Regional Procurement Lead

Purpose of Role

The Agency requires the appointment of a Grade VII Regional Procurement Officer within each of its six Regions.

The postholder will manage and lead complex procurement activities, ensuring strict compliance with national and EU public procurement law, while also achieving value for money, transparency, and supporting wider Agency objectives.

The postholder will work to strengthen governance and compliance, risk monitoring, driving value for money, and supporting the Agency’s strategic procurement objectives across all Regions.

The Regional Procurement Lead will directly report to the Regional Services General Manager with a dotted line to the Head of Financial Excellence and Governance, who, through the National Procurement Unit, will assign procurement tasks based on an agreed framework. This framework and plan is developed and agreed with RCOs.

Reporting Relationship

Directly report to the General Manager – Regional Services.

Duties and Responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Work in collaboration with the National Procurement Unit (NPU) on procurement assignments, strategies, reporting, and process standardisation.
• Manage the end-to-end procurement processes across categories of expenditure and assist with national and regional tender processes on behalf of budget holders as required, ensuring that the budget holder arrives at the purchase-to-pay (P2P) stage.
• Lead procurement planning and analysis of purchasing requirements prior to tendering, conducting National and Regional tender processes on behalf of budget holders as required.
• Manage and identify cross-function savings.
• Manage all data protection related matters as part of a procurement process.
• Prepare coordinated tender documents such as Request for Tendering (RFT) and Request for Quote (RFQ); advise on tender specifications, award criteria, and manage processes through eTenders.
• Build and retain key stakeholder management, both internally and externally, championing an inclusive and supportive work environment with the NPU, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on procurement matters.
• Provide clear and regular communication on procurement updates across the Regions, focusing on day-to-day queries.
• Contract management and auditing of contracts including disputes, remedies, contract extensions, and contract exit.
• Responsible for governance and compliance procurement reporting.
• Support in the development and implementation of the Agency’s Procurement Strategy, goals, and objectives as set out in the three-year Corporate Procurement Plan.
• Ensure Regional/local alignment of legislation, policies, and procedures with the NPU.
• Coordinate FOI and PQ procurement-related responses.
• Responsible for Supplier Relationship Management, including resolving issues at a local level.
• Promote continuous Training & Education programmes including IFMS, eTenders, eProcurement Training, and innovation to include Green Public Procurement (GPP) / Environmental and Social Considerations.
• Develop and maintain positive and effective relationships across all sections of the Agency.
• Apply a deep understanding of Public Procurement processes and regulations, having the ability to apply processes to procurement requirements.
• Support the NPU in standardising the Procurement processes across the Agency.
• Observe strict rules of confidentiality on any information gained as part of any tender process and/or project.

Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines, and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations, and standards.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the service, for example, National Standards for Child Protection and Care, and comply with associated Tusla – Child and Family Agency protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• Support, promote, and actively participate in sustainable energy, water, and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low-carbon, and efficient health service.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the postholder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/or Experience

Applicants must, by the closing date of application, have the following:

• At least three years’ administrative experience as relevant to the role.
• Experience in financial systems such as SAP Finance or similar processing systems.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills with project management skills.
• Experience of liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• MS skills, including advanced Excel.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Requisite knowledge and administrative ability (including a high standard of management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Health

A candidate for, and any person holding, the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

Each candidate for, and any person holding, the office must be of good character.

Skills, Competencies and/or Knowledge

Tusla Leadership Competency Framework

The Tusla Leadership Competency Framework describes the behaviours that are key to Tusla colleagues being effective in the execution of their role at all levels within the Agency. The competencies and associated behavioural descriptors capture the transversal knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that will enable colleagues, regardless of role or rank, to be effective in their work.

The Tusla Leader Framework relevant for this role is Leading Others. Please access the Leading Others link to familiarise yourself with the impact of this proficiency for Tusla.

The competency of Professional Knowledge is specifically linked to the duties, responsibilities, and criteria for this role.

Other Requirements of the Role

• The postholder will require access to appropriate transport as the post may involve travel.
• Awareness of children and young people’s participatory practice.

Application Process

Campaign Specific Selection Process – Shortlisting / Interview

The online application system has a timeout facility to protect the privacy of the user. This activates if the application has been dormant for over 60 minutes. Any unsaved work will be lost. Candidates are advised to work on their application outside the system and copy/paste completed answers into the online form.

Once fully submitted, a confirmation email will be sent. If not received, the application has not been submitted.

AI-generated content must not be used in your application. Tusla reserves the right to assess if content is likely AI-generated. Use of AI may result in disqualification.

Shortlisting may be carried out based on information supplied in your application. Candidates must provide evidence of experience in line with the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies, and/or knowledge section. Failure to do so may result in not being called for interview.

Code of Practice

The Recruitment Service Child and Family Agency will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). This Code sets out principles of probity, merit, equity, and fairness, and outlines procedures for feedback and review. Codes of practice are published by the CPSA at www.cpsa.ie.

Tusla Child and Family Agency is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Tusla recognises its responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts 2003–2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Remuneration

The salary scale for the whole-time equivalent of this post is:

01/08/2025: €60,013, €61,479, €63,192, €64,911, €66,636, €68,176, €69,745, €71,272, €72,788, €75,397, €78,015 LSIs.

LSIs (Long Service Increments) are represented by emboldened figures. 1st LSI is paid after 3 years on the max, 2nd LSI after 3 years on LSI1, and 3rd LSI after 3 years on the 2nd LSI (where applicable).

The appointee shall commence on the first point of the salary scale. Incremental credit may be given on appointment for certain types of relevant experience. Entry will be at the minimum point of the scale. Different terms and conditions may apply if the appointee is currently a serving civil or public servant.

Working Week

The standard working week applying to the whole-time equivalent of this post is 35 hours.

Annual Leave

The annual leave associated with the whole-time equivalent of this post is 30 days per annum.

Superannuation

This is a pensionable position with Tusla. The successful candidate will become a member of the appropriate pension scheme, as notified within the contract of employment.

Probation

A probation period of 39 weeks, or proportion thereof for fixed-term/specified purpose contracts, shall apply from the commencement of employment. The contract may be terminated by either party during this period. The probationary period may be extended at management discretion by a further 9 weeks.

Confirmation of appointment as a permanent member of staff is subject to successful completion of probation. If a candidate has already completed probation with Tusla, the HSE, or a Local Authority with no break in service, no probation period applies.