Assistant Principal Officer - Procurement/Finance

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OFFICER – PROCUREMENT/FINANCE - PERMANENT

(Open Competition)

Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) provides educational services within the Galway and Roscommon area. It has 21 schools and over 40 Further Education and Training Centres. There are almost 2000 staff employed by GRETB, over 27,000 learners, and it has a budget of approximately €150m.

POST OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OFFICER:

Applications are invited from suitable, qualified, and experienced persons for the post of Permanent Assistant Principal Officer – Procurement / Finance, which is approved by the Department of Education (DoE). The post holder will form part of the management structure of GRETB under the leadership of the Chief Executive.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE:

Terms of Appointment:

The post is a whole-time permanent contract.

Location:

Initially assigned to the Procurement Section, Galway and Roscommon ETB Head Office, Athenry, Co Galway. However, the post holder could be moved to another location or functional area of the organisation as required.

Remuneration:

€77,730- €94,671 (including two long service increments).

IMPORTANT NOTICE RE: SALARY:

As per DES guidelines, new appointees who are entering this grade for the first time will start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit may only apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is already a serving Civil or Public Servant. Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Starting Salary is not subject to negotiation.

Hours of work:

A 35-hour week is in operation. Hours may be adjusted from time to time under relevant Public Sector Agreements.

Annual leave:

The Annual Leave entitlement for this post is 30 days.

Deadline:

Completed applications must be submitted online by 12.00 noon on Monday 11th March 2024.

Essential Requirements

• A minimum of 3-5 years management experience in a public procurement role.
• Have a degree or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications in a relevant discipline.
• Have a recognised qualification in public procurement.
• Substantial experience in budget management and financial reporting on large projects.
• Experience in implementing robust corporate governance practices.
• Have significant experience in managing staff in a large complex organisation.
• Knowledge of risk management and the implementation of internal controls.
• Experienced in using a range of financial packages and high level of ICT literacy, including the ability to apply technology to streamline processes in the workplace.
• Self-starter capable of working on his/her own initiative, with strong multitasking capability, and results-focused.
• Good planning and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively in a dynamic and pressurised environment.
• Excellent leadership skills with proven ability to lead, motivate, coach, and develop staff to deliver high quality output within tight time frames.
• A commitment to teamwork, leading change and a demonstrated ability to manage resources effectively.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including negotiation, report writing and presentation skills.
• Excellent judgement, problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and to actively seek learning opportunities.
• Strong skills in building productive working relationships and the ability to foster strong links with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Project management experience.

Desirable

• Have an understanding of the main features and current challenges of the Government’s public sector reform plans.
• Inniúlacht le dualgais an phoist a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach trí mheán na Gaeilge/Capacity to discharge the duties of the post through the medium of Irish.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Main duties of role include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lead and manage the Procurement function in GRETB.
• Develop and implement the Corporate Procurement Plan.
• Ensure adherence to public procurement regulations, guidelines and legislation.
• Responsible for contract management.
• Analyse spend and identify opportunities for increasing value for money and cost savings.
• Develop and implement comprehensive procurement policies and procedures.
• Participate on various procurement /finance forums as required.
• Provide subject matter expertise and training for GRETB staff on procurement.
• Responsible for budget tracking and financial reporting on capital projects.
• Liaising with Buildings, IT, schools, centres, the Department of Education, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and SOLAS in relation to financial drawdowns and financial reporting on capital projects.
• Engage with internal/external auditors and implement recommendations for your area in a timely manner.
• Project management of cross functional teams on relevant strategic projects.
• Ongoing development of communication channels with internal and external stakeholders - Section Managers, GRETB’s Schools, Centres, funders, suppliers, OGP, and EPS.
• Prepare reports, plans, and other submissions as may be required by the Chief Executive, Director of Organisation Support and Development, and other relevant bodies.
• Promote and implement good corporate governance, risk management, value for money and internal control measures and processes.
• Develop the capability of team members through feedback, coaching, and creating opportunities for development, as well as addressing any performance issues as they arise.
• Promote and implement ICT solutions to improve efficiencies in the organisation.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by CE or Director of OSD having regard to the changing needs of the organisation.