Strategic Commissioning Manager (Drugs & Alcohol)
| Posting date: | 27 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £49,056 to £57,402 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 26 April 2026 |
| Location: | Sutton, London |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | London Borough of Sutton |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 4063 |
Summary
About the Role and our Ideal Candidate:
We have an exciting opportunity to join us as a Strategic Commissioning Manager in the Prevention & Wellbeing Team. Reporting to the Commissioning Lead, you will lead the strategic commissioning, development, and contract management of comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. Your responsibilities will include:
-To lead the commissioning of high quality substance misuse services for adults, children and their families and carers to promote prevention early intervention, and improving access to evidence-based support that promotes recovery.
-To lead the development, implementation and local delivery of the Substance Misuse Strategy and associated commissioning activity.
-To ensure that commissioned services are evidence-informed, needs-led, cost-effective, informed by the knowledge and experience of service users and carers and aligned with local and national strategies (e.g., National Drugs Strategy, Combating -Drugs Partnership framework) to improve local outcomes.
-Develop and maintain strong relationships with key partners from the NHS, Police, Probation and community sector to ensure integrated service delivery for substance misuse.
-Promote partnership working with other agencies and authorities to contribute to joint policy and practice, ensuring value for money, improved quality, and reduced risk through integrated commissioning.
-Co-design an inclusive service offer with partners to continuously develop the current provision, promote access to treatment, and improve performance across different pathways.
-Develop and implement evidence-based strategies to reduce drug and alcohol misuse, supporting service/pathway redesign and building consensus among local partners for delivery.
-Analyse qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., NDTMS) to identify trends, evaluate impact, and inform strategic development and effective management of commissioned services.
-Lead on monitoring and service review of the substance misuse contract, ensuring high-quality service delivery that aligns with specifications and accepted good practice.
-Collaborate with Public Health colleagues to develop and gain approval for new service model configurations, designed to effectively address the local population's needs while remaining within allocated budgets.
-Communicate and influence effectively across individuals, organisations, and points of governance
Candidates will need:
-Experience in commissioning and contract management, specifically within health or social care settings.
-Good understanding of the drug and alcohol sector and related issues affecting communities.
-Experience in strategy development, market management, commissioning, procurement, service management and contract negotiation.
-Experience in leading project teams (including partnerships and joint working) to achieve strategic goals and service improvements, with evidence of success in achieving targets and managing performance.
-Excellent and proven project management skills, including the ability to successfully manage multiple tasks and priorities to a successful outcome under tight deadlines.
-Ability to manage complex relationships across a wide range of organisations.
-Excellent communication, negotiating and influencing skills (including strong presentation and report writing skills)
-Strong knowledge of procurement (including legal and policy context)
-Strong, proven ability to interpret data
-Proven ability to plan strategically and lead activity for high-quality service development, including effective provider, stakeholder, and service user involvement.
-An understanding and appreciation of innovative techniques in commissioning, such as behavioural science, an asset-based approach, and restorative practice.
-A high level of IT literacy, specifically in spreadsheet development and analysis.
-An understanding of relevant policy and market landscapes.
As the Strategic Commissioning Manager, your knowledge of strategic commissioning, market shaping and management will be integral to delivering the commissioning intentions that improve value for money and the intended outcomes for the community.
The team works closely with partners to develop joint commissioning priorities and strategies. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to make a real difference to the way we commission Public Health services.
This role is a great opportunity for an established Commissioning Manager with strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills keen to apply their expertise to make a tangible, positive impact on one of the most critical public health challenges facing our community.
About Us:
As part of the newly formed Commissioning, Insights & Delivery Division, the Strategic Commissioning Service are committed to using the commissioning cycle to make evidence-based decisions about the services we provide and how we deliver them. Our ambitious plans for Sutton’s residents require us to think differently about the way we work and the ways in which we finance and commission our services and make best use of all available assets. We are a dynamic service seeking to build on the reputation we have developed for successful delivery of collaborative and innovative initiatives. Our work strives to ensure vulnerable residents are safe and can thrive by understanding their needs and making best use of resources with our partners to ensure optimum impact from delivery and funding.
Within the Strategic Commissioning Service, the Prevention & Wellbeing Team supports the delivery of services and resources that enables individuals and communities to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.
We have an exciting opportunity to join us as a Strategic Commissioning Manager in the Prevention & Wellbeing Team. Reporting to the Commissioning Lead, you will lead the strategic commissioning, development, and contract management of comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. Your responsibilities will include:
-To lead the commissioning of high quality substance misuse services for adults, children and their families and carers to promote prevention early intervention, and improving access to evidence-based support that promotes recovery.
-To lead the development, implementation and local delivery of the Substance Misuse Strategy and associated commissioning activity.
-To ensure that commissioned services are evidence-informed, needs-led, cost-effective, informed by the knowledge and experience of service users and carers and aligned with local and national strategies (e.g., National Drugs Strategy, Combating -Drugs Partnership framework) to improve local outcomes.
-Develop and maintain strong relationships with key partners from the NHS, Police, Probation and community sector to ensure integrated service delivery for substance misuse.
-Promote partnership working with other agencies and authorities to contribute to joint policy and practice, ensuring value for money, improved quality, and reduced risk through integrated commissioning.
-Co-design an inclusive service offer with partners to continuously develop the current provision, promote access to treatment, and improve performance across different pathways.
-Develop and implement evidence-based strategies to reduce drug and alcohol misuse, supporting service/pathway redesign and building consensus among local partners for delivery.
-Analyse qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., NDTMS) to identify trends, evaluate impact, and inform strategic development and effective management of commissioned services.
-Lead on monitoring and service review of the substance misuse contract, ensuring high-quality service delivery that aligns with specifications and accepted good practice.
-Collaborate with Public Health colleagues to develop and gain approval for new service model configurations, designed to effectively address the local population's needs while remaining within allocated budgets.
-Communicate and influence effectively across individuals, organisations, and points of governance
Candidates will need:
-Experience in commissioning and contract management, specifically within health or social care settings.
-Good understanding of the drug and alcohol sector and related issues affecting communities.
-Experience in strategy development, market management, commissioning, procurement, service management and contract negotiation.
-Experience in leading project teams (including partnerships and joint working) to achieve strategic goals and service improvements, with evidence of success in achieving targets and managing performance.
-Excellent and proven project management skills, including the ability to successfully manage multiple tasks and priorities to a successful outcome under tight deadlines.
-Ability to manage complex relationships across a wide range of organisations.
-Excellent communication, negotiating and influencing skills (including strong presentation and report writing skills)
-Strong knowledge of procurement (including legal and policy context)
-Strong, proven ability to interpret data
-Proven ability to plan strategically and lead activity for high-quality service development, including effective provider, stakeholder, and service user involvement.
-An understanding and appreciation of innovative techniques in commissioning, such as behavioural science, an asset-based approach, and restorative practice.
-A high level of IT literacy, specifically in spreadsheet development and analysis.
-An understanding of relevant policy and market landscapes.
As the Strategic Commissioning Manager, your knowledge of strategic commissioning, market shaping and management will be integral to delivering the commissioning intentions that improve value for money and the intended outcomes for the community.
The team works closely with partners to develop joint commissioning priorities and strategies. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to make a real difference to the way we commission Public Health services.
This role is a great opportunity for an established Commissioning Manager with strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills keen to apply their expertise to make a tangible, positive impact on one of the most critical public health challenges facing our community.
About Us:
As part of the newly formed Commissioning, Insights & Delivery Division, the Strategic Commissioning Service are committed to using the commissioning cycle to make evidence-based decisions about the services we provide and how we deliver them. Our ambitious plans for Sutton’s residents require us to think differently about the way we work and the ways in which we finance and commission our services and make best use of all available assets. We are a dynamic service seeking to build on the reputation we have developed for successful delivery of collaborative and innovative initiatives. Our work strives to ensure vulnerable residents are safe and can thrive by understanding their needs and making best use of resources with our partners to ensure optimum impact from delivery and funding.
Within the Strategic Commissioning Service, the Prevention & Wellbeing Team supports the delivery of services and resources that enables individuals and communities to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.