Commissioning Coordinator

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity until 30 th September 2027 We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Commissioning Coordinator to support the delivery of high-quality economic growth, employability and skills programmes. The Coordinator will be joining the Essex Skills Bootcamp Project Team. This role is central to ensuring commissioned services are delivered effectively, on time and in line with agreed standards, providing strong performance management across a diverse portfolio of training providers. Working closely with internal teams, suppliers and partners, you will help shape commissioning activity from design through to delivery, driving continuous improvement and value for money. This is an exciting opportunity to influence service outcomes, build strong stakeholder relationships, and contribute to innovative solutions that support economic development and positive community impact for the residents of Essex. Effective collaboration within multidisciplinary teams and across both internal and external organisations will be essential. To read more about our business area, please visit: Policy, Economy, Investment and Property Accountabilities Coordinate the effective design, implementation and operational delivery of specific employability, skills and economic growth projects, supporting the commissioning Lifecycle including, producing specifications, supporting procurement with market engagement, developing commissioning strategies and ensuring the effective mobilisation and operation of services to deliver commissioning objectives. Build and maintain effective operational relationships with suppliers in their caseload to ensure they consistently achieve the performance standards set out in programmes to ensure services deliver quality and value in line with plans and intended outcomes and that that adequate controls are in place to protect the Authority’s interests. Develop and implement innovative approaches and solutions in the delivery of projects to enhance levels of service whilst seeking to minimise cost and deliver best value for money by working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation and externally, to ensure best practice can be achieved, providing recommendations for improvements to management. Operate a continuous improvement approach, leading in collaboration with procurement in the design, implementation and monitoring of a process to hold suppliers to account for poor performance and make recommendations to the Commissioning Manager and procurement colleagues on proposed interventions, working with providers to deliver on-going changes. Lead projects and support tenders in partnership with procurement teams, ensuring all projects comply with ECC policies. Deliver ECC’s business account management approach and serve as a primary point of contact to build and maintain trusting relationships with businesses, industry representatives and partners, including working collaboratively with suppliers and other organisations in the sector to identify gaps in market provision used to inform future service provisions and improvements. Take a proactive approach to identifying and investigating market risks to ensure continuity of supply and protect the Authority’s interests, monitoring and reporting on financial performance, ensuring targets, compliance and relevant regulations are met. Develop dashboards, support audits, and coordinate with the Programme Manager to ensure accurate financial management. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework. The Experience You Will Bring Educated to RQF level 5 within a relevant professional qualification or working towards such a qualification or equivalent demonstrable work experience with evidence of continuing professional development. Knowledge of commissioning and experience of using this methodology in complex commercial environments to deliver programmes on time and within budget and with economic and social impacts. A demonstrable track record of managing commissioning activities in business critical environments. This should include evidence of defining, measuring and improving key elements of supplier performance. Evidence of some experience of delivering continuous improvements in strategic arrangements for training and development programmes with evidence of generating cost and service benefits. Proven experience in engaging and collaborating with employers, training providers, colleges, and universities to understand their needs and requirements, ensuring alignment with the objectives of the Bootcamp Programme. An awareness of working in a political environment. Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means. Why Essex? As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you. In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site. Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone. As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [email protected] Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn . Further details can be found on our careers page . Links / Downloads Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours