Senior Commissioning Officer - Education Alternative Provision

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization is looking for a Senior Commissioning Officer for a 12 month fixed term contract to oversee and design services meeting the educational needs of children. Key tasks include stakeholder engagement, service development, and ensuring compliance with educational sufficiency duties. Candidates should be degree-level educated or possess substantial relevant experience. The position offers flexible working and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Generous annual leave entitlements

Employee Assistance Programme

Family and carer friendly policies

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee benefits including discounts and travel passes

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or substantial relevant experience and training.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing, planning and designing services to meet educational needs.
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders.
• Supporting processes to meet educational sufficiency duty.

Skills

Experience of working in children’s care or education services environment

Knowledge of the commissioning cycle

Experience of developing contractual and financial processes

Experience of successfully engaging and negotiating with stakeholders

Ability to prioritise multiple projects

Education

Educated to degree level or relevant experience

Job description

Senior Commissioning Officer - Education Alternative Provision

Commissioning for Children, Young People and Families

12 month fixed term contract. Internal secondments will be considered for this post.

At Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, we are an ambitious, visionary, and learning organisation.We are determined to build on our strong foundations to support a culture of “can do” that enables engaged and competent staff to deliver excellent services.

We are recruiting for a Senior Commissioning Officer for a 12 month fixed term contract, who will be responsible for reviewing, planning and designing services to meet the growing educational alternative provision needs of our children, and will contribute to the development and delivery of key strategies.

You will have an active role in developing and maintaining strong working relationships, and undertaking negotiations with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. Your role will support the processes that will allow Solihull Council to meet our educational sufficiency duty for our children and young people.

To be successful in the role you will be educated to degree level or will be able to demonstrate your extended relevant experience and training. You will also be able to demonstrate the following:

• Experience of working in children’s care or education services environment or commissioning or procurement or in a relevant role within health
• Knowledge of the commissioning cycle and team approach to commissioning
• Experience of developing contractual and financial processes relating to the procurement of goods and/or services.
• Experience of successfully engaging and negotiating with a range of stakeholders
• Ability to prioritise time and resources to work on multiple projects simultaneously and to meet deadlines

In return, you will be working as part of a friendly and supportive team and will have the opportunity to work with a wide range of partners, to secure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people looked after. You will also appreciate the importance of commissioning in the delivery of these services.

We also offer:

• Flexible working, and agile working arrangements.
• Generous annual leave entitlements with opportunity to buy up to 10-days additional leave per year.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme – a 24 hour independent, free and secret advice and support service.
• Family and carer friendly policies.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Employee benefits including staff discounts, subsidised travel passes and Cycle 2 Work Scheme.

To apply, please click on the link below.

If you have a specific question regarding this post, please contact:

Darren Jakeways – Commissioning Manager - [e-mail]

Closing Date: 14 December 2025

Interviews will take place on 18 December 2025.

Internal secondment applicants will need approval from their line manager before applying for the post.

This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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