1005-364 Procurement Officer

ENGINEERINGUK; Inverness; Hybrid; GBP 33,000; Full time

Job description

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Job title: 1005-364 Procurement Officer | Grade: C | Vacancy type: Permanent | Hours: 35 | Salary: £32,030 | Location: Inverness or any NatureScot office and / or hybrid working or permanent homeworking | Closing date: 6 May 2025 | Internal Interviews: 15 May 2025 | External Interviews: 29 May 2025.

Job Purpose Summary

Procurement is a small team comprising of 4 members, 2 Procurement Support Officers and 2 Procurement Officers, providing procurement services to the organisation. This means team working, being flexible and supporting each other is essential to ensure that a good quality service is delivered to both our internal and external customers.

In this procurement role, the 2 Procurement Officers will be responsible for leading and managing a variety of procurement processes and the provision of procurement related advice.

The aim of the procurement function is to provide value for money, reduce reputational risk, lead procurement exercises by providing professional and specialist procurement support, guidance and advice to non-procurement professionals in the achievement of their natural heritage objectives.

To deliver professional procurement services which ensure goods, services and works are purchased in a legal, compliant, transparent, open, fair and ethical manner and deliver value for money.

To reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and demonstrate leadership on climate change duties through strengthening the sustainability of our procurement processes.

It is desirable that the successful candidate is CIPS qualified or has 2 to 3 years equivalent demonstrable work experience in public sector procurement.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Tenders and Contracts: The role requires a broad and specialist understanding of public sector procurement. Capable of leading, supporting and planning the procurement route and successfully tendering and letting contracts & frameworks for medium and high value/risk contracts (regulated procurements). Provide professional specialist guidance and advice throughout the tendering process.
• Procurement Advice, Guidance, Communications & Engagement: Confidently communicate specialist and professional procurement information, guidance and advice to non-procurement professionals for low value / low risk contracts, including all procurement related matters.
• Account Management of External / Collaborative Contracts: Keep up to date and abreast of the development of new or existing collaborative contracts and ensure the Procurement intranet pages are kept up to date and fit for purpose in terms of keeping our internal customers informed.
• Government Procurement Card (GPC): Fully manage and oversee all Government Procurement Card (GPC) activities.
• Reporting Spend Data: Fully manage and oversee the collating of annual spend data and submitting into the appropriate Information Hub.
• Development / Improvement Works: Support procurement colleague(s) and work collaboratively, with internal and external stakeholders in the delivery of NatureScot’s Net Zero Plan etc.
• Financial Transactional Processing Responsibilities: Using NatureScot ePurchasing system (Fusion) undertake the following activities:
• Fusion Requisitions: Compliance check electronic requisitions and generate purchase orders using Fusion.
• Fusion Testing: Participate in any testing of Fusion that may be required from time to time.
• General Procurement Training: Support Procurement Manager in the development & delivery of procurement training, coaching and support on procurement policy and procedures and best practice to internal customers.
• Sustainable Procurement Tools: Provide procurement support and guidance to internal customers on the use of the range of the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Procurement Tools.
• General Administrative Activities include: Procurement and contract advertising mailboxes, support and assist Procurement Support Officers in the management and overseeing of these activities.
• Fusion Helpdesk support and assist Procurement Support Officers in providing a Fusion helpdesk service.
• Support and provide training to Procurement Support Officer(s) to support their development in their procurement role.
• Procurement Intranet and Internet Spaces, support and contribute to the maintenance of procurement related templates, guidance documents, processes and internal systems.

For development or operational reasons this role may occasionally contain some elements of work that are either more or less demanding than described above.

Essential - Work Experience & Skills & Abilities

Qualifications in a relevant discipline or skills and work experience at SCQF Level 7 (e.g. Highers).

A good understanding/work experience of public sector procurement and contract tendering activities. A basic knowledge of contract law.

Experience of providing procurement advice, guidance and explaining processes and procedures to others.

Experience and ability to work accurately with strong attention to detail and to deadlines.

Excellent organisational and time management skills and judgement to effectively prioritise a high volume of reactive and proactive workload. Ability to be flexible and adaptable in response to changing priorities.

Good communication skills, including influencing, listening and demonstrating clear written and verbal presentation.

Strong IT skills including use of Microsoft Office, e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook etc.

Experience and ability to work as part of a team but also work on own initiative, including supporting others to identify and solve problems in a constructive, pragmatic and concise manner.

Experience and ability to influence and negotiate effectively where necessary, including forging effective network contacts with partner organisations & suppliers.

Desirable – Qualifications, Work Experience, Skills & Abilities

CIPS qualification or SVQ/NVQ procurement qualification or working towards (or be willing to).

A level of experience in supporting and leading public sector procurements.

A knowledge of Digital Accessibility Requirements.

Basic experience in project management.

Application Process

Before applying for this post:

• Internal applicants should read the Self Service Guide (eRDMS A3155575).

If you have previously applied for a vacancy with NatureScot you must remove the supporting statement from your profile, before uploading a new version.

Interviews

NatureScot is an inclusive workplace. We will share interview questions for this vacancy prior to interviews as a way of supporting neurodiversity at NatureScot.

External candidates will be invited to interview if we are unable to recruit internally.

For information regarding the vacancy please contact

Nature is vital to us all, so it's important that NatureScot represents the people of Scotland. The more diverse our workforce is, the more effectively we can connect everyone with nature. We encourage applications from candidates of all ages and genders, people from ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Company

Scotland’s nature is among our greatest assets. Nature gives us food and drinking water, energy and timber. It contributes to a clean and healthy environment. And it improves our well-being and quality of life.

Yet the overuse of natural resources since the 1950s – especially for certain types of farming, forestry and fisheries – has resulted in less space for nature and its associated benefits.

NatureScot is the lead public body responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on all matters relating to the natural heritage.

Our purpose is to:

• promote, care for and improve our natural heritage
• help people to enjoy nature responsibly
• enable greater understanding and awareness of nature
• promote the sustainable use of Scotland’s natural heritage

We also advise local authorities and work with the Scottish Parliament and public, private and voluntary organisations towards shared aims. Working efficiently like this is part of our commitment to delivering a high-quality public service.