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- Tasks: Lead procurement activities and ensure high-quality support for children and families.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to making a difference in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives through effective commissioning and governance.
- Qualifications: Experience in commissioning or social care services, with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to inclusivity and accessible services.
The predicted salary is between 43860 - 47829 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA
Salary: £43,860 - £47,829 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Working Hours: 37 hrs per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 29th March 2026
Interview Date(s): 10th April 2026
Are you passionate about ensuring that children, young people and their families/carers receive high-quality support at the right time helping them to achieve their full potential? Would you like to help make a difference to the lives of children and young people through effective commissioning – with a focus on procurement but may at times also focus on the brokerage of individual placements, quality assurance processes and monitoring of contractual arrangements? Do you have an awareness of the Commissioning Cycle and commissioning practices, including procurement processes? If so, this could be the ideal role for you.
About the Role
We are looking to recruit a full time Senior Commissioning Officer to join our service. Although our Senior Commissioning Officers share a generic job description, we are looking for the successful candidate to lead our Commissioning Governance and Compliance Sub Team. This team has specific responsibility for the planning and delivering of a range of procurement activities and much of the internal governance for our commissioning activity.
The team operates across both the Targeted Early Help service and the Social Care, Education, Inclusion and Additional Needs directorates within the Children and Family Service, working closely with the Corporate Commissioning Support Unit and procurement legal teams.
The role has a strong emphasis on procurement, and the successful candidate will play a key part in leading and coordinating procurement activity across the service. This includes ensuring full compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and local Contract Procedure Rules, providing advice and guidance to colleagues, and overseeing the delivery of a wide range of routine commissioning and procurement exercises. You will support the development of procurement across the Department, contribute to the drafting of specifications and tender documentation, and ensure that processes are robust, transparent, and outcome‑focused.
In addition, the successful candidate will work alongside other Senior Commissioning Officers to support the Commissioning Managers and the Service Manager in the day‑to‑day running of the wider commissioning service, including the following areas:
- Quality Assurance - Undertaking quality assurance meetings and provider visits
- Contract Monitoring and Review - Completing annual contract management meetings to ensure services are delivered in line with contractual expectations and contribute to positive outcomes for children, young people and their families/carers.
- Brokerage and Negotiation – Brokering services and placements for children and young people
The post will primarily focus on leading the Commissioning Governance and Compliance Team. However, you may also be required to provide cover for other Senior Commissioning Officers working across the areas listed above, as needed to support departmental priorities.
There is also the expectation that the successful candidate may be required to attend meetings away from the normal office base which would require appropriate insurance cover.
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:
- Degree in relevant subject Or Demonstrable experience identified within the section below.
- Experience of commissioning, contracting or providing social care services to children and young people in a statutory, private or voluntary organisation and working in a senior position and managing/coaching staff.
- Experience of developing positive relationships and managing conflict.
- Experience of using monitoring and evaluation to inform planning, including data systems to track performance.
- Experience of business process design, process testing, and the documentation of work instructions.
- Knowledge of relevant national legislation and regulation requirements including safeguarding policies, housing law and procedures and contract procedure rules.
- Ability to analyse information and write clear well-presented reports with recommendations and support the drafting of service specifications or system development.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Flexible Working
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
Contacts
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Sarah Wilson - Service Manager Telephone: 01163056527 Email: Sarah.Wilson@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.
If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Senior Commissioning Officer in Leicester employer: Leicestershire County Council
Contact Detail:
Leicestershire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commissioning Officer in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the field of commissioning and social care. Attend relevant events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Leicestershire County Council and understand their values and mission. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in terms of supporting children and families. Practise answering common interview questions related to procurement and commissioning.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! During interviews, highlight your experience with the Commissioning Cycle and any successful projects you've led. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to manage contracts and ensure compliance with regulations. This will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Leicestershire County Council. Get your application in early to avoid missing out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commissioning Officer in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your experience aligns with the criteria listed in the job description. We want to see how you can make a difference, so be specific about your achievements and skills!
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for working with children and young people shine through! We’re looking for candidates who are genuinely passionate about making a positive impact, so don’t hold back on sharing your motivation.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and structure your points logically. We appreciate well-presented reports, so make sure your application reflects that!
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get your application in as soon as you can through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leicestershire County Council
✨Know Your Commissioning Cycle
Make sure you brush up on the Commissioning Cycle and relevant procurement processes before your interview. Being able to discuss how these concepts apply to the role will show that you're not just familiar with the theory, but also understand how to implement it effectively.
✨Demonstrate Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past experience that highlight your skills in commissioning, contracting, and managing staff. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making it easy for the interviewers to see your impact.
✨Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills
Since the role involves developing positive relationships and managing conflict, think of instances where you've successfully navigated challenging situations. Be ready to discuss how you foster collaboration and resolve disputes, as this will be key to your success in the position.
✨Understand the Local Context
Familiarise yourself with Leicestershire County Council's values and the specific needs of children and young people in the area. Showing that you understand the local context and are committed to delivering inclusive services will resonate well with the interview panel.