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NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board

Director of Commissioning (Community & N'hood Development) - Band 9

The closing date is 06 April 2026

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Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly formed Essex ICB, which will oversee the commissioning of care for the 2 million people that live in Essex. This is the first time Essex has a single commissioner of NHS services, providing an exciting opportunity to develop & commission high quality sustainable services for the local population.

The ICB is looking for a Director of Commissioning (Community & Neighbourhood Development) who will lead the strategic and operational commissioning of community services and the development of neighbourhood health services. During 2026, the role will oversee a review of community commissioning across Essex and the development of a robust delivery plan to shape long term service delivery.

Working in close partnership with the Directors of Commissioning for Acute and Primary Care, this role will lead the development and delivery of new models of neighbourhood health, collaborating with partners and the public to ensure we develop and deliver a sustainable approach, which drives the delivery of the National 10-year plan and left shift.

You will need to develop strong working relationships within the ICB and across the Essex health and care system, including with local government, hospices and the wider voluntary sector, to develop and deliver plans for effective commissioning. This will include using a data-driven and evidence-based approach hat is informed by engagement with clinicians, patients, the public and staff.

Main duties of the job

You will be required to work in partnership to lead effective community commissioning and will be responsible for:

  • Leading and managing the community and neighbourhood development teams
  • Planning for commissioning of community services, including undertaking needs assessments & engagement activities to inform activity, financial & delivery plans
  • Leading on the commissioning & oversight of joint commissioning with Local Authorities including the Better Care Fund, intermediate care & prevention services
  • Driving the development of neighbourhood health including development of new models of care & contracting
  • Leading the work of the ICBs health inequalities team
  • Leading the ICBs work with non-NHS providers including hospices, social enterprise & voluntary sector organisations
  • Management of ICB community budgets
  • Ensuring all ICB commissioning decisions relating to community/neighbourhood health follow agreed governance
  • Ensuring community services are appropriately evaluated to track impact & outcomes to support future commissioning decisions
  • Reporting to the ICBs senior leadership, Board & NHS England as required
  • Supporting provider market management

About us

Mid and South Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for the planning and delivery of local health and care services, across Mid and South Essex and is part of the wider integrated care system. Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are partnerships of health and care organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up services and to improve the health of people who live and work in their area. The headquarters for the organisation is Seax House, Chelmsford. There is a hybrid model of working, which includes attendance at the office in Chelmsford or community visits across Essex and home working.

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better patient outcomes. We welcome applications regardless of peoples age, disability, sex, gender, identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, religion or belief. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustment for people who have a disability. We also encourage applicants to raise any personal circumstances they would like us to be aware of so we can consider possible adjustments.

Unfortunately, the organisation does not have a Sponsorship licence.

Details

Date posted

17 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£112,782 to £129,783 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

D9708-MSE488

Job locations

Seax House

Victoria Road South

Chelmsford

Essex

CM1 1QH


Job description

Job responsibilities

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY

The proposed Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the proposed Essex ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation.

The Director of Commissioning (Community & Neighbourhood Development holds corporate responsibility for the strategic and operational commissioning of neighbourhood and primary care services across Essex, this includes the commissioning of General Practice, Optometry, Dental alongside NHS community services. This includes oversight of these service areas and associated budgets, ensuring commissioned providers deliver high-quality, sustainable and digitally enabled care for the residents of Essex.

As a corporate leader within the ICB, the post holder contributes to collective decision-making and holds delegated accountability for performance, quality, workforce and financial management within their portfolio. The role provides a lead contribution to the development, interpretation, implementation and monitoring of ICB policy and strategy, ensuring alignment with the ICBs strategic objectives and the national 10-Year Plan.

The post holder will ensure that commissioning decisions support prevention, personalisation and the 'left shift' from hospital to community settings, building resilient, integrated neighbourhood health systems. They will provide visible, inclusive and values-based leadership for staff and partners, ensuring effective delivery through collaboration with NHS providers, local authorities, primary care and the voluntary and community sector.

As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Executive Director, Neighbourhood Health and the Chief Executive in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:

  • From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.
  • From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.
  • From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement.

The post holder will be required to work autonomously and will ultimately be corporately responsible for determining the negotiation, agreement and delivery of ICB strategy. The post holder will be responsible for bringing partners together to agree multiple programmes of work and also for agreeing contribution of resources to these programmes.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:

Policy and service development

  • Develop and implement policy and / or service developments related to neighbourhood and primary care services, ensuring alignment with the ICB strategy and the NHS 10-year plan.
  • Translating high-level policy commitments into commissioning plan that drive integration, prevention and personalisation.
  • Promote innovation and best practice in commissioning, drawing on national and international evidence to improve quality and outcomes.
  • Ensure commissioning intentions and activities reflect patient and public voice, and are increasingly outcomes focused.

Strategy and analysis

  • Use complex health data sets, and population health management tools to inform commissioning priorities and decisions.
  • Analyse large volumes of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to the performance, quality, activity and finance of primary and community care services to identify opportunities for improvement and efficiency.
  • Provide expert advice and insight to the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Health and ICB leaders on commissioning strategy and service redesign.
  • Evaluate the impact of commissioning programmes, ensuring continuous improvement and value for money.
  • Present highly complex data, information and insights, including qualitative and quantitative data, through clear and simple written and verbal briefings
  • Use of Population Health Management methodologies and tools to inform projects and programmes that will improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services
  • Provide regular assurance reports to the ICB Executive Team and Board

Planning and organisation

  • Lead the development and delivery of the annual commissioning plan for neighbourhood and primary care services.
  • Manage complex programmes to deliver new or re-designed service models across Essex, ensuring that robust governance, risk management and reporting arrangements are in place.
  • Ensure commissioned services are designed around population need, aligned to the left shift, and support the sustainability of the health and care system.
  • Oversee primary care commissioning functions, including contract management, performance, access and quality.

Communications and Partnerships

  • Build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, primary care, local authorities and voluntary and community sector organisations.
  • Represent the ICB in system forums, ensuring Essexs interests are reflected in regional and national commissioning discussions.
  • Communicate complex information and decisions clearly to diverse audiences, including Board members, clinicians and the public.
  • Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership
  • Listen effectively to a broad range of perspectives, including staff, patients and the public, to inform decision making
  • Manage complex and contentious situations with stakeholders
  • Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to enable the collective ownership and delivery of complex programmes that are seeking to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver a sustainable health and care system
  • Sharing complex and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffing
  • Manage conflict, find compromise and build consensus where needed to drive progress in delivery

Financial and resource management

  • Responsible for management of budget for Primary Care and Community Services, including budget setting and accountability for delivering against agreed budget.
  • Ensure that commissioning activity supports financial sustainability, encourages productivity in service delivery and effective use of public resources.
  • Monitor expenditure and take corrective action as required to maintain budgetary control.

Team management and capability building

  • Develop and lead the Neighbourhood Commissioning team of 16 people, including overseeing recruitment, onboarding, development and performance management of team members.
  • Oversee team delivery, including objective setting and annual performance management, fostering a culture of high performance, inclusivity and continuous improvement within the team.
  • Promote commissioning capability and knowledge sharing across the ICB and partner organisations.
  • Support staff through ICB transition, including the development of teams to deliver on new ICB portfolios as agreed through transition
  • Support the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB Blueprint
  • Work collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangements
  • Maintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition
  • Act as Information Asset Owner (IAO) where nominated to do so by the Executive or senior leadership team, taking responsibility for the management of information assets created and utilised by the team

Other

  • Use initiative and work autonomously to deliver on requirements of the role
  • Primarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetings
  • Able to use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel)

Flexibility and evolving responsibilities

As the ICB continues to evolve, all senior leader portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:

  • ICB Board members
  • Health & Wellbeing Board Chairs and officers
  • Primary Care providers, including Primary Care Networks and GP Federations.
  • Local Medical Committee, Local Optometry Committee, Local Dental Committee.
  • Local Authority partners
  • NHS Providers
  • ICB senior leadership team
  • SIRO, DPO and Information Governance teams
  • NHSEI regional partners
  • VCSE sector

Job description

Job responsibilities

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY

The proposed Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the proposed Essex ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation.

The Director of Commissioning (Community & Neighbourhood Development holds corporate responsibility for the strategic and operational commissioning of neighbourhood and primary care services across Essex, this includes the commissioning of General Practice, Optometry, Dental alongside NHS community services. This includes oversight of these service areas and associated budgets, ensuring commissioned providers deliver high-quality, sustainable and digitally enabled care for the residents of Essex.

As a corporate leader within the ICB, the post holder contributes to collective decision-making and holds delegated accountability for performance, quality, workforce and financial management within their portfolio. The role provides a lead contribution to the development, interpretation, implementation and monitoring of ICB policy and strategy, ensuring alignment with the ICBs strategic objectives and the national 10-Year Plan.

The post holder will ensure that commissioning decisions support prevention, personalisation and the 'left shift' from hospital to community settings, building resilient, integrated neighbourhood health systems. They will provide visible, inclusive and values-based leadership for staff and partners, ensuring effective delivery through collaboration with NHS providers, local authorities, primary care and the voluntary and community sector.

As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Executive Director, Neighbourhood Health and the Chief Executive in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:

  • From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.
  • From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.
  • From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement.

The post holder will be required to work autonomously and will ultimately be corporately responsible for determining the negotiation, agreement and delivery of ICB strategy. The post holder will be responsible for bringing partners together to agree multiple programmes of work and also for agreeing contribution of resources to these programmes.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:

Policy and service development

  • Develop and implement policy and / or service developments related to neighbourhood and primary care services, ensuring alignment with the ICB strategy and the NHS 10-year plan.
  • Translating high-level policy commitments into commissioning plan that drive integration, prevention and personalisation.
  • Promote innovation and best practice in commissioning, drawing on national and international evidence to improve quality and outcomes.
  • Ensure commissioning intentions and activities reflect patient and public voice, and are increasingly outcomes focused.

Strategy and analysis

  • Use complex health data sets, and population health management tools to inform commissioning priorities and decisions.
  • Analyse large volumes of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to the performance, quality, activity and finance of primary and community care services to identify opportunities for improvement and efficiency.
  • Provide expert advice and insight to the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Health and ICB leaders on commissioning strategy and service redesign.
  • Evaluate the impact of commissioning programmes, ensuring continuous improvement and value for money.
  • Present highly complex data, information and insights, including qualitative and quantitative data, through clear and simple written and verbal briefings
  • Use of Population Health Management methodologies and tools to inform projects and programmes that will improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services
  • Provide regular assurance reports to the ICB Executive Team and Board

Planning and organisation

  • Lead the development and delivery of the annual commissioning plan for neighbourhood and primary care services.
  • Manage complex programmes to deliver new or re-designed service models across Essex, ensuring that robust governance, risk management and reporting arrangements are in place.
  • Ensure commissioned services are designed around population need, aligned to the left shift, and support the sustainability of the health and care system.
  • Oversee primary care commissioning functions, including contract management, performance, access and quality.

Communications and Partnerships

  • Build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, primary care, local authorities and voluntary and community sector organisations.
  • Represent the ICB in system forums, ensuring Essexs interests are reflected in regional and national commissioning discussions.
  • Communicate complex information and decisions clearly to diverse audiences, including Board members, clinicians and the public.
  • Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership
  • Listen effectively to a broad range of perspectives, including staff, patients and the public, to inform decision making
  • Manage complex and contentious situations with stakeholders
  • Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to enable the collective ownership and delivery of complex programmes that are seeking to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver a sustainable health and care system
  • Sharing complex and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffing
  • Manage conflict, find compromise and build consensus where needed to drive progress in delivery

Financial and resource management

  • Responsible for management of budget for Primary Care and Community Services, including budget setting and accountability for delivering against agreed budget.
  • Ensure that commissioning activity supports financial sustainability, encourages productivity in service delivery and effective use of public resources.
  • Monitor expenditure and take corrective action as required to maintain budgetary control.

Team management and capability building

  • Develop and lead the Neighbourhood Commissioning team of 16 people, including overseeing recruitment, onboarding, development and performance management of team members.
  • Oversee team delivery, including objective setting and annual performance management, fostering a culture of high performance, inclusivity and continuous improvement within the team.
  • Promote commissioning capability and knowledge sharing across the ICB and partner organisations.
  • Support staff through ICB transition, including the development of teams to deliver on new ICB portfolios as agreed through transition
  • Support the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB Blueprint
  • Work collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangements
  • Maintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition
  • Act as Information Asset Owner (IAO) where nominated to do so by the Executive or senior leadership team, taking responsibility for the management of information assets created and utilised by the team

Other

  • Use initiative and work autonomously to deliver on requirements of the role
  • Primarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetings
  • Able to use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel)

Flexibility and evolving responsibilities

As the ICB continues to evolve, all senior leader portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:

  • ICB Board members
  • Health & Wellbeing Board Chairs and officers
  • Primary Care providers, including Primary Care Networks and GP Federations.
  • Local Medical Committee, Local Optometry Committee, Local Dental Committee.
  • Local Authority partners
  • NHS Providers
  • ICB senior leadership team
  • SIRO, DPO and Information Governance teams
  • NHSEI regional partners
  • VCSE sector

Person Specification

Partnerships & Communities

Essential

  • Experience of working across organisational boundaries in the development and delivery of complex programmes
  • Experience in working on programmes that require cross-organisational collaboration, and an understanding of the concept and aims of whole-system working
  • Excellent influencing and negotiation skills, experience in successfully managing conflict, finding compromise and building consensus

Personal Attributes and Values

Essential

  • Personal commitment to the values of the NHS 10-year Plan, the NHS People Plan, the Nolan Principles, to championing equality, diversity and inclusion within the ICB and the wide health system
  • Exceptional communication skills which engender community confidence, strong collaborations, and partnerships
  • Listens to and appreciates the complexity of a range of views, adopt effective questioning techniques and an ability to negotiate
  • Able to adapt to different situations, influencing others effectively

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience of working at a senior level in a relevant healthcare environment (NHS or other) and across complex health and care systems with demonstrable impact.
  • Experience of strategic leadership in relevant commissioning functions as outlined in the ICB model blueprint.
  • Experience of leading and delivering complex and contentious change and transformation programmes at scale
  • Knowledge of the health, care and local government landscape, including relevant legislation, policies and guidance and an understanding of the political dynamics of healthcare

People & Culture

Essential

  • Experience in building and maintaining high functioning teams, including recognising and promoting talent, as well as appropriately dealing with under-performance, when necessary
  • A proven track record of compassionate leadership and experience in promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity
  • A commitment to continuous improvement, organisation learning and achieving positive outcomes for all staff, patients, service users and carers working in line with the NHS People Promise

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Masters level (relevant focus) or equivalent managerial experience
  • Evidence of sustained commitment to continuing professional development

Strategy & Analysis

Essential

  • An excellent understanding of current health and social care national aims and policy, and other determinants that impact on healthcare provision
  • Demonstrable experience in scoping and delivering effective evaluations of programmes and interventions, including understanding relevant data and evaluation tools and methods for formal and informal evaluations
  • Demonstrable experience in translating strategy and policy into action, using proven programme service development and project management methodologies to ensure delivery

Governance and Assurance

Essential

  • Previous experience of leading projects that require collective decision-making and how to negotiate success in those situations
  • A strong understanding of the role and importance of effective corporate governance, balancing the need to seek relevant board and executive support for decisions with the ability to work autonomously to drive delivery of decisions
Person Specification

Partnerships & Communities

Essential

  • Experience of working across organisational boundaries in the development and delivery of complex programmes
  • Experience in working on programmes that require cross-organisational collaboration, and an understanding of the concept and aims of whole-system working
  • Excellent influencing and negotiation skills, experience in successfully managing conflict, finding compromise and building consensus

Personal Attributes and Values

Essential

  • Personal commitment to the values of the NHS 10-year Plan, the NHS People Plan, the Nolan Principles, to championing equality, diversity and inclusion within the ICB and the wide health system
  • Exceptional communication skills which engender community confidence, strong collaborations, and partnerships
  • Listens to and appreciates the complexity of a range of views, adopt effective questioning techniques and an ability to negotiate
  • Able to adapt to different situations, influencing others effectively

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience of working at a senior level in a relevant healthcare environment (NHS or other) and across complex health and care systems with demonstrable impact.
  • Experience of strategic leadership in relevant commissioning functions as outlined in the ICB model blueprint.
  • Experience of leading and delivering complex and contentious change and transformation programmes at scale
  • Knowledge of the health, care and local government landscape, including relevant legislation, policies and guidance and an understanding of the political dynamics of healthcare

People & Culture

Essential

  • Experience in building and maintaining high functioning teams, including recognising and promoting talent, as well as appropriately dealing with under-performance, when necessary
  • A proven track record of compassionate leadership and experience in promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity
  • A commitment to continuous improvement, organisation learning and achieving positive outcomes for all staff, patients, service users and carers working in line with the NHS People Promise

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Masters level (relevant focus) or equivalent managerial experience
  • Evidence of sustained commitment to continuing professional development

Strategy & Analysis

Essential

  • An excellent understanding of current health and social care national aims and policy, and other determinants that impact on healthcare provision
  • Demonstrable experience in scoping and delivering effective evaluations of programmes and interventions, including understanding relevant data and evaluation tools and methods for formal and informal evaluations
  • Demonstrable experience in translating strategy and policy into action, using proven programme service development and project management methodologies to ensure delivery

Governance and Assurance

Essential

  • Previous experience of leading projects that require collective decision-making and how to negotiate success in those situations
  • A strong understanding of the role and importance of effective corporate governance, balancing the need to seek relevant board and executive support for decisions with the ability to work autonomously to drive delivery of decisions

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board

Address

Seax House

Victoria Road South

Chelmsford

Essex

CM1 1QH


Employer's website

https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board

Address

Seax House

Victoria Road South

Chelmsford

Essex

CM1 1QH


Employer's website

https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Beverley Flowers

Lucy.frost10@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

17 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£112,782 to £129,783 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

D9708-MSE488

Job locations

Seax House

Victoria Road South

Chelmsford

Essex

CM1 1QH


Supporting documents

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