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LAA Job Description Template V10 22.04.26
Job Title & Grade: SEO Commissioning Manager
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary range (depending on location):
National - £42,914-£46,182
London - £49,325-£53,081
Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.
Location: National - Any LAA office
Please note that whilst this role is open to all Civil Servants, you can only apply for London, Cambridge and Brighton offices if you are a current LAA staff member based in those offices. This is due to and in line with the LAA's Location Strategy and the Cabinet Office's Places for Growth Strategy.
Minimum Working Pattern:
The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely (as part of hybrid working), part time or as part of a job share etc.
If you are applying for a part time role, please note that in order to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 32 hours and to cover 4 days of the week
To meet legal requirements, if you are between the ages 16-18 and you are a successful candidate, you will be required to complete an apprenticeship after your initial on the job training.
We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales.
Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.
The Directorate is responsible for the design, procurement, delivery and management of legal aid contracts on behalf of the Lord Chancellor. Within this, the Commissioning Team leads procurement activity, develops tender processes, implements new contracts, and monitors service availability and capacity across the provider market.
Commissioning
The Commissioning team work closely with operational and policy teams across the LAA and MoJ to inform future contracts and services. We develop and undertake procurement activity, including large, complex procurement processes; and ensure we are compliant with current public sector procurement legislation. Following implementation of the contracts, Commissioning monitor the availability and capacity of legal aid services and undertake further activity to increase or supplement supply as and when necessary.
The team works closely with operational and policy teams across the Agency and Ministry of Justice to develop future contracts and services. It is responsible for the effective procurement of legal advice services in line with public sector procurement legislation. Contracts let by the team have an annual value of £1.4bn. The team leads procurement activity including large, complex procurement processes which lead to the award of over 1,000 contracts as well as smaller commercial contracts for contact centres and other support services. Following implementation of the contracts, the team monitors the availability and capacity of legal aid services and undertakes further procurement exercises to increase supplement supply as and when necessary.
Team members are based in several locations including our head office in London. We offer flexible working options including from home or other suitable environments additional to the office. The postholder may be based in any Legal Aid Agency office though travel to other sites is required.
As a Commissioning SEO, you will play a key role in delivering commissioning and procurement activity that supports a sustainable and resilient legal aid market. You will help plan and run tenders across the commissioning cycle, applying project management tools and techniques to support successful outcomes for customers, providers and the wider justice system.
You will work within a supportive and experienced commissioning team, contributing to activity that builds on strong foundations of collaboration with internal colleagues and external stakeholders. The role offers the opportunity to be directly involved in market engagement, helping the Agency understand provider capacity, risks and opportunities, and supporting approaches that sustain access to legal aid services over the longer term.
You will be encouraged to build your commercial capability and understanding of public procurement in practice, supported by on‑the‑job learning and professional development.
Key Responsibilities:
Support commissioning activity that strengthens the sustainability and resilience of the legal aid market, contributing to approaches that maintain access to services over the short and longer term.
Play an active role in market engagement, working with providers and representative bodies to build understanding of capacity, risks and opportunities, and feeding insight into commissioning and procurement activity.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, collaborating to align policy, operational and commercial objectives.
Contribute to the planning and delivery of commissioning and procurement activity, supporting elements of tender exercises and ensuring activity aligns with agreed priorities, timetables and governance.
Develop and apply knowledge of procurement and commissioning policy, practice and legislation, using this to support robust, proportionate and well‑managed activity.
Support effective planning, scheduling and tracking of commissioning work, ensuring systems and information enable good decision‑making.
Contribute insight and information to support workforce and resource planning within the team.
Undertake line management or supervisory responsibilities where required, supporting delivery, learning and development.
Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills
Proven ability to analyse complex market and operational issues, drawing on evidence and stakeholder insight to develop practical, workable solutions that support access and sustainability.
Strong analytical and numerical skills, with excellent attention to detail, enabling you to interpret market, performance or delivery information accurately and use it to inform commissioning activity.
Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain issues, share insight and present options effectively to internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
Effective influencing and engagement skills, with experience of working collaboratively across teams and with external partners to build shared understanding and support collective outcomes.
Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high‑quality outputs at pace in a stakeholder‑rich and changing environment.
Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills
An up‑to‑date understanding of the Legal Aid Agency’s duties under procurement regulations, and how these are applied proportionately in commissioning and tender activity to support effective market outcomes.
Experience of supporting or running tender processes and using eTendering systems, with an appreciation of how procurement tools and processes impact providers and wider stakeholder engagement.
Project management experience, with the ability to coordinate activity across stakeholders, manage interdependencies and support delivery through the commissioning cycle.
Wider business or commercial contract management experience, bringing insight into supplier relationships, value for money and market sustainability.
Experience of implementing or supporting change, including working with stakeholders to communicate change, understand impacts and embed new ways of working.
Holds, is working towards, or is willing to work towards a relevant professional accreditation with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
Person Specification
Demonstrates strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy, quality and confidence when working with complex information, stakeholders and commissioning activity.
Is resilient and adaptable, able to respond constructively to multiple and sometimes competing challenges while maintaining momentum and focus.
Keeps sight of the end goal, understanding how individual tasks and decisions contribute to wider commissioning outcomes, market sustainability and access to justice.
Thrives in a changing environment, responding positively to evolving priorities, stakeholder needs and policy or market developments.
Is proactive in seeking better ways of working, showing curiosity, initiative and a willingness to contribute ideas that improve collaboration, market engagement and commissioning practice.
Application Process
To apply for the position available, you are asked to submit a CV and a Statement of Suitability for the role. We ask that you link your Statement of Suitability to the key responsibilities and essential criteria listed above and that it does not exceed 1000 words.
Please note that we only require a CV and Statement of Suitability for your application. The wording on this advert may suggest that an Experience question is also required, however this is not necessary.
Interview / assessment Process
If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following:
Strengths relevant to the role
The following Behaviours:
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Managing a quality service
Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy - Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting. Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential.
For this grade/ role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important in a work environment. We would also expect examples of action they have taken to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding for self or others) or improve inclusion at a team or wider group level.
Shortlisting is planned for week commencing Monday 1st June 2026
Interviews are planned for week commencing Monday 15th June 2026
If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact -Katrina Gillies at Katrina.gillies@justice.gov.uk
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain, and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.
The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you.
If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.
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