Procurement Specialist (Executive Officer level)

“To empower An Garda Síochána through strategic procurement, enabling efficient, innovative, and responsible use of resources that enhances community trust, ensures public safety, and supports our commitment to protecting the vulnerable and securing the state. We aim to foster a transparent, sustainable, and inclusive procurement culture that aligns with our strategic pillars, driving excellence in policing services for the welfare of the community.”

This competition will be used to fill vacancies for Procurement Specialists, helping An Garda Síochána on an exciting journey to become a modern, information-led and digital police service. We have an ambitious Procurement Growth Strategy, which will support the delivery of effective and efficient policing operations and support functions.

Procurement activities in An Garda Síochána cover a broad range of goods and services that support the operational needs of the organisation and the scale of services required by a workforce of over 17,000 personnel. This will ensure that extensive frontline policing services are underpinned by effective digital infrastructure, up-to-date equipment, services and systems.

Listed below are some categories of procurement that successful candidates will manage across a variety of areas within An Garda Síochána:

Digital and ICT infrastructure, systems and resources that help deliver information-led policing through our Data & Technology Vision

Uniform/PPE

Professional Services (Legal, HR, Consultancy, Translation, Reporting, etc.)

Roads Policing

Public Order equipment

An Garda Síochána Fleet

Estate / Facilities

Advertising and Media

Office Supplies

Consultancy and Contractor Services

Specialised/Security Services

Medical Services / Occupational Health

Travel and Accommodation Services

The procurement of goods and services is key to providing the large-scale transformation underway in An Garda Síochána. Successful candidates will ensure that modern systems, goods and services procured meet the needs of end-users and are fair, equitable and provide value for money.

As a Procurement Specialist, there will be considerable opportunity to influence and contribute to the delivery of modern solutions and services throughout An Garda Síochána and to support our mission of keeping people safe.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The specific responsibilities of the Procurement Specialist (Executive Officer level) will vary depending on the particular role to which the individual is assigned. However, several core duties and responsibilities will be common across all positions. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Develop and manage end-to-end procurement processes, including the preparation of tender and request-for-quotation documentation.

Engage directly with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to ensure alignment with public procurement policies and to utilise appropriate framework agreements.

Collaborate with colleagues across An Garda Síochána to develop tender documentation and manage contracts.

Monitor and manage contractual arrangements to ensure compliance and value delivery.

Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to optimise value for money and implement best practice sourcing strategies.

Evaluate suppliers, products, and services to ensure cost-efficiency and high quality in line with procurement objectives.

Liaise with stakeholders to clarify procurement requirements and provide guidance as needed.

Support the effective management of expenditure by ensuring all procurement activities adhere to the Public Spending Code and deliver maximum value.

Supervise and manage the work within the area of responsibility, ensuring high standards of performance and compliance.

Actively participate in OGP sourcing teams and cross-functional procurement initiatives.

Maintain and manage the organisation’s contracts register.

Analyse expenditure data to identify opportunities for cost savings, service improvements, and enhanced supplier performance.

Facilitate clear and effective communication with stakeholders at all levels across the organisation.

Contribute to the successful implementation of change initiatives and organisational improvements as required.

Support the preparation of financial governance reports through timely and accurate procurement input.

Coordinate with vendors to ensure efficient and timely procurement operations.

Foster and maintain strong working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to support collaborative procurement efforts.

Perform any other duties/tasks that align with the role.

This description of the role is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and may be reviewed from time to time to reflect the needs of the role and organisation.

Essential: Professional Qualifications, Experience, Requirements, Skills

Candidates appointed as a Procurement Specialist in An Garda Síochána will be individuals of the utmost integrity and ethical values. They will possess a strong professional aptitude in addition to excellent communication and team leadership skills. Successful candidates will see opportunities to deliver world-class services in support of information-led policing, and will demonstrate personal drive, commitment and energy to support the delivery of solutions in support of this goal.

Candidates by the closing date of the competition must meet one of the following criteria:

A. Possess a qualification in a relevant business-related field (minimum Level 6 NFQ) and at least 1 years directly relevant hands-on procurement or contract management experience* from your employment to date.

OR

B. At least 3 years directly relevant hands-on procurement or contract management experience* in a busy operating environment from your employment to date.

*Relevant hands-on experience can include, but is not limited to, experience preparing requests for tender (RFT) documentation, participating in tender evaluations, and contract management.

Candidates must also have experience in at least two of the following areas:

Desirable: Requirements, Skills:

Key Competencies for effective performance at Executive Officer level:

People Management

Consults and encourages the full engagement of the team, encouraging open and constructive discussions around work issues.

Gets the best out of individuals and the team, encouraging good performance and addressing any performance issues that may arise.

Values and supports the development of others and the team.

Encourages and supports new and more effective ways of working.

Deals with tensions within the team in a constructive fashion.

Encourages, listens to and acts on feedback from the team to make improvements.

Actively shares information, knowledge and expertise to help the team to meet its objectives.

Analysis & Decision Making

Effectively deals with a wide range of information sources, investigating all relevant issues.

Understands the practical implication of information in relation to the broader context in which they work – procedures, divisional objectives etc.

Identifies and understands key issues and trends.

Correctly extracts & interprets numerical information, conducting accurate numerical calculations.

Draws accurate conclusions & makes balanced and fair recommendations backed up with evidence.

Delivery of Results

Takes ownership of tasks and is determined to see them through to a satisfactory conclusion.

Is logical and pragmatic in approach, setting objectives and delivering the best possible results with the resources available through effective prioritisation.

Constructively challenges existing approaches to improve efficient customer service delivery.

Accurately estimates time parameters for project, making contingencies to overcome obstacles.

Minimises errors, reviewing learning and ensuring remedies are in place.

Maximises the input of own team in ensuring effective delivery of results.

Ensures proper service delivery procedures/protocols/reviews are in place and implemented

Person Specification

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Modifies communication approach to suit the needs of a situation/audience.

Actively listens to the views of others.

Liaises with other groups to gain co-operation.

Negotiates, where necessary, in order to reach a satisfactory outcome.

Maintains a focus on dealing with customers in an effective, efficient and respectful manner.

Is assertive and professional when dealing with challenging issues.

Expresses self in a clear and articulate manner when speaking and in writing.

Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development

Displays high levels of skills/expertise in own area and provides guidance to colleagues.

Has a clear understanding of the role, objectives and targets and how they support the service delivered by the unit and Department/Organisation and can communicate this to the team.

Leads by example, demonstrating the importance of development by setting time aside for development initiatives for self and the team.

Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values

Is committed to the role, consistently striving to perform at a high level.

Demonstrates flexibility and openness to change.

Is resilient and perseveres to obtain objectives despite obstacles or setbacks.

Ensures that customer service is at the heart of own/teamwork.

Is personally honest and trustworthy.

Acts with integrity and encourages this in others.

Eligibility to apply and certain restrictions on eligibility

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must 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 has a stamp 4* or a Stamp 5 permission.

*Please note that a 50 TEU visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent.

To qualify candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer. It is the candidates responsibility to maintain eligibility.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants.

It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment.

People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Salary Scale

The Executive Officer salary scale will apply to this position. The PPC (Personal Pension Contribution) salary scale (annually) for this position, with effect from 1st June 2026, is as follows:

Executive Officer Standard Scale – PPC €38,803 – €40,764 - €41,871 - €44,030 - €45,965 - €47,838 - €49,703 - €51,534 - €53,419 - €55,296 - €57,289 - €58,624 - €60,527¹ - €63,227²

Long Service increment (LSI 1) may be payable following 3 years’ satisfactory service at the maximum of scale.

1 Long Service increment (LSI 2) may be payable following 6 years’ satisfactory service at the maximum of scale.