Senior Commissioning Manager (Cancer)

Job overview

The Senior Commissioning Manager (Cancer) will be part of the wider Planned Care Commissioning Team, providing senior commissioning leadership across the Central East ICB Cancer Programme and supporting the Head of Planned Care Cancer in delivering strategic and operational priorities.

The postholder will lead key cancer commissioning, service improvement and pathway transformation programmes, working with providers, primary care, the Cancer Alliance and system partners. This will include improving cancer prevention, screening and early diagnosis, reducing unwarranted variation, improving pathway performance and supporting equitable access and outcomes.

The role will oversee programme delivery, governance, assurance, performance and risk, using data and evidence to inform priorities and commissioning decisions. The postholder will lead stakeholder engagement and work across organisational boundaries to deliver sustainable improvements.

They will also contribute to wider Planned Care priorities and translate national, Cancer Alliance and ICB priorities into deliverable programmes with clear outcomes and demonstrable benefits for patients.

Main duties of the job

Lead key cancer commissioning programmes and workstreams, ensuring agreed objectives, milestones and outcomes are delivered.

Lead cancer pathway redesign and service improvement, focusing on prevention, screening, early diagnosis and reducing unwarranted variation.

Develop commissioning approaches, service standards, outcome measures and specifications for sustainable cancer services.

Monitor programme and pathway performance, using data and intelligence to identify priorities and inform commissioning decisions.

Oversee programme governance, including delivery, risks, issues, dependencies, actions and assurance.

Work with providers, primary care, the Cancer Alliance and system partners to coordinate cancer priorities across Central East ICB.

Build effective relationships with clinical, operational and commissioning stakeholders.

Support the Head of Planned Care Cancer in developing and delivering ICB cancer priorities and improvement programmes.

Support financial planning and effective use of cancer resources and funding.

Prepare reports, business cases and assurance updates for governance and decision-making forums.

Ensure health inequalities, equitable access, patient experience and outcomes inform commissioning decisions.

Contribute to wider Planned Care priorities and provide commissioning expertise across the portfolio.

Provide leadership and line management to relevant team members.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Senior Commissioning Manager (Cancer) will be part of the wider Planned Care Commissioning Team and will provide senior commissioning leadership across the Central East ICB Cancer Programme, reporting to the Head of Planned Care Cancer.

The postholder will lead and coordinate cancer commissioning, pathway redesign and service improvement programmes, with a particular focus on prevention, screening, early diagnosis, reducing variation and improving patient outcomes. They will oversee programme delivery, performance, governance, assurance and risk, using data and evidence to support commissioning decisions and continuous improvement.

The role will require effective partnership working across NHS providers, primary care, the Cancer Alliance and wider system partners to deliver agreed cancer priorities and sustainable pathway improvements. The postholder will also contribute to wider Planned Care commissioning priorities and provide leadership and commissioning expertise across the portfolio as required.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role, responsibilities and requirements.