Commissioning and Contracts Manager
| Posting date: | 27 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £48,163 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 March 2026 |
| Location: | Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX |
| Company: | Suffolk County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 22303 |
Summary
- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX. Hybrid working.
- Salary: £48,163 per annum.
- Hours: 37, flexible working options available.
- Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future and lives of the people we support, supporting and empowering them to live independently and enjoy ordinary, fulfilling lives within their communities. If you share that passion, join us as a Commissioning and Contracts Manager in our Strategic Commissioning and Contracts Team. Your innovation, ambition and commitment will help shape meaningful change, continually improving the way we work. With the support and opportunities, we offer, you’ll make a real difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
We’re looking for a proactive Commissioning and Contracts Manager to drive smarter, more efficient services. You’ll optimise contracts, analyse third‑party spend, and shape future service models to ensure our commissioning approach is sustainable and aligned with strategic priorities. Working closely with colleagues and partners, you’ll use insight, data and creativity to support transformation and improve outcomes for communities.
In this role, you will:
- Improve and optimise contracts to strengthen value and service quality.
- Analyse and manage third‑party spend to ensure accountability and sustainability.
- Model services to reflect strategic priorities and commissioning intentions.
- Work collaboratively across programmes, providing challenge, insight and support.
- Use performance data to inform decisions and strengthen outcomes.
- Promote continuous improvement and encourage agile, smarter commissioning.
Day to day, you may:
- Identify trends and opportunities through contract analysis.
- Lead discussions with providers on performance, quality and innovation.
- Collaborate with engaged colleagues across teams.
- Influence meaningful change that impacts people’s lives.
You will need
- Relevant commissioning and contract management experience, supported by study or practical expertise.
- A collaborative, creative and co‑productive mindset, bringing ideas, curiosity and problem‑solving skills.
- Strong analytical and strategic ability, using data, financial insight and big‑picture thinking to inform decisions.
- Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, influencing and working effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- A resilient, improvement‑focused approach, taking ownership, delivering quality work, and driving continuous improvement.
We are genuinely excited about welcoming someone into this role who wants to make a real difference. If you love solving complex challenges, working with great people, and driving smarter commissioning, you’ll thrive here. We're ready to support you, champion your growth, and celebrate the impact you make.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
- We play a key role in shaping adult social care services across Suffolk. Our purpose is simple: to ensure services are well-designed, sustainable, and meet real needs.
- We work closely with providers, social work teams, health partners, and communities to co-produce solutions that help people live more independently, safely, and with dignity.
- Our culture is collaborative and supportive - we share ideas, celebrate wins, and tackle challenges together. We are agile and responsive, always adapting to the needs of the market and those we serve.
- We practice hybrid working, with most of us in the office on two days each week to connect face-to-face while enjoying remote flexibility.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact Amy Rowntree for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265103 or emailing amy.rowntree@suffolk.gov.uk.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP.
- You should use the Supporting Statement template.
- Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412.
You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 15 March 2026
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX. Hybrid working.
- Salary: £48,163 per annum.
- Hours: 37, flexible working options available.
- Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future and lives of the people we support, supporting and empowering them to live independently and enjoy ordinary, fulfilling lives within their communities. If you share that passion, join us as a Commissioning and Contracts Manager in our Strategic Commissioning and Contracts Team. Your innovation, ambition and commitment will help shape meaningful change, continually improving the way we work. With the support and opportunities, we offer, you’ll make a real difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
We’re looking for a proactive Commissioning and Contracts Manager to drive smarter, more efficient services. You’ll optimise contracts, analyse third‑party spend, and shape future service models to ensure our commissioning approach is sustainable and aligned with strategic priorities. Working closely with colleagues and partners, you’ll use insight, data and creativity to support transformation and improve outcomes for communities.
In this role, you will:
- Improve and optimise contracts to strengthen value and service quality.
- Analyse and manage third‑party spend to ensure accountability and sustainability.
- Model services to reflect strategic priorities and commissioning intentions.
- Work collaboratively across programmes, providing challenge, insight and support.
- Use performance data to inform decisions and strengthen outcomes.
- Promote continuous improvement and encourage agile, smarter commissioning.
Day to day, you may:
- Identify trends and opportunities through contract analysis.
- Lead discussions with providers on performance, quality and innovation.
- Collaborate with engaged colleagues across teams.
- Influence meaningful change that impacts people’s lives.
You will need
- Relevant commissioning and contract management experience, supported by study or practical expertise.
- A collaborative, creative and co‑productive mindset, bringing ideas, curiosity and problem‑solving skills.
- Strong analytical and strategic ability, using data, financial insight and big‑picture thinking to inform decisions.
- Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, influencing and working effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- A resilient, improvement‑focused approach, taking ownership, delivering quality work, and driving continuous improvement.
We are genuinely excited about welcoming someone into this role who wants to make a real difference. If you love solving complex challenges, working with great people, and driving smarter commissioning, you’ll thrive here. We're ready to support you, champion your growth, and celebrate the impact you make.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
- We play a key role in shaping adult social care services across Suffolk. Our purpose is simple: to ensure services are well-designed, sustainable, and meet real needs.
- We work closely with providers, social work teams, health partners, and communities to co-produce solutions that help people live more independently, safely, and with dignity.
- Our culture is collaborative and supportive - we share ideas, celebrate wins, and tackle challenges together. We are agile and responsive, always adapting to the needs of the market and those we serve.
- We practice hybrid working, with most of us in the office on two days each week to connect face-to-face while enjoying remote flexibility.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact Amy Rowntree for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265103 or emailing amy.rowntree@suffolk.gov.uk.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP.
- You should use the Supporting Statement template.
- Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412.
You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 15 March 2026
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.