.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/