Trainee Commissioning & Contracts Officer

Portsmouth City Council; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is recruiting a Trainee Contracts and Commissioning Officer in Adult Social Care. The role offers a structured path to develop knowledge in commissioning, procurement support and contract management, with progression linked to experience and qualifications.

You will assist with monitoring provider performance, quality and value for money, support procurement activities, contract development and service improvements, while building relationships with providers and

Qualifications

• Interest in developing a career in contract management, commissioning and procurement.
• Ability to support stakeholder engagement and collaborative working.
• Good verbal and written communication, IT literacy and meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Monitor provider performance, quality, compliance and value for money across Adult Social Care services.
• Support procurement activities, contract development and service improvement initiatives.
• Build effective relationships with providers and stakeholders; escalate risks where appropriate.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

IT systems

Time management

Verbal and written communication

Education

Willing to undertake relevant training

Job description

Trainee Contracts and Commissioning Officer - Adult Social Care

Salary: Band:7-9, £33,119 - £44,252 p.a. (progression would be dependent on candidates experience and qualifications)

Your new role

This trainee role offers a structured opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and experience in commissioning, procurement support and contract management within Adult Social Care.

Within the role you will support the commissioning, procurement and contract management of Adult Social Care services. Working alongside experienced colleagues, the postholder will help monitor provider performance, quality, compliance and value for money across a range of care services, while supporting procurement activities, contract development and service improvement initiatives. The role involves building effective relationships with providers and stakeholders, contributing to quality assurance and market oversight, identifying and escalating risks where appropriate, and supporting organisational priorities, including Local Government Reorganisation.

Who is the person summary:

With an interest in developing a career in contract management, commissioning and procurement, you will be qualified or willing to undertake the relevant training where appropriate. You will have some experience, knowledge or understanding administrative, project , commissioning, contract monitoring or service improvement or be able to demonstrate transferable skills. You will have the ability to support stakeholder engagement and an understanding of the importance of collaborative working. You will be organised with the ability to prirotie3s work, meet deadlines and seek support where needed. With good verbal and written communication skills you will be confident using your own initiative and be confident in using IT systems.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours .

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

As part of Local Government Reorganisation, current plans will see Portsmouth City Council combine with the district and borough councils of Fareham, Gosport and Havant and parts of East Hampshire and Winchester district councils to form a new, larger unitary authority for south east Hampshire.

We are working towards an implementation date of 1st April 2028, known as vesting day, subject to Parliamentary approval. Until then, we remain focused on maintaining continuity, supporting our workforce, and continuing to deliver excellent services to our residents throughout the transition to the new unitary authority.

This is an exciting time to join us, offering the opportunity to contribute to organisational transformation, develop your career, and help shape future services for our communities.

More information about Local Government Reorganisation can be found on our website: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy/your-council/devolution-and-lgr/

Additional Information

We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

Interview process will take place on the 29/30 September 2026.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.