Procurement Lead (Fixed Term until 31st March 2028)

Housing Ombudsman Service

Scotland

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 2 weeks

Procurement

Full time

£55,837 per year

Job summary

The Procurement Lead sits within the Corporate Services and Finance Directorate reporting to the Procurement and Contracts Manager. The postholder will provide contract and commercial expertise supporting effective contracting across the organisation through robust governance, risk management, and assurance over key supplier arrangements.

The postholder will support end-to-end procurement activity with a strong focus on the contracting and post-award lifecycle, ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). This includes ownership of contract set-up, administration and governance; leading on contract meetings and performance reporting as necessary; and managing contractual change such as variations, extensions, renewals and dispute resolution to protect value for money and service outcomes.

Job description

The postholder will be a contract and procurement subject matter expert, maintaining up to date knowledge of government policy and statutory procurement regulations. They will apply this expertise to shape fit-for-purpose contract terms, manage commercial risk, and secure commercial, operational and social value benefits in line with the government’s procurement goals.

Responsibilities and outcomes

· Lead the development and delivery of contract strategies across all values. Ensure contracting activity is compliant with the PA23, associated statutory guidance, and internal governance frameworks, with clear audit trails from award through to contract completion.

· Oversee and deliver a wide range of contract support functions, including: contract documentation, mobilisation, contract registers, governance reporting as required, and maintaining key commercial records throughout the contract lifecycle.

· Champion best practice contracting by influencing internal stakeholders to adopt clear specifications, proportionate contract terms, and a value-driven approach to contract governance, performance management, and commercial risk management.

· Advise project leads, contract owners and operational teams on contractual and regulatory obligations, including procurement thresholds, transparency requirements, sustainability and fair work practices, and ensure contract terms reflect HOS policy and the wider legislative framework (e.g. PA23).

· Support contract owners to implement effective contract management arrangements, including defining and embedding KPIs and SLAs, setting reporting requirements, and monitoring supplier performance to identify and address underperformance and realise benefits.

· Support scheduled contract reviews as required to assure delivery against agreed outcomes and value for money. Maintain visibility of key contract milestones (including end dates) for suppliers and work with the business to agree timely renewal, extension, re-procurement or exit strategies.

· Lead on complex or high-value commercial activity, including drafting and negotiating contract terms and conditions to align with HOS objectives, manage risk, and secure optimal value and service delivery.

· Maintain full adherence to internal procurement and contract governance procedures, including approvals, checkpoints, transparency obligations and audit requirements. Ensure timely and accurate completion of contracting documentation, approvals and records in line with organisational and regulatory standards.

· Provide professional guidance and day-to-day support to the Procurement Team to ensure consistent application of procurement and contracting processes, high-quality documentation, and effective contract governance across the organisation.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be a contract and procurement subject matter expert, with up to date knowledge of government policy and statutory procurement regulations. Your profile will demonstrate:

Qualifications relevant to the role
Significant and demonstrable experience in commercial procurement and contract lifecycle management
Experience of working in the public sector or on behalf of public sector clients (ideally within a Non-departmental Public Body)

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Note: Following unprecedented levels of interest in our vacancies, we reserve the right to close the role early. We intend on closing this role immediately if / when we receive 100 applications. We therefore strongly recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

The postholder should strive at all times to adhere to the Housing Ombudsman Service values of learning, excellence, openness, and fairness. HOS is committed to equality of opportunity in all its practices, policies, and procedures. It is our intention to promote a working environment that is free from harassment, bullying, victimisation or discrimination, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all staff to behave respectfully with courtesy and consideration, whilst carrying out their duties.

At HOS we have a Conflicts of Interest policy, designed to protect the integrity of the HOS decision-making process, to enable our stakeholders to have confidence in our integrity, and to protect the reputation of staff and non-executive members. All new staff and non-executive members of HOS should declare immediately and take actions to avoid any conflict of interest.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£55,837 per year