Descrição
Join us - make a difference in our communities:
As part of the Directorate of Public Health, Health and Social Care, the Public Health Department is a progressive, multi-disciplinary department committed to improving health and tackling inequalities in West Sussex. The Department of Public Health is the chief source of specialist public health advice and leadership within West Sussex. The key role is to “protect and improve lifelong health and wellbeing of everyone in West Sussex by commissioning evidence-based services and empowering people to make healthier choices”.
A priority for the Directorate is to support people to stay healthy, happy and independent, by ensuring there are services to reduce their risk factors and by providing support services to enable people to maintain their wellbeing, independence and to maximise their independence. The increasing challenges and demands placed on the health and social care sector are well documented as is the complexity of task facing professionals working within this arena.
About the Job:
As a Senior Commissioning and Contract Officer, you will be part of the team that will ensure good quality, affordable services are available for all our residents. The role sits within the Public Health Commissioning Team, responsible for the delivery of multiple contracts across West Sussex. Working proactively with existing and emerging markets, you will develop relationships with service users and providers that ensure services are responsive and meet need.
This will be a challenging, dynamic and rewarding role, and we are looking for individuals who have the appropriate aptitude and skills to make a difference for some of the most vulnerable residents in our communities, including children and young people, older vulnerable people, those with mental health needs or learning disabilities, people with substance misuse issues and others with long term complex health or continuing health care needs.
You will be responsible for commissioning and contract managing medium-high risk/value contracts to ensure performance is achieved. The role is expected to include involvement in aspects of health improvement including prevention programmes such as tobacco control, healthy weight. It is also likely to include primary care contracts within its remit. This will involve you working with public health leads across the public health team.
This will require reviewing and developing service specifications and determining the most appropriate route to market. The contracts will vary in size and complexity depending on the services being offered and the outcomes required. You will collate performance information through establishing and managing routine monitoring processes including regular meetings with providers. Supported by the broader team, you will identify performance issues, agree performance improvement plans and use your knowledge of the performance levers within the contracts to improve performance.
You will be required to support the identification and delivery of substantial efficiencies from established contracts and ensure future contracting includes financial KPIs to maximise value, alongside improvements in outcomes for service users. The role will be part of a growing multi dynamic Directorate, and you will need to be willing to operate across a number of services/pathways.
The Opportunity
Salary:£48,226 to £51,356 per annum
Contract type: Permanent
Working Pattern:Full time Monday - Friday - 37 hours per week
Location:Based at County Hall, Chichester with hybrid working**options
Interview Date:w/c 02/02/2026*
- dates may vary slightly due to business demand
Your responsibilities will include:
- Commissioning and contract management across a range of contracts delivering Public Health services through commissioned providers such as NHS trusts, Pharmacies, VCSE and our partners in District and Borough councils.
- Support procurement of services that deliver Public Health outcomes.
- Engagement and development of the wider market.
- Analysis and interrogation of contract data to ensure monitoring of budgets and payments.
- Supporting Public Health teams in commissioning and procurement planning and service delivery.
What are we looking for?
Some of the key skills and experience required for this role include:
Degree, or equivalent qualification or experience in procurement or contract
management, demonstrating that level of applied knowledge in researching,
analysing and evaluating arguments and information* - Essential*:Significant experience of working in the public sector within commissioning and contract management systems/practices and providing effective delivery.
- Strong, pragmatic problem-solving skills allowing you to anticipate problems and resolve issues independently.
- Organisational skills, forward planning and developing timelines for meeting commissioning and contract management objectives an