Job summary

NOTE: Applicants may make a preference within their application for which role they wish to apply for (Liverpool City Region or Cheshire & Warrington). Applicants can make as many preferences as they like based on the number of roles they are interested in.

The Director of Integrated Commissioning is a senior leader within NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, providing strategic leadership for the development and delivery of integrated health and care partnerships across Cheshire and Merseyside. The role leads strategic commissioning development and programmes within one of the two Combined Authority footprints, acting as lead commissioning director for NHS providers, local authorities and wider partners across that geography.

The postholder is responsible for driving delivery of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and the ICB's five year clinical and strategic commissioning plan, embedding collaborative approaches that improve population health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. This includes acting as a strategic commissioner, contributing to long term population health strategies, supporting effective resource allocation, and leading the transition towards neighbourhood based models of care through strong system leadership and service integration.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

Portfolio responsibilities may vary and adapt over time to respond to the needs and strategic priorities of the ICB/ICS. However, the postholder is expected to fulfil the following key functions:

• Partnership Development and Collaboration
• Neighbourhood and Locality Based Care
• Health Equity and Prevention
• Programme Delivery and Transformation
• Governance and Assurance
• Data and Performance Monitoring

About us

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside serves a population of over 2.7 million people across nine localities, working with 16 NHS provider organisations, 51 Primary Care Networks, local authorities and voluntary sector partners.

We are proud of Cheshire and Merseyside's record of collaborative working and there are countless examples of brilliant care, but there are also examples of variation in service which only serve to exacerbate health inequalities.

Our vision is for everyone in Cheshire and Merseyside to have a great start in life and get the support they need to stay healthy and live longer.

We will do this by working together, as equal partners, to support seamless, person-centred care and tackle health inequalities by improving the lives of the poorest fastest.

Our values are rooted in the NHS Constitution, and we strive to create a compassionate, collaborative and innovative culture where staff can thrive and make a real difference to local communities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio responsibilities may vary and adapt over time to respond to the needs and strategic priorities of the ICB/ICS. However, the postholder is expected to fulfil the following key functions:

Partnership Development and Collaboration

Build and maintain strong relationships with local authorities, NHS providers, VCSE organisations, and community stakeholders.

Facilitate joint working across health and care organisations to deliver integrated services and new models of working, for example innovative risk/gain share arrangements for pooled budgets, S75, BCF, and new governance arrangements with the relevant Local Authorities.

Enable and support the CMPC and its ambitious Blueprint priorities, working with relevant Provider Chief Executives/Exec Teams to deliver new models of care and delivery.

Lead officer / commissioner for the relevant NHS provider contracts, including annual planning round leadership, contract/performance management, escalation, specifications, pathways etc. This will also include specialised commissioning, out of area providers and Independent Sector providers.

Neighbourhood and Locality Based Care

Lead the strategic development and implementation of neighbourhood models of care, building on ICB framework to ensure it is consistent with national blueprint and drives innovation and ambition within Cheshire and Merseyside. This includes meeting the implementation and performance requirements of 25/6 NHSE Planning Guidance core components and national guidelines for 26/7 onwards. The postholders will work with and support the Programme Director Neighbourhood Health and Community Development to ensure that there is a single C&M Neighbourhood Health Framework and model of care, which responds to the national blueprint and delivers the key metrics.

Ensure services are co-designed with communities and tailored to local needs, taking the lead strategic commissioning role for community services working with the CMPC and NHSE, driving consistency, quality and performance.

Embed multidisciplinary leadership and integrated working at locality level. Work with Local Government and national bodies to consider opportunities for left shift models of care which deliver greater continuity for patients and remove pressure from secondary care.

Health Equity and Prevention

Drive initiatives that address health inequalities and wider determinants of health.

Align local delivery with Core20PLUS5 priorities and prevention strategies.

Promote community engagement and co-production to improve outcomes.

Programme Delivery and Transformation

Coordinate cross-cutting programmes (e.g., digital inclusion, workforce transformation) within a matrix environment. These will vary dependent on the Combined Authority footprint and other responsibilities pertinent to each role, with additional responsibilities for the ICBs strategy development, specialised commissioning, primary care and neighbourhood health centres/hubs.

Support delivery of transformation projects that improve efficiency and quality.

Lead ICB wide commissioning of strategic priorities (from ICB 5-year plan), reviewing best practice, local warranted variation and designing innovative models of care that improve outcomes and performance.

Monitor progress and ensure alignment with the NHS 10-Year Plan and local devolution ambitions.

In partnership with Clinical and Finance and Contracting Directorates, take the strategic commissioning lead for areas of transformation and / performance, where commissioning expertise is needed at a very senior level.

Governance and Assurance

Contribute to integrated governance arrangements across boroughs.

Provide assurance on programme performance, risk management, and compliance.

Support pooled funding and value-based commissioning approaches.

Data and Performance Monitoring

Use data and analytics to inform decision-making and track progress.

Identify areas for improvement and support recovery plans where needed.

Ensure transparency and accountability in reporting outcomes.

On Call

All posts at Band 9 and above will be required to participate in the on-call rota.

Key Deliverables Aligned to NHS Priorities

Strategic Priority

Key Deliverables

Model ICB Blueprint: streamlined planning, commissioning at scale,population health, partnership working

Streamline system planning and commissioning to improve population health and drive collaborative delivery.

Neighbourhood HealthServicesand INTs

Implementation of integrated,accessibleand community-based care and leadership across places

Lead NHS Provider Oversight and Performance Management

Provide strategic leadership and assurance for the performance of NHS providers across the system, ensuring high-quality, safe, and effective care. This includes monitoring clinical, operational, and financial performance, supporting continuous improvement, addressing variation, and working collaboratively with providers and regulators to deliver sustainable, high-performing services that meet the needs of the population

Integrated System Delivery

Cross-cutting matrix delivery across ICB functionsto improve population health outcomes, reduce inequalities and enhance service efficiency

Major Service Change and Service Reconfiguration

Lead the Design and Delivery of Major Service Changes:Oversee the end-to-end development and implementation of major service reconfigurations, ensuring alignment with national policy, clinical best practice, and local population health needs.

Impact Evaluation and Continuous Improvement:Establishclear metrics and evaluation frameworks tomonitorthe impact of service changes, ensuring continuous improvement and the delivery of intended benefits.

Prevention and Inequalities

Place-level strategies embedded in Core20PLUS5 and wider determinants

Use population health data to target variation and deliver interventions that reduce inequalities.

Strategic Commissioning

Provide oversight and leadership for the full spectrum of commissioning responsibilities, including primary care, acute, community, specialised, strategic, and individual commissioning. Ensure that commissioning decisions are evidence-based, outcomes-focused, and aligned with population health needs, delivering integrated, high-quality, and sustainable services across the health and care system.

Collaboration with Local Government

Strong interface withcombined authorityandlocalcouncils

Digital and Data-Driven Planning

Enable shared care records and analytics at neighbourhood level

Culture, Leadership & OD

Champion compassionate, inclusive, and values-based leadership. Lead system-wide organisational development programmes. Embed psychological safety, wellbeing, and staff engagement as cultural norms.

Integrated System Delivery

Cross-cutting matrix delivery across ICB functions to improve population health outcomes, reduce inequalities and enhance service efficiency

The main duties and responsibilities described above are not exhaustive and the post holder can expect to take on other responsibilities or specific tasks as required.

Further, over time it is likely the remit and requirements of the role will evolve, and the post holder will be expected to adjust their working approach and style to accommodate these. As a new post within the organisation, to reflect the above, it is expected that this job description would be reviewed regularly, by agreement.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio responsibilities may vary and adapt over time to respond to the needs and strategic priorities of the ICB/ICS. However, the postholder is expected to fulfil the following key functions:

Partnership Development and Collaboration

Build and maintain strong relationships with local authorities, NHS providers, VCSE organisations, and community stakeholders.

Facilitate joint working across health and care organisations to deliver integrated services and new models of working, for example innovative risk/gain share arrangements for pooled budgets, S75, BCF, and new governance arrangements with the relevant Local Authorities.

Enable and support the CMPC and its ambitious Blueprint priorities, working with relevant Provider Chief Executives/Exec Teams to deliver new models of care and delivery.

Lead officer / commissioner for the relevant NHS provider contracts, including annual planning round leadership, contract/performance management, escalation, specifications, pathways etc. This will also include specialised commissioning, out of area providers and Independent Sector providers.

Neighbourhood and Locality Based Care

Lead the strategic development and implementation of neighbourhood models of care, building on ICB framework to ensure it is consistent with national blueprint and drives innovation and ambition within Cheshire and Merseyside. This includes meeting the implementation and performance requirements of 25/6 NHSE Planning Guidance core components and national guidelines for 26/7 onwards. The postholders will work with and support the Programme Director Neighbourhood Health and Community Development to ensure that there is a single C&M Neighbourhood Health Framework and model of care, which responds to the national blueprint and delivers the key metrics.

Ensure services are co-designed with communities and tailored to local needs, taking the lead strategic commissioning role for community services working with the CMPC and NHSE, driving consistency, quality and performance.

Embed multidisciplinary leadership and integrated working at locality level. Work with Local Government and national bodies to consider opportunities for left shift models of care which deliver greater continuity for patients and remove pressure from secondary care.

Health Equity and Prevention

Drive initiatives that address health inequalities and wider determinants of health.

Align local delivery with Core20PLUS5 priorities and prevention strategies.

Promote community engagement and co-production to improve outcomes.

Programme Delivery and Transformation

Coordinate cross-cutting programmes (e.g., digital inclusion, workforce transformation) within a matrix environment. These will vary dependent on the Combined Authority footprint and other responsibilities pertinent to each role, with additional responsibilities for the ICBs strategy development, specialised commissioning, primary care and neighbourhood health centres/hubs.

Support delivery of transformation projects that improve efficiency and quality.

Lead ICB wide commissioning of strategic priorities (from ICB 5-year plan), reviewing best practice, local warranted variation and designing innovative models of care that improve outcomes and performance.

Monitor progress and ensure alignment with the NHS 10-Year Plan and local devolution ambitions.

In partnership with Clinical and Finance and Contracting Directorates, take the strategic commissioning lead for areas of transformation and / performance, where commissioning expertise is needed at a very senior level.

Governance and Assurance

Contribute to integrated governance arrangements across boroughs.

Provide assurance on programme performance, risk management, and compliance.

Support pooled funding and value-based commissioning approaches.

Data and Performance Monitoring

Use data and analytics to inform decision-making and track progress.

Identify areas for improvement and support recovery plans where needed.

Ensure transparency and accountability in reporting outcomes.

On Call

All posts at Band 9 and above will be required to participate in the on-call rota.

Key Deliverables Aligned to NHS Priorities

Strategic Priority

Key Deliverables

Model ICB Blueprint: streamlined planning, commissioning at scale,population health, partnership working

Streamline system planning and commissioning to improve population health and drive collaborative delivery.

Neighbourhood HealthServicesand INTs

Implementation of integrated,accessibleand community-based care and leadership across places

Lead NHS Provider Oversight and Performance Management

Provide strategic leadership and assurance for the performance of NHS providers across the system, ensuring high-quality, safe, and effective care. This includes monitoring clinical, operational, and financial performance, supporting continuous improvement, addressing variation, and working collaboratively with providers and regulators to deliver sustainable, high-performing services that meet the needs of the population

Integrated System Delivery

Cross-cutting matrix delivery across ICB functionsto improve population health outcomes, reduce inequalities and enhance service efficiency

Major Service Change and Service Reconfiguration

Lead the Design and Delivery of Major Service Changes:Oversee the end-to-end development and implementation of major service reconfigurations, ensuring alignment with national policy, clinical best practice, and local population health needs.

Impact Evaluation and Continuous Improvement:Establishclear metrics and evaluation frameworks tomonitorthe impact of service changes, ensuring continuous improvement and the delivery of intended benefits.

Prevention and Inequalities

Place-level strategies embedded in Core20PLUS5 and wider determinants

Use population health data to target variation and deliver interventions that reduce inequalities.

Strategic Commissioning

Provide oversight and leadership for the full spectrum of commissioning responsibilities, including primary care, acute, community, specialised, strategic, and individual commissioning. Ensure that commissioning decisions are evidence-based, outcomes-focused, and aligned with population health needs, delivering integrated, high-quality, and sustainable services across the health and care system.

Collaboration with Local Government

Strong interface withcombined authorityandlocalcouncils

Digital and Data-Driven Planning

Enable shared care records and analytics at neighbourhood level

Culture, Leadership & OD

Champion compassionate, inclusive, and values-based leadership. Lead system-wide organisational development programmes. Embed psychological safety, wellbeing, and staff engagement as cultural norms.

Integrated System Delivery

Cross-cutting matrix delivery across ICB functions to improve population health outcomes, reduce inequalities and enhance service efficiency

The main duties and responsibilities described above are not exhaustive and the post holder can expect to take on other responsibilities or specific tasks as required.

Further, over time it is likely the remit and requirements of the role will evolve, and the post holder will be expected to adjust their working approach and style to accommodate these. As a new post within the organisation, to reflect the above, it is expected that this job description would be reviewed regularly, by agreement.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent system leadership and experience working with system partners, supported by evidence of agreeing and delivering on shared objectives that have resulted in policy/strategic outcomes.
• Track record of improving health outcomes through system leadership, efficient resource management, and new ways of working. Driving strategic planning, commissioning and delivery across a complex health and social care system.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise of Strategic Planning and Policy acquired through training and experience over a significant period.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, to relate effectively to key stakeholders (internally and externally) command their respect, trust, and confidence.
• Exceptional relationship building, relationship management and negotiation skills, with demonstrated ability to influence and persuade at the highest level.
• Strong senior leader adept at leading change in a complex and dynamic environment, with an engaging, adaptable, leadership style which connects with people at all levels.

Values & Behaviours

Essential

• Operates with integrity, compassion, and a strong commitment to public service.
• Champions inclusion, anti-discrimination, and wellbeing.
• Demonstrates NHS Values in all interactions.

Person Specification
Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent system leadership and experience working with system partners, supported by evidence of agreeing and delivering on shared objectives that have resulted in policy/strategic outcomes.
• Track record of improving health outcomes through system leadership, efficient resource management, and new ways of working. Driving strategic planning, commissioning and delivery across a complex health and social care system.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise of Strategic Planning and Policy acquired through training and experience over a significant period.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, to relate effectively to key stakeholders (internally and externally) command their respect, trust, and confidence.
• Exceptional relationship building, relationship management and negotiation skills, with demonstrated ability to influence and persuade at the highest level.
• Strong senior leader adept at leading change in a complex and dynamic environment, with an engaging, adaptable, leadership style which connects with people at all levels.

Values & Behaviours

Essential

• Operates with integrity, compassion, and a strong commitment to public service.
• Champions inclusion, anti-discrimination, and wellbeing.
• Demonstrates NHS Values in all interactions.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
Address

Lakeside / Regatta

No 1 Lakeside 920 Centre Park

Warrington / Liverpool

WA1 1QY

United Kingdom

Employer's website