Universal Commissioning Manager

Universal Commissioning Manager

Job Location: Shire Hall

Salary: £60,532 - £63,895 per annum

Full time, permanent

Job Requisition Number: 14980

Are you an experienced strategic leader passionate about shaping the future of education provision in Gloucestershire?

If so, the role of Universal Commissioning Manager could be the opportunity for you.

About the team and the role:

Our Education Planning and Infrastructure Service plays a vital role in ensuring that children and young people across Gloucestershire can access the right education provision and support.

As Universal Commissioning Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across the key areas: school place planning & sufficiency; coordinated admissions; home-to-school transport & free school meals entitlement; and education capital investment.

You will lead the effective delivery of the Council’s statutory admissions responsibilities, ensuring fair access to school places and the efficient coordination of applications for children and families across the county. You will also provide strategic oversight of home-to-school transport & free school meals entitlement, shaping policy and service delivery to ensure eligible learners can access education through arrangements that are responsive, sustainable and provide value for money.

Alongside this, you will lead plans that respond to changing demand, housing growth and the needs of children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. You will oversee the necessary statutory approvals required to make changes to sufficiency provision. You will oversee a significant programme of education capital investment, ensuring projects deliver the right provision, achieve value for money and support the Council’s strategic priorities.

You will lead education input to the planning process, negotiating with developers and planning authorities to secure appropriate infrastructure and contributions through Section 106, the Community Infrastructure Levy and other mechanisms.

Working across the Council and with schools, academy trusts, dioceses, government departments and other partners, you will develop innovative and cost-effective solutions to complex education challenges. You will lead and develop high-performing teams, manage significant budgets and provide clear advice to senior officers and elected members.

About you

You will have the breadth of leadership experience to oversee complex statutory and customer-facing services, ensuring coordinated admissions and home-to-school transport are compliant, responsive and efficiently delivered, alongside the Council’s wider sufficiency and capital priorities, including playing a key role in the Council’s SEND reforms.

You will bring strategic insight, sound judgement and strong financial and commercial awareness. You will be confident operating in a complex political and partnership environment, balancing competing priorities while maintaining a clear focus on outcomes for children and young people.

An influential communicator and skilled negotiator, you will be able to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, developers, planning authorities and education partners. You will also have the resilience, creativity and leadership skills needed to develop innovative solutions and deliver effectively within a challenging and changing environment.

Please read the job profile, which provides further information on the experience and attributes sought in our ideal candidate.

About us:

Hybrid working arrangements are available for many 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 remote and office working.

Joining us could mean access to these great benefits:

• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• 25.5 days’ annual leave, rising to 30.5 days after five years’ continuous service
• An option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Family-friendly benefits to help support you and your family
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• A supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) , providing free confidential counselling and advice
• An in-house Occupational Health service
• Employee discount scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme (Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply)
• Green Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply)
• Access to employee networks, including Prism (LGBT+) network and the Young Employees Network

Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply to some benefits.

How to apply:

If you have the leadership, experience and ambition to make a positive difference to education provision across Gloucestershire, please submit your application and personal statement by clicking the “Apply Now” button.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Gareth Vine, Head of Education Planning and Infrastructure, at gareth.vine@gloucestershire.gov.uk or on 01452 427547.

Closing Date: 15th November 2026

Interview date: 25th/26th November 2026