Commissioning Development Officer

Job Introduction

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This permanent role has a starting salary of £34,660 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We have a great opportunity to join our Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships Directorate as a Commissioning Development Officer. 

Our Offer to You

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service (prorated for part time staff)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension 
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year 
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing 
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape how Surrey County Council meets the growing demand for residential and nursing care for older people. The role will directly contribute to improving access to care home placements, supporting provider sustainability and ensuring residents receive the right care, in the right setting, at the right time. Working within the Older People's Commissioning Team, you will combine project delivery, data analysis, provider engagement and market insight to support improvements across Surrey's residential and nursing care system.

You will lead and manage:

• Day-to-day coordination of identified workstreams within the Residential & Nursing Placement Improvement Programme.
• Production of market intelligence reports, performance dashboards and provider insight reports to support commissioning decisions.
• Relationship management for an allocated portfolio of residential and nursing care providers, acting as a key point of contact and escalating issues where appropriate.
• Coordination of provider engagement activity, including meetings, workshops and follow-up actions.
• Development and maintenance of project plans, action trackers, governance documentation and programme reporting.
• Analysis of placement activity, market trends and performance information to identify opportunities for improvement.

You will support:

• Wider contract and market management activity across Surrey's residential and nursing care market.
• Strategic commissioning projects led by senior commissioning colleagues.
• Adult Social Care placement and brokerage services to understand capacity challenges and identify potential solutions.
• Reviews of commissioning approaches, funding models and service development opportunities.
• Cross-directorate improvement programmes involving Brokerage, Operations, Quality Assurance and Finance.

Your initial focus will be supporting delivery of the Residential & Nursing six-month improvement plan, particularly activity aimed at addressing placement capacity pressures and improving access to care home placements. As this work progresses, the role will increasingly support wider commissioning priorities including market sustainability, provider engagement, service development and preparations associated with Local Government Reorganisation.

As Surrey's Local Government Reorganisation programme develops, the role is expected to evolve in line with future commissioning arrangements and may provide opportunities to gain experience across a broader range of commissioning, transformation and market development programmes.

You will help identify opportunities to increase placement capacity, strengthen provider relationships and improve how Surrey works with the care market. Your work will support better outcomes for residents, more effective use of public resources and evidence-based commissioning decisions.

Your Application 

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Experience of supporting projects, programmes, service improvement, commissioning, contract management, performance management or analytical work. Experience may have been gained within local government, the NHS, housing, social care, education, voluntary sector organisations or similar environments.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentation skills.
• Experience of building effective relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
• A proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• An interest in commissioning, market development, adult social care or public sector transformation.

We welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate transferable skills and an interest in developing a career in commissioning. Direct commissioning experience is desirable but not essential.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following four questions:

1. Please describe your experience of supporting a project, programme or service improvement initiative and explain the role you played in delivering successful outcomes.
2. Provide an example of how you have used data, information or research to identify an issue, support a recommendation or influence decision making.
3. Describe a time when you worked collaboratively with multiple stakeholders with differing priorities. How did you build relationships and achieve a positive outcome?
4. What interests you about commissioning and market development, and how do you believe your skills and experience will help you succeed in this role?

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description.

Contact Us

Please contact Katie Newton, Senior Commissioning Manager, for an informal discussion about the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 29/11/2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Please note that the successful applicant must be available to commence employment on or before 31st January 2027.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) 

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is East Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year. Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment 

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.  

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.