Senior Procurement Specialist

Permanent

Location: Paisley or as agreed
Salary: £49,895.45 - £52,924.94
Ref: 102545
Closing: 19th October 2025 (23:59)
Interviews: week commencing 3rd November 2025

Scotland Excel is continuing to experience a growing demand for our capability as a centre of procurement expertise for public sector, from local authorities across Scotland and other organisations in the public domain.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within the Construction division of the Contract Delivery team and to support the day-to-day operational leadership of the wider team.  This involves oversight of existing Contract Delivery Plan and also a future pipeline of procurement activity. 

The postholder will be responsible for working with the team to ensure that all activities are undertaken to the highest standards and within agreed timescales.

Principal Role

  • Drive commercial excellence through the implementation of well-defined sourcing strategies
  • Effectively manage and deliver a wide-ranging portfolio of contracts including high value/high risk, regulated and non-regulated.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant standing orders, statutory provisions, EU directives, other relevant legislation and policies, procedures and processes
  • Identify/assemble and lead User Intelligence Groups for designated contracts to develop and implement innovative procurement strategies throughout the contract life cycle to ensure the delivery of efficiency, effectiveness and value to local authorities
  • Implement procurement strategies that deliver key targets and goals
  • Liaise with and coordinate relevant feedback from key stakeholders in the procurement process
  • Manage the tender process for goods, works and service contracts.

 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Assess key stakeholder needs in order to manage/develop contract solutions which ensure effective service delivery
  • Conduct negotiations with suppliers in accordance with relevant policies and procedures, ensuring that the business is represented in an effective and professional manner
  • Deliver contract recommendations through the development of consistent and robust assessments, and in accordance with agreed procurement principles
  • Develop and prepare a range of reports required to monitor the performance and effectiveness of suppliers and contracts, recommending action plans for any areas of performance improvement.
  • Ensure that own work activities comply with Scotland Excel’s commitment to health and safety regulations
  • Identify and develop new sources of supply for relevant commodities or services, conducting supplier appraisals as appropriate
  • Involved in the implementation of Scotland Excel’s HR policy, procedures and practices
  • Lead User Intelligence Groups to develop and implement innovative procurement strategies, ensuring that key objectives and critical success factors are achieved
  • Make recommendations on the award of contracts in accordance with relevant contract authorisation procedure and arrange subsequent contract placement and mobilisation in conjunction with appropriate legal advice
  • Manage all stages of relevant procurement processes in order to deliver a high quality procurement service
  • Monitor developments in new procurement practices and techniques, including e-technologies
  • Responsible for the coordination, instruction, advising and guidance of team members
  • Successfully implement and manage contracts through a cycle of continuous improvement that meets customer requirements
  • Support sustainable procurement policy and practice in the delivery of contracts to local authorities
  • Through effective use of management information, carry out analysis and management of price variation requests, where required, in support of local authority procurement objectives

 

Desired Qualifications and Qualities 

  • Achieved, or working towards full membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) or equivalent
  • HND in business related subject or equivalent qualification
  • Excellent organisational, numeracy and communication skills
  • Committed to the provision and development of excellent customer service
  • Demonstrable understanding of Scotland Excel’s customer care focus and continuous service improvement objectives

 

Relevant Experience 

  • Significant experience in a procurement environment
  • Experience in the effective delivery of services to pre- agreed performance measures
  • Experience of delivering client or account management services to public sector organisations
  • Experience of project planning and management

 

The following values are at the heart of everything we do at Scotland Excel and the successful candidate will be expected the demonstrate these daily:

  • Professional
  • Respectful
  • Courageous
  • Integrity

 

Relevant Documents

Senior Procurement Specialist - Job Description

Senior Procurement Specialist - Person Specification

 

About Scotland Excel

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.

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.

As well as a competitive salary, you will have:

  • Access to a defined benefits pension with Strathclyde Pension Fund. Current combined contribution of employee and employer varies depending on earnings but can be between 24-32%
  • A generous holiday allowance of 33 days including public holidays. This increases on a sliding scale up to an additional ten days subject to length of service
  • Flexible working opportunities including hybrid working and a nine-day fortnight
  • Access to staff discounts through Vivup employee benefit platform
  • Time off during office closure over Christmas and New Year (included in holiday allowance)
  • Our commitment to employee engagement including regular corporate and team events as recently recognised by us retaining Gold Investors In People Award
  • A wealth of training opportunities including from our own award-winning Academy

 

How to apply

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, whether it is public or private sector.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and guarantee an interview to those candidates who meet the essential requirements for the position. If you have a disability, please make us aware when submitting your application.

To be considered for this post please complete the below forms and attach your CV (max 3 pages).

Submissions received after the closing date, may not be considered.

All applicants will be asked to provide proof of their right to work in the UK, and any offer of employment will be conditional upon verifying documentary evidence before employment commences.

Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

Candidate Information Form

Personal Details
where are you currently living
Are you free to remain and take up employment in the UK? * If you are not a British passport holder or a European citizen, or you do not have the permanent right to remain in the UK, you will require a work permit. For further information on right to work please see www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk Scotland Excel does not hold a sponsorship licence and cannot offer a right to work sponsorship visa.
This will allow us to check you have relevant right to work. This does not apply to British citizens or those with a permanent right to remain.
This is required along side your share code to review right to work status.
Use this section to demonstrate why you think you would be suitable for the post by linking to the job profile and person specification. Please include all relevant information, whether obtained through formal employment or voluntary/leisure activities. (700-word limit)
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Do you have any convictions that are unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions (Scotland) Order 2013 as amended? * If you have select yes and are invited for interview, you will be required to provide further details.
Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults
Are you aware of any police enquiries undertaken following allegations made against you, which may have a bearing on your suitability for this post? * This information may be required if the post you are applying for has a requirement for a Disclosure Scotland check.
Conflict of Interest Statement
If appointed, do you have any interests or hold any appointments that may conflict with employment by Scotland Excel in the role for which you have applied? * e.g. your partner is employed by a Scotland Excel framework supplier
Declaration
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