Procurement Officer (Graduate)

Supports the procurement team by managing contracts, running tender processes, evaluating suppliers, and providing procurement support across multiple departments within the Scottish Prison Service.

About The Role

The main day-to-day focus of the role shall be to develop and/or manage a diverse range of Goods, Services and Works contracts in line with the Scottish Model of Procurement. The role will require active contribution towards the effective and efficient operation of the SPS Procurement team through a range of direct and indirect procurement activities. You will be given your own work portfolio to manage in addition to providing support to other members of the team.

Whilst carrying out your duties, you shall provide a procurement service to a range of internal stakeholder groups, including but not limited to: Estates & Technical Services; Operations Directorate; Digital Services; Human Resources; and Legal Services.

Tasks will include, for example:

• preparing tendering paperwork;

• utilising the electronic tendering system and associated electronic contract management module (PCS-T and ECM) and the Scottish Government portal for advertising contract opportunities (PCS);

• developing tender evaluation matrices and associated recommendation reports;

• undertaking contract reviews and pricing reviews, and making recommendations on whether to extend an existing contract or not;

• monitoring and measuring supplier performance; and

• exploring and obtaining added value.

In addition to the above duties, you will undertake ‘on the job’ training and reflective learning, with a mix of formal and informal training and development.  This will be a hybrid working role with a mix of remote and on-site working and it will, at times, require attendance at SPS headquarters or other sites as required.

Qualifications

• Qualified in a degree (or due to be qualified within the next 2 months) minimum 2:1.

Essential

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Planning, Implementation & Control: Experience of producing work under strict timescales and deadlines.

Essential

• Administration and Microsoft Office Experience:

• Experience of undertaking administration tasks and producing work in an office or university environment, or a remote/virtual setting, and the ability to manage time effectively.

• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Essential

Quality:

• Experience of producing documentation to a high standard which accurately reflects the process undertaken (including key issues, showing initiative creativity, resilience and commercial awareness) in order to successfully achieve positive outcomes.

Essential

Relationship Management:

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of parties (internal and external) and within a team to provide advice and guidance and the ability to positively influence others to achieve desired results.

Essential

Essential Competencies for Success

• Solve Problems & Make Decisions

• Listen & Communicate

• Accountability & Initiative

• Plan & Organise

About Us

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) operates in a fascinating, complex and rapidly changing environment. Our vision is to help build a safer Scotland by unlocking potential and transforming lives. To enable us to successfully deliver our vision, we are committed to nurturing and investing in our greatest strength and resource: Our People.

We are proud to employ a diverse range of people; each contributing their own unique experiences and skills to enhance the service we deliver. Whatever the role, you will find your SPS experience both challenging and rewarding. You will be committed to helping us to achieve our goals and in return we will be committed to helping you to achieve yours.

We employ approximately 5,000 staff across our prisons, headquarters, college, and training and storage facility. The hard work of our staff is the most critical component in the successful delivery of Scotland’s prison system.

We need professional, capable and motivated individuals who reflect Scotland’s diversity to deliver effective and efficient activities and services to achieve our Mission and realise our Vision.

Whatever SPS profession you embark upon, you will be a valued member of the team, helping us build a Safer Scotland for the communities we serve. We are committed to your personal and professional development and offer a wide range of career progression opportunities.

Civil Service Values

All Civil Servants, and therefore anyone employed by the Scottish Prison Service, must be able to fully comply with the requirements of the Civil Service Code. Everyone is expected to carry out their role with dedication and uphold the core values of the Civil Service: Honesty, Integrity, Objectivity and Impartiality.

• Integrity: putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests.

• Honesty: being truthful and open.

• Objectivity: basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.

• Impartiality: acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well Governments of different political persuasions.