Senior Procurement Specialist-Social Care (Extended maternity cover for 24 months)

Scotland Excel is an award-winning Centre of Procurement Expertise providing a wide range of procurement, commissioning, consultancy, and learning and development services for our members.

Since 2008, we have helped to establish procurement as an effective driver for local and national economic growth and wellbeing. Our £2bn portfolio of collaborative contracts supports the delivery of savings, social value, community benefits, fair work practices and environmental policy, and covers a wide range of public services including construction, roads, transport, environment, corporate and education.

Scotland Excel also develops and manages arrangements which support the commissioning of care services for children and adults. Our national care contracts are developed in partnership with care professionals, including care providers, to support person-centred outcomes embedded within national policy. In doing so we also recognise and value insights from those with lived experience.

We also provide procurement and consultancy services to help our members get the most from their procurement resources, ranging from ad-hoc tendering support through to transformation programmes and strategic procurement partnerships.

The Scotland Excel Academy offers applied learning programmes leading to accredited qualifications in procurement, leadership and management, coaching and mentoring, project management and business analysis, as well as short courses and workshops.

Scotland Excel is a non-profit organisation working with members from across the public sector including local authorities, health and social care partnerships, housing associations, and other public and third sector organisations.

About the role

The post holder will work within Scotland Excel’s Children & Families Social Care Team and will lead on the provision of commissioning and procurement life cycle activities for social care. As a Senior Procurement Specialist, you will use your in-depth market knowledge to develop and manage innovative commissioning strategies and arrangements that deliver value to our stakeholders. Your exceptional stakeholder engagement skills will strengthen relationships with the wide range of stakeholders and partners we work with. A natural leader, you will get the best from colleagues working with you to deliver collaborative contracts.

The team provides national framework agreements for a range of care and support services for people. The post holder will be responsible for working collaboratively to develop and agree arrangements and to undertake contract management activities. You will be joining the Social Care Team at an exciting time for social care commissioning as we consider the recommendations of recent reviews and changing policy direction.

The role requires strong organisational planning, systems processing and data analysis skills. The postholder will support an enthusiastic team to coordinate and deliver project planning activity, related to existing contracts as well as developing and embedding best practice business processes and systems across the team. The successful candidate will also work closely with colleagues to support local authorities in their local social care arrangements and commissioning practices where required.

The postholder will work with the Category Manager to develop strategic partnerships with providers and lead on local authority user intelligence groups and other forums.

The successful candidate will be required to represent Scotland Excel on strategic groups and external forums, and ensuring contracts are reflective of policy and best practice.

You will work with like-minded colleagues who get real satisfaction from supporting the delivery of essential public services and bringing social, economic and environmental benefits to our communities.

What we can offer you

As well as a competitive salary, you will have access to all the benefits of working for a public sector organisation including a defined benefits pension scheme, generous holiday allowance, flexible working, the possibility of remote working and a range of other initiatives which reflect our commitment to creating a positive work-life balance for all our employees.

Find out what makes Scotland Excel an employer of choice in public procurement and what benefits we can offer you https://home.scotland-excel.org.uk/work-for-us/

This temporary post may also be available as a secondment opportunity for existing local government/public sector employees, subject to the agreement of your employer.

How to apply

For full details of the skills, experience and personal qualities required for this position, please click on ‘apply’ to visit the careers page on our website.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and guarantee an interview to those candidates who meet the essential requirements for the position.