Senior Commissioning Manager

This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.
 

• Job Title:                           Senior Commissioning Manager
• Job Location:                     Shire Hall, Block 4, 2nd Floor 
• Salary:                              £53,937 - £57,844 per annum 
• Hours per Week:                37.00 
• Contract Type:                   Fixed Term 
• Duration:                          3 Years
• Closing Date:                    11/05/2026 
• Job Requisition Number:    14099 
• This post is not open to job share

Senior Commissioning Manager – Best Start in Life

About the Team & Role

Are you passionate about tackling inequality and improving outcomes for children, young people, and families? In Gloucestershire, we are ambitious for our children and believe that strong relationships, evidence‑based practice, and system leadership are key to giving every child the best possible start in life.

We are seeking a Senior Commissioning Manager – Best Start in Life to provide strategic leadership for a high‑profile, grant‑funded programme focused on pregnancy, the early years, parenting support, SEN and family support. The Best Start in Life offer brings together a range of preventative, evidence‑based services aligned to national Department for Education priorities, aimed at improving school readiness and reducing inequalities.

This is a fixed‑term opportunity (3 years, subject to grant funding) to lead commissioning and transformation across a complex system. You will work closely with Early Years, Children’s Commissioning, wider Children’s Services, Public Health, Education, Adult Services, and the voluntary and community sector, shaping high‑quality, place‑based services that improve life chances for children and families across Gloucestershire.

About You

You will be an experienced commissioning leader with a strong track record of delivering complex, outcomes‑focused programmes, ideally within children’s services, early years, public health, or family support. You will bring experience of managing significant budgets and grant funding, with a clear understanding of governance, value for money and assurance.

You will be confident operating at a senior, system‑wide level, with excellent influencing and relationship‑building skills. A commitment to early intervention, prevention and reducing inequalities is essential, as is the ability to lead confidently in a fast‑paced and political environment. You will also have experience of leading and developing teams, promoting collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

About Us

Gloucestershire County Council is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families through strong partnerships, innovation, and community‑based delivery. We work closely with system partners to support services spanning Early Years, Family Hubs, Youth Hubs, Best Start in Life, Holiday Activities, Crisis and Resilience funding, Short Breaks and Young Carers.

In return for your contribution, we offer:

• Flexible and agile working arrangements
• A supportive and collaborative organisational culture
• Opportunities for professional development and leadership at scale
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Annual leave entitlement of 24.5 days rising to 29.5 days after 5 years’ service
• Employee Assistance Programme, staff discounts, Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes

How to Apply

If you are passionate about making a difference and have the skills and experience to lead this important agenda, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please submit your application and supporting statement via the Apply Now button.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Wendy Gray, Head of Service – Strategic Commissioning
Wendy.Gray2@gloucestershire.gov.uk

or

Sarah Hylton, Head of Early Years
Sarah.Hylton@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Interview date: Provisionally scheduled for week commencing 18 May 2026

Additional Information

To access the Job Profile for this role, please follow the link below:-

Senior Commissioning Manager - Job Profile

This Position is subject to a DBS check.

Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire’s diverse communities.  Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a ‘customer facing role’ must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.

Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.