Job Details:
Salary Range: £38,092 - £42,389 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 12 July 2024
Interview date: 25 July 2024
*Please note that applications will be kept under regular review and we reserve the right to interview earlier and close the application window at an earlier date if suitable candidates have applied early.
The Role:
The Sufficiency Service is looking for a dynamic, motivated, and creative Senior Commercial and Commissioning Officer to focus on the Supported Accommodation category.
The Sufficiency Service commissions capacity in the external market to contribute to Childrens’ Services meeting a range of statutory sufficiency duties. This includes commissioning placements for children in care and children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Our agile team must respond to a dynamic operating environment.
From identifying creative solutions to deliver efficiencies, liaising with providers in the market, or analysing data to inform commissioning plans and activity, this is a varied and autonomous role. You will support the full commissioning cycle, taking a lead role on tenders and contracts that will be complex, high value and / or of strategic importance to the Directorate.
Working with a Senior Category Manager you will play a key role in developing and implementing commissioning and category plans. You will grow your market knowledge so that you can build strong and sustainable relationships with our suppliers to help us secure market share and best value for our placements. You will also lead on contract monitoring and evaluation to ensure our providers are delivering for us and that any quality or capacity concerns are resolved swiftly, so that we can be confident our provisions achieve positive outcomes for the children and young people who use the services we commission.
Working with the Senior Category Manager, and in a matrix environment within the Sufficiency service, you will lead projects and key activities within your category and collaborate across the service on areas of shared responsibility / shared objectives. You will also be responsible for regular reporting for your category and across the category management function.
You will be highly organised, and solution focused with a commitment to continuous improvement. A strong attention to detail, well developed analytical skills and the ability to work independently will be important to ensure you can resolve issues autonomously.
You will have excellent IT skills including the ability to manage, manipulate, analyse and present data to demonstrate findings and trends that inform strategic decision-making.
Being commercially minded, you will have a keen appreciation of our need to deliver cost effective, efficient, and streamlined services and the importance of ensuring these services meet the needs of the children and families we support, whilst delivering value for money.
If you are a clear communicator with a passion for ensuring quality services, we would love to hear from you. In all aspects of the role, you will be motivated by getting the best out of people and by ensuring that the service you are delivering is of a high standard, delivering positive outcomes for children and young people, and ensuring best value for the Directorate.
If you have a particular flexible working requirement it would be beneficial to include details of this as part of your application. The office base is in Winchester and the role allows for a mix of office and home-based working in line with the Council’s Open Workplace policy.
Travel Requirements
You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire, and therefore need to have the ability to travel, as necessary.
Additional Information:
Senior Commercial Commissioning Officer
Vetting Requirements:
This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview .