Procurement Officer

Cavan County Council

Cavan County Council leads and collaborates with all to drive and shape a better future for our County and it is a progressive, dynamic and innovative local authority in Ireland.

Cavan County Council employs over 500 employees across service divisions including housing and building, roads, transport and safety, water supply and sewerage, development management, environmental protection, recreation and amenity, agriculture and education and miscellaneous services.

A dynamic and ever evolving place to work with a stimulating and challenging work environment, Cavan County Council offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of administrative, professional, creative, technical, and general services roles. Supported by continuous learning and development, a highly skilled workforce is central to delivering these objectives. In the heart of the scenic lakelands, Cavan is located less than two hours’ drive from Dublin, Belfast, and Galway and boasts an unrivalled quality of life.

The Competition

The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel for Procurement Officer from which permanent and/or temporary positions may be filled.

The successful candidate will be assigned to the Finance Department of Cavan County Council and will work under the control and supervision of the Head of Finance or other designated officer.

The Role

The Procurement Officer is a middle management position within Cavan County Council and is responsible for developing and implementing purchasing policy and strategy, to co-ordinate purchasing practices and to maximise savings and benefits available to the Local Authority from purchasing activities.

The Procurement Officer contributes to and implements the strategic and policy decisions of the Council, through ensuring the implementation of operational plans.

The post holder will be expected to work closely with senior managers and elected representatives in delivering services to the highest standard and to contribute to the development and implementation of strategies and policies.

The Procurement Officer is the primary point of contact and liaison with other departments or directorates in relation to all operational matters for Procurement Services.

The Procurement Officer is expected to carry out their duties with an understanding of the political context of local government and in such a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

Qualifications For The Post

Character:

Candidates must be of good character.

Citizenship:

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a)          A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b)          A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

c)          A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d)          A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa: or

e)          A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa or

f)            A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

Health:

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are appointed, to undergo at their own expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the Local Authority. On taking up appointment the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to candidates.

Education, Training, Experience, etc.

The ideal candidate will demonstrateon the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a) (i) Hold a recognised procurement qualification

Or

(ii) a minimum of 2 years strategic procurement experience including:

·       Practical procurement experience in either managing or establishing commercial arrangements;

·       Experience of best practice procurement, EU Procurement Directives and Public Service Procurement Environment, and

·       Experience of the OGP National Public Procurement Policy Framework

(b) Have experience of managing staff

(c) Have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation & control of staff

(d) Have good knowledge and awareness of Health & Safety Legislation Regulations, their implications for the organisation and the employee and their application in the workplace

(e) Possess a full unendorsed driving licence

Duties & Responsibilities

The Procurement Officer will be required to:

·       Ensure that Cavan County Council’s Corporate Procurement Plan is implemented in full by the prescribed dates

·       Have up to date knowledge of relevant public procurement legislation, guidance and circulars

·       Monitor the Council’s procurement, including conducting frequent spend analysis and examination of procurement practices, record-keeping and compliance with Sectoral, National and EU Rules and provide related reports to management, as required

·       Provide procurement guidance and support to Council personnel. Assist in the preparation of tender documents.

·       Coordinate and support the work of the Procurement Working Group

·       Supervise Procurement staff

·       Introduce best practice methods to ensure that goods, services and works are procured in compliance with all relevant legislation and guidelines, while managing risk and achieving value for money

·       Actively promote the procurement function within Cavan County Council including the development and improvement of training and skills of staff involved in the procurement and purchasing process

·       Develop and maintain standard documentation and templates for use in procurement process

·       Identify risk of non-compliance and co-ordinate aggregation of requirements

·       Lead savings initiatives/strategy

·       Develop, maintain and implement procurement policy, plans and procedures

·       Ensure that all necessary records and registers are in place and adequately maintained and updated

·       Act as Administrator for the Council’s presence on Supplygov and eTender portals

·       Complete the annual Quality Assurance requirements of the Public Spending Code and comply with all requests in relation to data returns to relevant bodies

·       Work with the Local Government Auditor and the Internal Auditor of the Council to support compliance with procurement frameworks, policies, directives and regulations, to facilitate Audits and resolve audit queries.

·       Prepare reports for management in relation to the level of compliance with public procurement rules and policy.

·       Optimise the number of buyers within Cavan County Council, collaborating with LEO and similar bodies to provide procurement training/information to local SMEs

·       Engage with National Procurement Strategy on implementation of National contracts, liaise with LGMA, OGP, LGOPC and any other relevant bodies on behalf of Cavan County Council.

·       Work with Regional Procurement Co-ordinator and L.A. National Procurement Office promoting procurement best practice, implementing projects and reporting findings and making recommendations to support change of policy.

·       Participate in relevant procurement networks and fora.

·       Collaborate with Enterprise Board & Chambers of Commerce to provide procurement training/information to local SME’s.

·       Green Public Procurement

·       LVP Cards

·       Carry out such duties as may be required by the Directorate/Head of Section or other designated officer.

Notwithstanding the requirements of the post successful applicants may be assigned to any service area/role within the Local Authority at an analogous level by the Chief Executive at any time.

Probation

The successful candidate shall be required to be on probation for an initial period, as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council.

Salary

Remuneration will be at the Procurement Officer of the national wage scales. The present minimum scale is €58,252 increasing to €75,728 per annum (including LSIs) with annual increments subject to satisfactory performance via PMDS. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Garda Vetting/Child Protection

Successful candidates will be subject to the Garda Vetting Procedures.

Annual Leave

The annual leave entitlement for this post will be 30 days per annum.

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement from public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Working Hours

The post entails a wide range of duties which require maximum flexibility and will be based on a 35-hour week, involving regular evening and weekend attendance where necessary. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

Pension:

The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies.

Driving Licence:

Holders of the office must have a current full driving licence in respect of Category B vehicles or equivalent in the EU. Model Driving Licence and have access to a car.

Acceptance of Offer of Employment

Cavan County Council shall require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, Cavan County Council shall not appoint them.

Communications:

Cavan County Council will contact you when necessary at each stage of the competition by phone, post or email. It is strongly recommended that you do not change your email address or mobile phone number in the course of this recruitment competition, as any email will be sent to the email address originally supplied on your application form.

It is important to note that the email address you provide when applying must be one that you can access at all times. The onus is on the applicant to inform the Human Resources Department of any change in postal address throughout the recruitment and selection campaign. This can be done by emailing:

The onus is also on each applicant to ensure that she/he is in receipt of all communication from the Cavan County Council. Cavan County Council does not accept responsibility for communications not accessed or received by an applicant.