Warning
This job advert has expired and applications have closed.
SEND, AP and Pupil Commissioning Manager
| Posting date: | 25 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £47,532 to £55,620 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 July 2025 |
| Location: | Sutton, London |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | London Borough of Sutton |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 3587 |
Summary
There are two positions available for this role: permanent and fixed-term for two years. Both roles will work to the Head of Pupil Based Commissioning to lead on the Council’s SEND place planning and commissioning responsibilities in relation to education access and sufficiency across the Borough across Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Post 16 provision.
The post holder has no direct line management responsibility but will will be expected to ‘matrix manage’ across other areas including the Council’s central commissioning hub as well as the SEND service in Cognus - the Council’s wholly owned Local Authority Trading Company where the majority of school support services are currently provided.
The post holder will have a particular focus on developing, leading and implementing our SEND commissioning strategy to ensure that the Council ensures a sufficiency of high-quality school specialist school places in the Borough contributing to our ‘Ambitious for SEND’ agenda.
Role Duties:
Apply professional judgement to interpret and apply policies and procedures to meet specific local or service needs.
Provide day to day management and professional supervision to staff to ensure operational plans and activities are delivered effectively.
Analyse customer needs and the provider market in order to provide data and evidence to inform commissioning and service design decisions for specific services.
Plan, design and procure specific services to ensure they deliver their intended outcomes for customers.
Work with specific organisations to deliver intended outcomes through collaborative working.
Lead small projects and implement changes and improvements within agreed cost, time and quality standards.
Where relevant, manage service level budgets and resources in order to support the delivery of intended outcomes and demonstrate value for money.
Responsibility for coordinating the High Needs Capital Provision Fund (special Provision Capital Fund).
The successful SEND, AP and Pupil Commissioning Manager will ideally possess a comprehensive blend of strategic vision, operational acumen, and a deep-seated commitment to improving outcomes for all children and young people.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of current SEN legislation, AP pathways, and mainstream educational provision, coupled with proven experience in commissioning services within a public sector or educational context.
They will apply a data-driven approach, demonstrating excellent analytical skills, and the ability to navigate complex challenges with resilience and innovation. This will enable them to strategically shape a diverse and inclusive educational landscape that meets the evolving needs of the pupil population in Sutton.
Our Offer To You
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across - however big or small - will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.
In addition, we offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff, supported by our IT infrastructure, including Google Chromebooks and Google Apps. Our Flexible Working - Smarter Working Scheme embraces new ways of working. It provides improved work life balance for our staff as it allows staff to work from a variety of locations and staff are not required to work within the office 5 days a week.
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits, some of which include:
Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply)
General Council Flexi-time (Please note, this applies to roles at grades 1-9 only)
Public Health Service Localised Flexi-time Scheme - accrual of up to 5 days per year
Three volunteering days per year in Sutton
Comprehensive learning and development programme
Local and national discounts for shopping, eating out and leisure activities
Interest free season ticket loans
Local Government Pension Scheme
Car parking scheme
Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
Zip car scheme
Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses
Confidential wellbeing and counselling support
Subsidised gym membership
The post holder has no direct line management responsibility but will will be expected to ‘matrix manage’ across other areas including the Council’s central commissioning hub as well as the SEND service in Cognus - the Council’s wholly owned Local Authority Trading Company where the majority of school support services are currently provided.
The post holder will have a particular focus on developing, leading and implementing our SEND commissioning strategy to ensure that the Council ensures a sufficiency of high-quality school specialist school places in the Borough contributing to our ‘Ambitious for SEND’ agenda.
Role Duties:
Apply professional judgement to interpret and apply policies and procedures to meet specific local or service needs.
Provide day to day management and professional supervision to staff to ensure operational plans and activities are delivered effectively.
Analyse customer needs and the provider market in order to provide data and evidence to inform commissioning and service design decisions for specific services.
Plan, design and procure specific services to ensure they deliver their intended outcomes for customers.
Work with specific organisations to deliver intended outcomes through collaborative working.
Lead small projects and implement changes and improvements within agreed cost, time and quality standards.
Where relevant, manage service level budgets and resources in order to support the delivery of intended outcomes and demonstrate value for money.
Responsibility for coordinating the High Needs Capital Provision Fund (special Provision Capital Fund).
The successful SEND, AP and Pupil Commissioning Manager will ideally possess a comprehensive blend of strategic vision, operational acumen, and a deep-seated commitment to improving outcomes for all children and young people.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of current SEN legislation, AP pathways, and mainstream educational provision, coupled with proven experience in commissioning services within a public sector or educational context.
They will apply a data-driven approach, demonstrating excellent analytical skills, and the ability to navigate complex challenges with resilience and innovation. This will enable them to strategically shape a diverse and inclusive educational landscape that meets the evolving needs of the pupil population in Sutton.
Our Offer To You
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across - however big or small - will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.
In addition, we offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff, supported by our IT infrastructure, including Google Chromebooks and Google Apps. Our Flexible Working - Smarter Working Scheme embraces new ways of working. It provides improved work life balance for our staff as it allows staff to work from a variety of locations and staff are not required to work within the office 5 days a week.
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits, some of which include:
Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply)
General Council Flexi-time (Please note, this applies to roles at grades 1-9 only)
Public Health Service Localised Flexi-time Scheme - accrual of up to 5 days per year
Three volunteering days per year in Sutton
Comprehensive learning and development programme
Local and national discounts for shopping, eating out and leisure activities
Interest free season ticket loans
Local Government Pension Scheme
Car parking scheme
Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
Zip car scheme
Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses
Confidential wellbeing and counselling support
Subsidised gym membership