Travel Commissioning Manager

About Us
At Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), our Supported Travel Service plays a vital role in keeping communities across the county connected, independent and involved. Every day, a dedicated team of around 200 staff members supports the journeys and travel of approximately 10,000 residents, using a blend of more than 70 in-house fleet vehicles and over 800 contracted vehicles. The service arranges and delivers a wide range of safe, efficient and reliable travel solutions, including home-to-school and SEND transport, independent travel training, personal travel budgets, community and public transport schemes, and essential journeys for children’s and adults’ social care.

Our core commitment is to provide alternative, safe and efficient travel solutions that empower people of all ages to access education, care, and social opportunities. Placing residents and their communities at the heart of everything we do, we focus on enhancing access, enabling participation and improving quality of life. Safeguarding is central to our mission, with all journeys underpinned by robust assurance, professional training and a culture of dignity and respect. Through practical, community-centred solutions, our service ensures that Oxfordshire’s residents can travel confidently and safely, whatever their needs.

This is an exciting time to be joining the team as we shape and embed new ways of working to support high-quality supported travel services.

What You'll Do
As Travel Commissioning Manager in our Supported Travel Service, you will take the lead in commissioning, planning and supporting with the strategic development of our travel solutions across both Home to School Travel and Adult Social Care Travel, ensuring that every journey is safe, efficient and cost-effective each day. In this pivotal role, you will spearhead the commissioning of travel services, working closely with internal stakeholders and external providers to create innovative, person-centred solutions that empower independence and strictly follow the hierarchy of travel as outlined in our travel and transport policies.

Your remit will include leading and managing a dedicated team of Travel Assessment Officers and Transport Coordinators, fostering robust travel assessment practices, efficient and effective route planning, comprehensive risk assessments, and responsive service delivery for children, young people, and adults with care and support needs. Through collaborative leadership, you will ensure that all transport services are not only safe, efficient and person-centred, but also fully compliant with statutory and operational requirements. Your pivotal leadership guarantees that travel assistance is provided in accordance with legal obligations, policy frameworks and budgetary constraints, making a tangible difference to the lives of Oxfordshire’s residents.

A critical element of your remit involves working in close partnership with the Transport Operations Manager, you’ll help ensure in-house transport provision is optimised and well aligned with commissioned services. You’ll also work closely with the Contracts and Compliance Manager to ensure providers meet contractual, safeguarding, quality and financial requirements. These collaborative efforts are vital for sustaining operational readiness, driving service enhancements, and delivering cohesive travel solutions for residents across Oxfordshire.

This is a truly exciting and influential position, demanding strategic leadership, sharp analytical skills, and the ability to turn policy into impactful operational practices. As Travel Commissioning Manager, you will play a key role in transformation programmes and service improvement projects, using data, insight and strategic thinking to translate policy into practice and help deliver travel services that are sustainable, inclusive and offer best value. You will also support the Strategic Supported Travel Operations Manager with long-term strategic planning, ensuring that all travel services are sustainable, inclusive, and deliver the best possible value for investment.

If you’re passionate about delivering positive change, this position provides an opportunity to drive meaningful, long-term improvements and influence the advancement and provision of sustainable and inclusive travel services. At Supported Travel, you will collaborate with a dedicated team that prioritises continuous development and values robust stakeholder engagement. Your contributions will play a direct role in delivering accessible, efficient, and high-quality travel solutions throughout Oxfordshire.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the Travel Commissioning area to deliver services in line with organisational priorities
• Review and monitor service delivery performance, using data and feedback to drive improvements
• Ensure full compliance with safeguarding, health and safety standards, as well as all relevant transport and travel regulations
• Support and lead continuous improvement initiatives and projects
• Conduct statutory travel assessments and communicate decisions to families, educational institutions, and stakeholders
• Provide expert advice and input for decision-making, policy development, and service enhancements
• Work closely with the Contracts & Compliance Manager and Fleet Manager to address operational risks and issues related to service delivery, contracts, and fleet operations

What You'll Bring
Professional Qualifications: Holds relevant management credentials (such as CIPS, ILM, or CMI).
Sector Experience: Demonstrates experience working within local authority or council settings, with a particular focus on Home to School Travel Assistance and Adult Social Care Transport.
Possesses strong leadership and people-management capabilities.
Exhibits exceptional communication skills, particularly in engagements with families, schools, and partner services.
Displays confidence managing complex cases, sensitive discussions, and competing priorities.
Proficient in utilising data analytics to inform decision-making and drive service improvement.
Experienced in fostering collaborative and productive relationships across multi-disciplinary teams.
Adaptability: Able to work flexibly and effectively respond to evolving service requirements, policies, and legislative changes.
Communication and Negotiation: Brings outstanding abilities in communication, negotiation, and decision-making, maintaining a collaborative and solution-oriented approach.
Systems Implementation: Well-versed in implementing service and systems enhancements.
Experienced in strategic planning, development, and delivery of travel or transport solutions in alignment with statutory and operational frameworks.
Demonstrated leadership in managing and developing teams, with an emphasis on commissioning and coordinating services.
Skilled in implementing travel assessment processes and communicating effectively with families, educational institutions, and key stakeholders.

Ready to Apply?
If you are interested in this role, please submit your application by 22 February 2026. When applying, please upload a current CV along with a personal statement. Your statement should explain how your skills and experience match the role, referring to the key requirements in the job description. We encourage early applications and reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of suitable candidates are identified. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to interview shortly thereafter, and we will communicate next steps as soon as possible.

For informal enquiries or further information about the role, please contact Alexandra O’Hanlon, Head of Fleet and Transport Services, on Alexandra.O'Hanlon@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexitime, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.