Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX - Hybrid
• Salary: £48,163 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Fixed Term or Secondment for up to 18 months

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Suffolk County Council. We're looking for a creative and driven Commissioning and Contracts Manager to help us reimagine public services for the 21st century. If you're passionate about finding new solutions and making a real difference, we want to hear from you.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

As the Lead for the Care Market Hub, you'll play a key role within Strategic Commissioning and Contract Management (SCCM) in Adult Social Care. Your main responsibilities will include:

• providing day-to-day support and line management for the Care Market Hub team
• overseeing core team functions and identifying opportunities to streamline SCCM processes and introduce smarter ways of working
• collaborating with teams across Adult Social Care to deliver on strategic objectives
• supporting the Senior Manager for SCCM with tasks such as budget management.

What we are looking for

• strong leadership and people management skills
• creativity and a proactive approach to problem-solving
• a solid understanding of contract and business management, or transferable skills
• good IT skills and confidence using multiple platforms
• ability to network and share best practice across the system
• excellent organisational skills, resilience, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

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

The Care Market Hub is at the heart of Strategic Commissioning and Contract Management. Acting as the front door for the care market in Suffolk, the Hub manages the systems and processes that keep SCCM running smoothly.

During times of business continuity - such as extreme weather - the Hub becomes a single point of contact for the care market, triaging requests and directing them to the right teams.

We're a small, passionate team of three with a wealth of experience. We're committed to improving processes and making things simpler for providers and colleagues. Alongside day-to-day activities, each team member leads on projects, including task and finish groups and developmental work.

We operate a hybrid working model, with office days typically on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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 Helen Clarke for a casual conversation. You can reach her Tuesday to Thursday by calling 01473 264016 or emailing helen.clarke@suffolk.gov.uk

If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload asupporting statementanswering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

1. How have you used feedback from internal and external stakeholders to improve services or contracts?
2. Can you share an experience where you had to resolve a conflict between a supplier and internal stakeholders? What was the outcome?
3. Describe a time when you had to manage multiple projects with varying risk profiles. How did you prioritise your time and resources?

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.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your intertest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailingrecruitment@suffolk.gov.ukor calling03456 014412.If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date:11.30pm, 15 December 2025.

Interview date: 18 December 2025.

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

About Us

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).