Senior Commissioning Officer - Ref:CH07525

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Job Description

Senior Commissioning Officer - Ref: CH07525

G10 Salary Range: £47,181 to £50,269

Contract: Full-Time, 37 Hours

Join Our Children's Commissioning Team in Walsall

Are you passionate about making a difference?

Walsall Council has invested in its Commissioning Team and is looking for dedicated, innovative individuals to join us. Following a recent restructure, we are expanding our Children's Commissioning Team to strengthen our commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families. We are seeking a Senior Children's Commissioning Officer to join our growing team.

As Senior Children's Commissioning Officer, you will work collaboratively with colleagues across the Local Authority, alongside health, social care, and education partners and providers, as well as our Faith, Voluntary and Community Sector. You will play a key role in supporting Commissioning Managers to deliver planned commissioning activity and contribute to service and strategic objectives at every stage of the commissioning cycle.

Areas of Focus

The Children's Commissioning Team portfolio supports Early Intervention and Communities, Targeted Family Help and Care, Lifelong Learning, Inclusion, Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our current portfolio of work includes placements and services for Children in Our Care, Alternative Provision, Family Hubs, Holiday Activities and Food (HAF), Short Breaks for children with disabilities, Youth Justice support, and Family Help initiatives.

While your initial focus as Senior Commissioning Officer may be on specific areas such as developing the market for independent fostering provision or leading Community and Inclusion projects you will also play a key role in delivering a broad range of initiatives across our diverse portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

As Senior Commissioning Officer, you will:

• Shape and develop the local provider market to ensure sufficiency and improved quality.
• Lead the full commissioning cycle ensuring contracts and specifications are robust, compliant, and outcome focused.
• Drive joint commissioning strategies that address current and emerging needs, build capacity, and foster innovation.
• Work collaboratively with Walsall Together programme leads to deliver integrated projects across education, health, and social care.
• Champion co-production by engaging service users and stakeholders so lived experience informs commissioning.
• Use advanced influencing and negotiation skills to secure stakeholder commitment to better outcomes.
• Monitor and manage quality within areas of responsibility, working closely with assurance colleagues.
• Identify opportunities for service improvement and implement changes effectively.
• Prepare evidence-based reports, business cases, and recommendations for senior management and Council committees.
• Interpret national policy and ensure local commissioning reflects statutory requirements.
• Provide line and matrix management for colleagues involved in projects.
• Represent commissioning views at local, regional, and national meetings and deputise for other officers as required.

About You

We are looking for someone with proven experience in commissioning, service development, and contract management. You will bring strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication and partnership-building abilities, and the confidence to work across complex systems. You will be committed to continuous learning and professional development, staying up to date with best practice, policy changes, and innovative approaches to commissioning. Above all, you will be passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people, and families.

If you are ready to take on a rewarding challenge and help transform services for children and families, we want to hear from you!

View Job Description and Employee Specification

Closing Date: 18th January 2026

Interview Dates: 29th and 30th January 2026

If you would like an informal conversation around any of these roles please get in touch with either Commissioning Manager: Joanna Butryn Joanna.Butryn@walsall.gov.uk or Sally Gamston Sally.Gamston@walsall.gov.uk

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

Fluency Statement

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Disclosure & Barring Service statement

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Politically Restricted Statement

Legislation imposes restrictions on political activity for certain local government employees. This position is designated as a politically restricted (sensitive) post as set out in Part 1 the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990 (LGO(PR)R 1990) [SI 851] and S.30 of the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

About Us

Here at Walsall, we want to attract the best talent. That's why - as well as a satisfying and rewarding job - we offer a range of attractive benefits. Working arrangements in most jobs are flexible (you may work flexitime, full or part time and job sharing is usually available) and you can expect generous holiday entitlements, a first class pension scheme and plenty of opportunities for training and personal development.

We advertise vacancies because we want the best talent available. If that's you, we're waiting for your application.

Living in Walsall

Part of the Black Country, famous for its enterprising and industrial past, Walsall is reinventing itself to become a progressive modern community. The borough is centred around the major town of Walsall, but also includes five smaller and distinctive district centres (Bloxwich, Aldridge, Willenhall, Darlaston and Brownhills), together with numerous villages.

Walsall Council is committed to Safer Recruitment.

To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce.

Social Work Matters - Children's Social Worker Recruitment

Some of our children require a special kind of support: yours. Visit our microsite to find out more about joining Walsall Council as a Children's Social Worker.