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.

This role has a starting salary of £53,713 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a Commissioning Manager to join our fantastic Older Peoples Commissioning team, specifically in the Residential and Nursing Team, based in Woking.

This is a secondment opportunity until 31.03.2027 to cover maternity leave. Please seek your Line Manager's approval before submitting your application.

Our Offer to You

26 days’ holiday, 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
A generous local government salary related pension
Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Team

The Residential & Nursing team works collaboratively with internal colleagues and the care home market to support residents, manage risk, and ensure continuity of care. The team are supportive, highly connected, and work as a cohesive function, while also being part of a wider Older People’s Commissioning Service that spans a broad range of services – creating strong opportunities for shared learning, development, and system-wide impact.

As a team we:

Ensure safe and legally compliant continuity of residential and nursing care; managing risk and maintaining statutory duties
Support and contribute to high‑level strategic commissioning negotiations across residential and nursing care, shaping sustainable market solutions and long‑term capacity
Provide extensive hands‑on experience in day‑to‑day contract management, including performance oversight, provider engagement, and issue resolution

On a typical day, you will:

Work closely, both independently and with the Senior Commissioning Manager, to keep residential and nursing care services running safely and lawfully as Surrey moves through local government reorganisation
Work with care home providers, updating and maintaining contracts, and checking that capacity, fees, and placement arrangements continue to meet residents’ needs
Manage and monitor contracts across a wide range of providers, including those on the council’s purchasing system, support providers to join and stay compliant, and keep key information such as dashboards, trackers, and guidance up to date
Regularly use data on demand, placements, and quality indicators to spot emerging issues, support decision‑making, and respond to questions from colleagues

The role also involves regular contact with internal teams, leading provider forums or drop‑in sessions, and helping prepare guidance, communications, and documentation so that everyone is clear about processes during and after reorganisation.

Throughout the day, you will help solve practical challenges such as capacity pressures, contract changes, or placement queries, always with a focus on supporting residents and enabling colleagues to do their jobs well.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

Experience of commissioning and contract management within adult social care or a comparable public service environment, including working with external providers to maintain service quality and continuity
Strong ability to analyse information and use data to support decisions, identify risks or trends, and help shape practical solutions to service or capacity challenges
Experience of working collaboratively across organisations or teams, with clear evidence of effective communication, negotiation and relationship‑building with a range of stakeholders
Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams or projects, planning activity over the medium term and adapting priorities as needed
A problem‑solving approach with sound judgement, demonstrating how you have supported change, improvement, or service transitions within a complex setting

An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 17th May 2026 with interviews planned for 15th and 16th June 2026.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey Handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

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 Katie Newton by email at katie.newton@surreycc.gov.uk.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

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 Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

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