Senior Commissioning Manager

Job Introduction

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The starting salary for this role is £68,774 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

This is a 6-9 month secondment opportunity.

We are excited to be offering three secondment opportunities into a Senior Commissioning Manager role, roles which will have a lead responsibility for driving forward the discovery and design work needed on AHWP LGR workstreams with a particular focus on the contracts and commissioning workstream and how it interfaces with other departmental and corporate cross cutting workstreams. 

You will work in one of our offices but with agreement may also choose to work at home for part of their working week, offering a good balance for your personal and professional life.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days’ holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Role 

The posts sit within the AWHP Commissioning Team and will work closely with the Director of Integrated Commissioning and Heads of Commissioning with a focus on the discovering and design work needed around preparation for Local Government Reform.

The work involved will require a well-developed understanding of strategic commissioning principles, commissioning and contract technicalities as they relate to the full range of funding arrangements the department has with external organisations from high value countywide contracts, grant agreements, Memorandums of understand and Service Level Agreements as well as the wider strategies that guide and inform the direction of these arrangements.

This role will require you to have a broad range of relationship management, programme and project management skills, along with good political acumen. These capabilities are essential to create a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of existing arrangements, and to develop options and recommendations that support a ‘Safe and Legal’ handover process for the formation of new Unitary authorities.

About the Team

The AWHP Commissioning Team is a large and diverse team with a broad range of responsibilities across a large and complex strategic commissioning, transformation and improvement programme comprising of several Heads of Commissioning with portfolio leads across disabilities and direct payments, mental health and carers, older people and technology enabled care as well as brokerage and contract management. 

Our work programmes are evidence based, innovative, and follow best practice. We are committed to ensuring individuals’ insight and ambition shapes our plans through co-production as well as engagement. We are a dynamic team, committed to continuous improvement through working in partnership across the sector, with colleagues across the council, the NHS and the community/voluntary sector and these roles which will be focused on the work AWHP and commissioning in particular need to do around Local Government reform will need to be able to work in an agile, flexible and responsive way to bring together a wide range of complex and interrelated information across the department and the council as a whole to inform the next steps in the process towards a safe and legal handover to the new unitary authorities once they are established.

Shortlisting Criteria

The full set are outlined in the job description, but four essential shortlisting criteria are:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent, ideally with a relevant social work or other associated healthcare qualification, or a relevant commissioning qualification.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with high level negotiation and influencing skills, plus the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and a range of external partners.
• Detailed knowledge of social care processes and responsibilities and ability to work flexibly and at pace to bring together a broad range of complex and interrelated information to inform recommendations and next steps as they relate to Local Government Reform.
• Substantial professional commissioning, contracting and management experience supporting high quality delivery of services, working in the context of public service delivery in the statutory or voluntary sector.

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact one of Jon Lillistone, Dan Stoneman or Paul Morgan by email or on MS Teams.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 20th July 2025 with interviews to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas. 

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils. 

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!  

Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Values 
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values. 

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment 

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where: 

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application 
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form 

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.