Senior Commissioner (maternity cover - fixed term contract 12 months)

Bracknell Forest Council; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave (33 days after 3+

Hybrid working opportunities

Local government pension scheme

Electric vehicle salary sacrifice

Career development/training

Enhanced family leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Bracknell Forest Council is seeking a Senior Commissioner to join the Children’s Strategic Commissioning Team in Bracknell. You will drive commissioning activities, monitor contracts and lead projects that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

With strong analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills, you will shape strategies, oversee provider monitoring, and collaborate with partners to secure value for money. Hybrid working and career development are offered.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a commissioning, contract management or related environment.
• Strong analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop commissioning strategies and priorities, with understanding of SEND services and Education Transport.

Responsibilities

• Report to the Strategic Commissioning Manager and ensure all aspects of the commissioning cycle are implemented to deliver value for money.
• Manage a portfolio of projects, facilitate and lead project groups, and ensure accountability for tasks to achieve objectives.
• Take responsibility for significant, high-value projects, commissioning reviews, change management and contract management.
• Provide advice, review papers including options appraisals to senior managers and Assistant Directors across the council.
• Build strong relationships and effective working partnerships in relation to commissioning and service development.

Skills

Commissioning

Contract management

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

£50,570 - £55,977 per year inclusive of £753 London Weighting

Location:

Time Square, Bracknell (Hybrid working)

Contract:

Temporary

Working Pattern:

Flexible Hours/Full Time

Hours:

37 hours per week.

DBS Check:

No

Closing Date:

02/11/2026 at 23:59

Reference:

People/26/347721

Are you looking for a role where your commissioning expertise can make a real difference for children, young people and families?

Join Bracknell Forest and play a key role in the Children’s Strategic Commissioning Team, helping to shape high-quality services, build strong partnerships and deliver positive outcomes and value for money for our residents.

At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service. This role includes an expectation to work from our Time Square office 1-2 days per week, alongside flexible working arrangements.

Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying. Search ‘secondment policy’ on the intranet for more information.

About you…

As a Senior Commissioner you will have experience of working within a commissioning, contract management or related environment, with the ability to contribute effectively across the commissioning cycle and support the delivery of positive outcomes and value for money for children, young people and residents.

With strong analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills, you will be able to develop and contribute to commissioning strategies and priorities, with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities within SEND services and Education Transport. This will include leading provider monitoring activity, responding confidently to performance and contractual concerns and negotiating effectively to secure positive outcomes and value for money.

A creative, solutions-focused and adaptable professional, you will be confident working collaboratively with colleagues, providers and partners. You will have the ability to bring together resources, expertise and different perspectives to overcome challenges and identify practical solutions, while working professionally and effectively.

About the team…

Bracknell Forest Council is a forward-thinking and supportive organisation, where friendly and committed colleagues work together to deliver meaningful outcomes for our communities. We are ambitious in our approach and value innovation, collaboration and planning ahead to meet the changing needs of our residents.

The Children’s Strategic Commissioning Team plays a key role in shaping and delivering high-quality, effective services for children and young people. We work closely with partners and providers to understand local needs, develop strategic priorities and ensure services deliver positive outcomes and value for money. Joining the team, you will have the opportunity to influence these priorities and contribute to services that make a lasting difference to children, young people and families.

Reporting to the Strategic Commissioning Manager you will:

• ensure all aspects of the commissioning cycle are implemented in a consistent, safe and efficient way to support excellent outcomes for our residents and deliver outstanding value for money.
• manage a portfolio of projects, ensuring delivery in line with project plans; facilitate and lead project groups; and ensure accountability for tasks to achieve timely objectives.
• take responsibility for significant, high-value projects, commissioning reviews, change management and contract management.
• provide advice, support and review papers, including clear options appraisals, to senior managers and Assistant Directors across the council.
• build strong relationships and effective working partnerships in relation to commissioning and the strategic development of service areas.
• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us.Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities.We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Disability confident and inclusive recruitment

Bracknell Forest Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive employer. This means that if you tell us on your application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran or is a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Interview date

Interviews will be held on Monday 9th November.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.