Procurement Specialist

Procurement is much more than buying the goods, services or works the public sector need. Colleagues in the profession balance cost, quality and time considerations. It’s also about ensuring we use our collective spending power to innovate and to deliver social, economic and environmental outcomes aligned to Scotland’s National Performance Framework.

Expressions of interest are invited on a level transfer basis for a B2 Procurement Portfolio Specialist within the Corporate and Professional Services Collaborative Procurement Team of the Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate. The Corporate and Professional Services (C&PS) Team procures and manages a range of Frameworks and Contracts on behalf of the whole of the Scottish public sector.

As a Procurement Portfolio Specialist you will regularly engage with a wide variety of stakeholders and suppliers providing procurement and commercial activities ensuring compliance with the public procurement regulations and delivering value for money outcomes supporting the government’s sustainability agenda.

The level of Delegated Purchasing Authority for this role is commonly in the region of £2 million. The team’s role is to drive the realisation of identifiable monetary savings for the Scottish public sector, and contribute to the wider government economic agenda including improving business for SMEs and delivering the Sustainability agenda, in particular in relation to Climate Change and Fair Work First criteria. This will be achieved through the deployment of innovative sourcing techniques and ongoing procurement and supplier management methods.

The post holder will report to the Senior Portfolio Specialist, C&PS who is based in Atlantic Quay, Glasgow.

• Lead the development, planning, and implementation of procurement strategies for low-to-medium value, low-to-medium risk procurements, optimising value for money across the Scottish Government.
• Support the development, planning, and implementation of procurement strategies for high-value, high-risk procurements.
• Undertake the complete end-to-end procurement process, from initial conception through the full procurement cycle to contract award.
• Work effectively with a wide range of key stakeholders, including customers, colleagues, and external markets, to deliver credible procurement strategies and contracts.
• Actively manage suppliers and engage with customers, advising them on contractual agreements and options using product and market knowledge.
• Work flexibly within the team, Division, and across the Directorate to help deliver the organisation’s wider goals in line with the Directorate Plan.

Qualifications

Evidence of a commitment towards continuous professional development, including external, advanced level professional accreditation of CIPS Level 4 Diploma, WCC Practitioner Certification or relevant equivalent*; or a commitment to attaining such an accreditation once in post.

* ‘Equivalent’ may include accreditation from another relevant professional body or a relevant academic qualification at degree or post graduate level. Significant evidenced experience operating and delivering at an advanced level may be considered as equivalent when accompanied by a commitment to attaining an accreditation once in post.

Experience

• Proven experience in clearly and succinctly articulating procurement and commercial issues to a variety of internal and external stakeholders, supported by strong analytical skills to extract key insights, provide recommendations, and inform decision-making.

Technical & Professional Skills

1. Commercial competence - Level 2 (Working Knowledge)
2. Legislation - Level 3 (Practitioner)

You can find out more about the skills required here: Procurement competency framework - gov.scot

Working pattern

This post can either be located in Victoria Quay Edinburgh, or Atlantic Quay, Glasgow.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from claudio.swinton@gov.scot

Procurement Pay Supplement

The post attracts a procurement pay supplement, currently £2250 subject to minimum eligibility criteria. Pay supplements are discretionary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review and affordability.

Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 500 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.

Vacancies close at 23:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an informal discussion.

Discussion dates are tbc.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About Us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further Information