What you’ll be doing:
As a Commissioning Officer you will form part of a small team, responsible for the management and compliance of the annual commissioning process together with the broadening of partnership working within the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire.
The Commissioning Officer role is varied, dynamic, with exciting opportunities and responsibilities, working autonomously on projects or working as part of a team on commissioning activities including grant awarding and tendering.
The Commissioning and compliance process in accordance with delivery against the Police and Crime Plan informs the majority of the work undertaken within the OPCC, beginning with gaining understanding of the needs of victims of crime and service users, opportunities for early intervention and prevention within the County of Bedfordshire.
The role offers the opportunity to inform dynamic research and engagement with commissioned providers and a variety of national and local partner agencies and charities with the overall aim of commissioning appropriate service provision to meet the needs identified.
As a Commissioning Officer, you will work transparently, engaging stakeholders using a variety of contact methods and published documents to ensure compliance with policy and process as the commissioning process progresses. The role will be engaged with evaluation panels for small and large funding opportunities with appropriate budgets.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Support the annual commissioning process and ensure compliance with policy and process throughout the year.
- Work with the commissioned individuals or organisations to ensure delivery of objectives and maintain good returns to the Home office and Ministry of Justice.
- Provide a dynamic project research and analysis capability to support the work of the OPCC.
- Produce research and recommendations, often within tight timescales, that utilise appropriate information sources and techniques to determine opportunities for service improvements within this area.
- Regularly undertake local and national environment scanning, and proactively inform and engage with colleagues on social, legislative, or economic concerns that could impact on tendering and commissioning activity.
- Develop and maintain an extensive network within the existing statutory and voluntary partnership network, enabling the exchange of information, and opportunities for developing shared work across organisations.
- To represent the Commissioner’s Office at relevant meetings and forums as appropriate.
- In working with commissioned services ensure that where relevant, the views of service users are taken into consideration, and where appropriate, services are co-developed.
- To proactively enhance relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in the community safety and criminal justice sectors to identify blockages or identify opportunities to improve the delivery of initiatives that secure improved outcomes for local people.
- Support the Commissioning Lead to deliver the commissioning strategy for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
- Responsibility for the implementation and management of contracts highlighting on risks to the Commissioning Lead who manages the risk.
- Develop contract specifications, key performance indicators (KPIs), tender specifications and evaluate tenders to enable effective contract management of providers and ensure that confidence and satisfaction of victim and other services is achieved and maintained. Coordinate the performance reports from commissioned services.
Essential:
- Experience of working in an administrative role including developing processes, problem solving, multi-tasking and using own initiative.
- Able to collate facts, figures and data and to maintain accurate databases
- Good level of experience in monitoring and administration of budgets
- Ability to effectively prioritise workload and work independently
Desirables:
- Working knowledge of Commissioning process
- Working knowledge of monitoring contracts
- Experience in writing and completing bids
What we offer
The OPCC is a fantastic place to work offering a supportive place to grow and develop your career with a real opportunity for your input to be valued and heard. Ambition and innovation is required now more than ever and you will join a friendly and collaborative environment where you are supported and encouraged to thrive to realise your full potential.
Interested?
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Tara Malciw 01234 842083.
Additional Advert Information
Internal Applicants
To apply for this role, internal applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period.
If you qualify as an internal candidate within the advertising force, you may upload either your CV or the internal role summary form attached to this advert.
Vetting Process
Please note that, as part of the vetting process, the BCH Vetting Unit may need to contact your current line manager for a Supervisor Appraisal. This requirement aligns with the 2025 National Guidelines for Vetting (APP 6.5.18).
Examples of when this may apply include:
Transferring to another force
Renewing vetting clearance
Moving into a role requiring MV clearance (even if you currently hold MV clearance)
Moving into or working in a role involving close contact with vulnerable individuals
If any of the above apply to you, please expect your line manager to be contacted when you submit your vetting application.
Redeployment and Redundancy
This vacancy is open to employees at risk of redundancy and will remain available to redeployees until a final offer has been agreed and accepted.
Redeployees at risk of redundancy will take priority over all other applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. If successful, redeployees will remain on their home force’s terms and conditions.
Role Profile
We recommend downloading and saving a copy of the role profile, as it will no longer be accessible once the advert closes.
Commitment to Inclusion
As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to be themselves. We provide workplace adjustments wherever needed so that all colleagues can thrive.
If you have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under the Offer an Interview Scheme.
