About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Category Manager with line management responsibilities to join our busy and expanding Flexible Procurement Services team for a fixed-term two-year period.

While the core business of Scotland Excel is collaborative at the national level for the 32 Scottish local authorities (councils) and our member organisations, the Flexible Procurement team has a unique working environment in that the team works on behalf of our members, delivering local contracts for use by individual public bodies. As such, this is a client-facing position with a focus on customer relations and client satisfaction.

The successful candidate will be well versed in public sector procurement regulations and be capable of understanding financial/standing orders of our member organisations and adapting to our clients’ ways of working across various organisations.

This team is called upon to manage tendering activities for goods, works and services in the areas such as IT, construction, facilities management, HR/finance, social care, consultancy and environmental so you will be proactive, detail-oriented and professional and will contribute to the overall success of the team.

Key responsibilities

Working collaboratively with Category Manager guiding and coaching the team, you will

• lead or support a team of people across a range of procurement responsibilities
• ensure the team’s compliance with legislation and guidance to reduce risk
• liaise with Category Managers and senior managers to ensure the team goals are achieved
• maintain a range of internal and external business relationships, both at the service and senior levels
• understand external market conditions and apply knowledge to ensure best value for clients

Ideally, you will have

• significant experience in public procurement sector at a high risk/high value level
• practical/operational experience of developing and managing people
• demonstrable leadership experience
• strong organisational and multi-tasking skills with attention to detail
• excellent verbal and written communication skills

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.

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, hybrid working and other flexible working options including a 9 day fortnight.

You will have access to staff discounts and a range of other initiatives which reflect our commitment to creating a positive work-life balance for all our employees.

Applying for the post

We welcome and encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of background, and encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

This fixed-term post may be open to secondment for applicants already working within public sector, providing agreement from your current employer.

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 of it in your cover letter.

In order to be considered for this post, we ask that you provide:

• a CV (max.3 pages)
• a cover letter, describe how your work experience to date and personal qualities would make you an excellent fit for this position.

Submissions without a cover letter, or 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.