Commissioning and Contracts Officer at Suffolk County Council

Bury St Edmunds, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

21 Jan, 26

Salary

40777.0

Posted On

23 Oct, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Commissioning, Contract Management, Service Development, Relationship Building, Data Analysis, Performance Monitoring, Change Management, Market Research, Collaboration, Agility, Social Care, Community Engagement, Problem Solving, Communication, Inclusivity, Safeguarding

Industry

Government Administration

Description

Suffolk County Council Address: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, Western Way, IP33 3YU - Hybrid Salary: £34,434 - £40,777 per annum (pro rata for part time) Hours: 37 hours a week, flexible working options available Contract: Fixed Term or Secondment for 12 months At Suffolk County Council, collaboration is central to how we work. As a Commissioning and Contract Officer within the Strategic Commissioning & Contract Management Team, you’ll help shape and deliver services that make a real difference. Working alongside colleagues, providers, and communities, you’ll build trusted relationships, develop innovative solutions, and ensure our contracts and commissioning strategies meet the needs of those we support - now and into the future. Reimagine the possibilities. Your role and responsibilities On a daily basis, you might: Use your insight to support service development, helping to shape proposals based on community needs, national best practice, and stakeholder feedback. Engage with providers and partners, building strong relationships to ensure services are ready to meet evolving care models. Monitor contracts and performance, reviewing supplier data and working with colleagues to address any issues and drive improvements. Support co-production efforts, working alongside social work teams, service users, and commissioning partners to design services that reflect real needs. Contribute to market research, gathering intelligence to inform commissioning decisions and future planning. Collaborate across teams, sharing ideas and working with practice, quality, and workforce leads to ensure joined-up thinking and delivery. Deputise for senior colleagues, stepping in to support leadership and decision-making when needed. You will need A background in commissioning, contract management, or service development, ideally within adult social care, health, housing, or public services - but transferable experience from other sectors is absolutely welcome. Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to work confidently with providers, partners, and internal teams. An eye for detail and a head for data, able to monitor supplier performance, interpret metrics, and support improvements. Experience supporting change, whether through service redesign, procurement, or market development. A proactive mindset, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond flexibly to emerging needs. A genuine passion for making a positive impact in Suffolk. A commitment to fairness, inclusion, and safeguarding. A collaborative spirit - someone who supports colleagues and contributes to a positive team culture. You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. The team We play a key role in shaping adult social care services across Suffolk. Our purpose is simple: to ensure services are well-designed, sustainable, and meet real needs. We work closely with providers, social work teams, health partners, and communities to co-produce solutions that help people live more independently, safely, and with dignity. Our culture is collaborative and supportive - we share ideas, celebrate wins, and tackle challenges together. We’re agile and responsive, always adapting to the needs of the market and those we serve. We practice hybrid working, with most of us in the office on Wednesdays to connect face-to-face while enjoying remote flexibility. Empowering Everyone We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report. For more information Please contact Karl Taber (he/him) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01284 758249 or emailing Karl.taber@suffolk.gov.uk If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application. How to apply Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word). Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template. How have you managed supplier relationships to ensure effective communication and delivery of contracted services? Give an example of how you have used customer feedback to drive service improvements. Share an example of how you have managed and briefed senior management using key performance indicators or contract performance systems. Tell me about a time when you had to travel frequently for work. How did you manage your responsibilities and maintain effective communication? Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details). We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process. Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process. Closing date: 11.30pm, 2 November 2025. This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

Responsibilities

As a Commissioning and Contracts Officer, you will support service development and monitor contracts and performance. You will engage with providers and partners to ensure services meet evolving care models.