Job Description

This is what we need you to do:

• Work under the direction of commissioning managers to support lead commissioners and outcome managers to ensure the commissioning of services to meet customer needs
• Support outcome managers and lead commissioners to ensure quality, customer informed and value for money decisions are made about commissioning and decommissioning of services
• Provide advice, evidence and research which support commissioning decisions including analysis of market development trend
• Support customer engagement processes to help inform commissioning decisions
• Undertake contract monitoring directly with providers
• Provide support for procurement and commissioning exercises
• Keep up to date with relevant policy, best practice and legislative changes to allocated outcome areas
• Draft and compile specifications which are consistent with commissioning/procurement guidance and legislation
• Lead and undertake project work using project planning methods
• Ensure effective communication plans with stakeholders and partners are in place
• Provide succinct and relevant written and verbal updates including anticipated impact and risk assessment
• Support the provision of value for money and return on investment information and analysis

Additional duties:

• Lead and undertake more complex and higher risk project work using project planning methods
• Lead on lower risk commissioning exercises
• Provide support for more complex and higher risk procurement and commissioning exercises
• Keep up to date with relevant policy, best practice and legislative changes to allocated outcome areas and recommend solutions and changes to services to meet the new requirements

Experience, Skills and Attributes Required:

• Project management experience is a must
• Local authority experience is desired
• Working within and between multi agency partners and providers
• Proven project support skills and experience of working to tight, pressurised deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to compile detailed specifications which reflect evidenced need and customer feedback/preference to commission service
• Knowledge of procurement and commissioning legislation, policy and processes
• Understanding of how the public sector works
• Ability to add value through expert knowledge and understanding of a given outcome/portfolio area
• Good written and verbal communication skills including report writing, using effective language to convey convincing ideas and arguments and the ability to simplify technical and complex information
• Commercial skills, including business modelling, programme management, procurement, negotiation and contract management
• Benchmarking skills
• Knowledge and understanding of Gloucestershire’s multi agency safeguarding vulnerable adults and children policies and their application in a commissioning context

Additional Requirements:

• Extensive experience of working in a commissioning environment as a commissioner or provider including experience of assisting with commissioning and procurement activity for high risk and complex projects

Education & Qualifications:

• NVQ level 4 or equivalent e.g. A Levels, BTEC Awards 3, OCR Nationals or an equivalent qualification
• Relevant professional, procurement or commissioning qualification
• Graduate qualification - desirable

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities