Strategic Commissioning Officer (Children’s Services) - 37 hours
Summary: An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Strategic Commissioning Officer - Children’s Services. You may be someone already working in commissioning looking for a new challenge or someone with relevant transferable skills from social care, education, SEND, health, and/or the third sector. What you will bring is passion, energy and commitment to make a positive difference to the lives of Torbay’s children, young people and families.
Application Deadline: 5 November 2025
Department: Finance
Location: Torbay Council
Compensation: £47,181 - £50,269 / year
Responsibilities
You will fulfil a key role, working across the Children’s Services and with internal and external partners and stakeholders, leading on a diverse range of commissioning projects and programmes. You will be able to access excellent learning and development opportunities to support you in your role and your continuous professional development. This role is open to hybrid working.
If you share our core values of being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity and are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children, young people and families we would love to hear from you.
Qualifications & Requirements
Skills
* Proven ability to work autonomously and without direction to meet the requirements of the role and Council priorities.
* Proven ability to work on and prioritise multiple projects across a diverse range of subject matters encompassing all Children’s Services activity and able to deal with conflicting and ever changing priorities, in relation to own workload and that of in-direct reports.
* Ability to demonstrate motivational, negotiation, challenge and influencing skills to secure buy-in and best outcomes through collaborative and partnership working; and improved outcomes and best value within service delivery.
* Ability to demonstrate mature problem solving and analytical skills to interpret statistical and written information and to produce planning documents and determine a range of informed and imaginative solutions.
* Ability to demonstrate extensive communication skills necessary to present complex information clearly, in a range of formats to varied audiences.
* Knowledge (Essential): Knowledge of public sector commissioning sufficient to understand the impact and consequences of decisions on Council policy, strategy, the wider system, services and service users.
* Knowledge and understanding of the full commissioning cycle, including needs assessment, co-production and market appraisal.
* Knowledge of key social care, education, health and other relevant legislation, regulatory frameworks and policy guidance (Children’s Act, Education Act, Ofsted, contracting regulations, data protection, transparency, transformation agenda, etc.).
* Knowledge of performance management, policy development and service improvement methodologies and their application, including quality standards and development of management information systems.
* Knowledge and understanding, at a local and national level, of current and future trends and issues affecting the commissioning and delivery of children’s statutory and non-statutory social care services.
* Experience & Qualifications
* Demonstrable experience of the successful commissioning of services.
* Demonstrable experience of partnership and collaborative working across a diverse range of stakeholders.
* Demonstrable experience of co-production and consultation with key stakeholders, including service users in the design and delivery of outcomes-focused services that meet needs and aspirations.
* A proven track record in formulating and delivering presentations to a diverse audience, supported by the effective facilitation of group working and collaborative activities.
* Experience of managing and monitoring contractual arrangements, including contract compliance, opportunities for improvement/service redesign to ensure value for money and better outcomes.
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