Lead commissioning officer - children & families

Lead Commissioning Officer - Children & Families

Permanent, Full Time

£42,452 to £49,943 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

The Opportunity

We are looking to recruit an additional Lead Commissioning Officers to join our busy team working across a diverse portfolio of Children and Families programmes. If you have good organisation and communication skills, are pro-active, creative and like to work autonomously, then this role could be for you. We are looking for people with a good grounding in local authority commissioning and who have a passion for making a difference to people's lives. This is an exciting role working in the Children and Families Commissioning team to deliver strategic change and better outcomes for children, young people and parents/carers in Essex.

As a Lead Commissioning Officer, you will work closely with our Commissioning Managers, taking the lead on delivering discrete programmes of work that will make a difference to families across Essex.

You will work collaboratively across the wider Council functions and internal/external partners.

You will be a self-starter, working autonomously on your own initiative and have knowledge of children and families policy and legislation.

Working closely with Heads of Commissioning, Lead Commissioning Officers play an important part in leading the Strategic Commissioning and Policy Function across the Adults and Children's and Families portfolios and the wider Essex County Council structures to the Council's approach to outcome focused and evidence- based commissioning.

You will:

* Deliver specific projects and activities that further the continuous improvement of high performing, sustainable and cost-effective services or place shaping activities and develop cross functional links.
* Enable Heads of Commissioning to ensure the effective planning of prioritized projects and activity and that they are met in terms of capacity and capability and delivered to a high standard.
* Respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities ensuring that risks and opportunities are identified and managed and comply with all external and internal regulation; support responses to calls for contributions to consultation responses.
* Build relationships and work in collaboration (for example with, but not limited to, CCGs and District/Borough/City Councils) not only to deliver levels of integrated activity, but also to identify any further opportunities and efficiencies across organisations.
* Provide subject matter expert advice and guidance as required for thematic programmes and projects which will change dependent on strategic priorities.
* Work as part of the Adults and Children's and Families Strategic Commissioning and Policy Function to support a flexible and agile approach to resourcing. The postholder will be able to work autonomously to balance a demanding work load.
* Ensure effective support as part of a matrix managed team for specific programme activity both planned and reactive; ensuring appropriate governance is complete.
* Support the development of, and use, a range of tools and techniques that ensure activity is consistent, effective and efficient and that an audit trail is maintained.
* Work within the team and individually to achieve shared targets and objectives defined annually with the team.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our 'No Magic' Children & Families video

The Experience You Will Bring

* Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience, with excellent oral and written communication skills.
* Previous experience of excellent relationship management, engaging, collaborating with and developing projects and programmes with statutory and non-statutory stakeholders
* Experience of managing or delivering commissioning projects and activities.
* Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional areas.
* Subject Matter Expert (SME) in adult social care, or related activity service/function area, and programme/project management expertise, in support of senior leaders.
* Knowledge and experience of all aspects of the commissioning cycle, project life-cycle and related activities gained within a commissioning environment.
* Evidence of successfully delivering outcomes and demonstrating breadth of thinking.
* Experience of delivery of public services and managing change in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
* Experience of working in a political environment, working effectively with members and senior officers across the council and partner agencies.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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