Job title: Commissioning Officer

Salary: SO2 £36,124 - £37,938

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent x1

Location: Merrion House: Hybrid working available

INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

As a Commissioning Officer, you’ll thrive on working with others to commission high quality services that address health and social inequalities and deliver the best outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.

This role will provide the opportunity to be part of our creative and supportive team who are involved in high profile cross-directorate areas of commissioning and contract management.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About the role

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. We welcome applications from people with lived experience. While desirable, it is not essential that you have previous experience of commissioning. We often recruit people who come from different work backgrounds and find this adds value and new skills to our team; experience working within social care is useful however - either front-line delivery/management or Social Work.

We are looking for a Commissioning Officer (Permanent SO2) to join the Working Age Adults (WAA) Commissioning Team in Adults and Health. This is an exciting opportunity to join an established and exceptionally supportive and creative team, working together to provide good quality, person-centred accommodation and community services in Leeds for the benefit of Leeds citizens with support needs.  Every day brings new opportunities to learn and is a great opportunity for someone passionate about ensuring people receive the care and support they should have.

Does this sound like you?

The new post-holder will be working within the WAA Team, providing commissioning and programme support across the integrated including contracts around Learning Disability & Autism, Mental Health, Physical and Sensory Impairment, and Older Adults.

The focus of this role is on supporting external providers through our contract management process to run good quality accommodation services.  This involves celebrating providers’ strengths and achievements and providing support to improve any areas of challenge as a ‘critical friend’.  This work is done in close partnership with Social Work and Health colleagues. There will also be opportunities to take part in wider commissioning activities, for example service consultations and reviews, to inform future service provision in the city.  All our roles across the team are flexible and the work programme is re-organised occasionally to make the most of everyone’s strengths.

About you

As a Commissioning Officer, you will bring to the role:

• Ability to work as part of a team that commissions innovative and person-centred care and support services.
• Ability to undertake contract management and build productive relationships with external providers.
• Ability to provide project and programme management support across the team
• Ability to undertake data analysis and produce reports to help drive a case for change.
• Ability to improve service quality and partnership working to deliver value for money and drive up performance across the team.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Beki Field, Senior Commissioning Officer, 0113 378 0029 or email beki.field@leeds.gov.uk.

Shadowing options may be available on request.

Interviews are due to take place 12^th and 13^th May 2025. We appreciate there are multiple bank holidays and school holidays due and would like to ensure candidates have time to prepare.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To deliver project and programme support to assist the team with its effective delivery of cross-directorate commissioning and contract management at a Senior Officer level.

To be responsible for supporting programmes of work which contribute to the delivery of one or more of the following:

• Service review and improvement projects
• Support to the team’s Strategic Commissioning Groups, Project Boards and/or Project Teams
• Contribution towards the development of strategy and policy relating to services for key client groups
• Contract management of commissioned services
• Data analysis of service performance
• Provider and service user engagement

To assist in the development and delivery of key programmes of cross directorate working, including the development of strategy and policy relating to services for key client groups and support to the team’s Strategic Commissioning Group.

To support the evaluation of contracts with commissioned services and assist the team in developing and maintaining productive relationships with providers to achieve high quality services and value for money.

You will provide line management to the C1 Commissioning Support Officer as required, undertake staff appraisals and support the personal development of team members.

Responsibilities 

• To support the commissioning of new services, re-commission / decommission existing services and to co-ordinate joint working within the Directorate, across the Council and with external partners as appropriate.
• To support the development of key policy and strategy relating to the commissioning of services.
• To support monitoring and contract management meetings associated with the portfolio of contracts, and ensure that service delivery remains compliant with terms and conditions.
• To support the contract and programme management of a portfolio of services, ensuring effective relationship management with partners, value for money and achievement of quality standards and efficiency savings targets.
• To provide a point of contact for internal and external service providers for enquiries and information about investment and grants programme, and - where appropriate - coordinate the dissemination of information on, and applications for, such programmes.
• To monitor the effectiveness of provision of services by the collection, storage and analysis of data supplied by external and internal providers.
• To contribute to project and programme management of key areas of work, including working with Council colleagues and external partners to achieve desired outcomes to agreed (and often tight) deadlines.
• To contribute to the preparation and presentation of complex information in a variety of formats to a range of audiences at different levels, including preparing reports to support effective decision making at a strategic and political level within the Council.
• To support the team's work with the corporate procurement team on all issues related to corporate procurement procedures, working with partners and providers to deliver effective procurement efficiencies.
• To maintain and update relevant databases: gather baseline information, including stakeholder surveys, keep monitoring information on all aspects of contracts/grants and/or quality assurance programmes, providing updates as required for any appropriate project board/officer of elected member forum.
• To work on behalf of the team or represent the Senior Commissioning Officer, on specified functional areas or work streams for the Directorate.
• Maintenance of effective performance assurance systems.
• To contribute to the delivery of collaborative partnerships and working relationships with providers, internal and external partners, elected members and key stakeholders in the city to ensure the availability and delivery of quality services.
• To support PO4 Commissioning Managers in providing briefings, guidance and support to senior officers, elected members and staff across the Council in relation to one or more service areas.
• To support consultation and engagement with service users and other stakeholders ensuring that the outcomes are used to influence commissioning, service design and delivery.
• To disseminate accessible and regular information to all stakeholders in a systematised way (including any website facility or development).
• To undertake effective evaluation of projects and contracts, including data collection; collation and scrutiny and performance management information; benchmarking; report writing, risk analysis and the implementation of practical outcomes and lessons learned.
• To assist officers in work in conjunction with the relevant Finance Officers to monitor expenditure and ensure financial targets are met.
• To develop a working knowledge of relevant Council, Directorate and Partnership plans and priorities, including the implications for service areas.
• To ensure the provision of practical administrative support to Officers with responsibility for grant allocation and the contracts associated with such grant funding and/or the maintenance of effective performance assurance systems.
• Where appropriate, to service the investment and grants panels which report to the project board: act as the point of contact.
• To maintain accurate records of spending related to grants, providing regular reports as required.
• Where appropriate, to organise and administer procedures for payments to service users and carers and voluntary sector representatives, keeping records of the expenditure.
• To assist in ensuring compliance with any governance requirements relating to the work of the team, including those relating to commissioning, procurement and financial management.
• As and where appropriate to supervise the work of Commissioning Support Officers (C1) as required for the successful delivery of projects supported by this post.
• To be responsible for your own personal development and to assist the team to plan and develop activities which ensure up to date knowledge and skills within the team.
• To ensure due regard is taken of equality and diversity when supporting the design, delivery or review of policies, strategies, services and human resources and ensure that any mitigating actions are delivered as commensurate to the role.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post. 

Qualifications: None required

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills

• Ability to support contract management activities with commissioned providers.
• Ability to develop productive working relationships which create respect, trust and confidence.
• Ability to coordinate performance management activities which improves service quality and supports a culture that drives up standards and performance.
• Ability to support financial management and work within a budget. Including processing of payments in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ability to engage effectively with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders including external partners and service users.
• Ability to provide support to the management of strategic partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Ability to work flexibly across a range of simultaneous initiatives and as part of a larger team.
• Ability to develop systems and analyse and interrogate a range of varied and complex data using a variety of methods, including relevant IT software and the ability to use and maintain databases, to inform future delivery and planning.
• Ability to support programmes and projects and support functioning of project teams.
• Ability to utilise investigative, analytical and interpretive skills and apply them to local / national strategy to inform work in Leeds.
• Ability to provide clear information, including developing and presenting reports, to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and to manage personal work and time effectively.
• Ability to think creatively and to solve problems in a constructive way
• Ability to supervise the work of administrative assistants.

Knowledge/ Qualifications

• Knowledge of programme and/or contract management principles and processes required to ensure outcomes are maximised and value for money achieved.
• Understanding of commissioning principles and practices

Experience

• Of working in a team setting to support communications for example with Council colleagues, Elected Members, external providers, delivery partners or other key stakeholders.
• Of working with internal and external partners, including service users and carers, within the context of health, support or social care to deliver projects and programmes.
• Of supporting performance management activities, including the use of databases, producing information and reports using IT and organising meetings and events.
• Of supporting your own personal development.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Knowledge/ Qualifications

• Understanding of health and social care issues, particularly in terms of the role of the voluntary and community sector and partnership work.
• A knowledge of key strategic plans including the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Inclusive Growth Strategy.
• A knowledge of the Council's Values and Leadership and Management Standards.
• A knowledge of Governance requirements and the Council's policies and procedures that would relate to decision making.

Experience

• Of commissioning and contract management of services.
• Of using a financial payment process and supporting budget management activities to achieve budgetary targets
• Of working in a political environment and on politically sensitive issues.

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