Procurement Officer (Graduate) - 2 posts available

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Agency of the Scottish Government, working in partnership with organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver safe and secure custodial services that empower offenders to take responsibility and to fulfil their potential. We employ over 4500 people in a diverse range of professions across our 13 prisons, Headquarters and the SPS College.

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 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.

During the Programme, you shall provide a procurement service to a range of internal stakeholder groups, including; 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 making recommendations on whether to extend an existing contract or not;
• Monitoring and measuring supplier performance; and
• Exploring and obtaining added value.

The Programme shall involve a large element of ‘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.

Please note that SPS will be hosting a virtual drop-in session on Tuesday 8th October at 2pm. The session will last for circa 2 hours during which time interested candidates can drop in and have a chat with some of our previous Graduate Procurement Officers and member of our Management Team. If you are interested in attending please contact Chris Johnston via email: Chris.Johnston@prisons.gov.scot

About you

• Qualified in a degree (or due to be qualified within the next 2 months) minimum 2:1. Essential
• Experience of undertaking administration tasks and producing work in an office 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
• Experience of producing work under strict timescales and deadlines.Essential
• 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
• 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

Benefits on offer include (but are not limited to):

• An attractive Civil Service Pension – employer contributions of 27.1% to 27.9%
• Hybrid working policy – supporting flexibility in work arrangements
• Ongoing professional development
• Opportunity for progression
• Annual Leave – 34days rising to 42days
• Sick Pay
• Discounts on High Street stores, supermarkets and restaurants through our partners at Blue Light Card, Edenred and Civil Service Sports Council

For further information on this opportunity, including full job description, person specification, assessment process and to apply, please visit www.sps.gov.uk/careers.