Senior Executive Officer Procurement

Senior Executive Officer, Procurement – Role

The post of Senior Executive Officer in Procurement is a middle management position. Postholders report to an Assistant Principal Officer (or equivalent) in a section and will be responsible for a wide range of activities including:

• Lead competitive quote processes in line with national public procurement guidelines.
• Draft requests for tenders including scope, award criteria, pricing templates, and terms.
• Prepare and publish requests for tenders via email, eTenders, Office of Government Procurement, and HEAnet as appropriate.
• Respond to clarification queries on all platforms.
• Manage the evaluation process, update files, and prepare outcome letters.
• Assist the Head of Procurement on complex Official Journal of the European Union level tenders.
• Provide professional advice and assistance to staff on procurement and the application of relevant policies, guidelines, and legislation.
• Keep up to date with Government procurement circulars and guidance and communicate relevant updates across the organisation.
• Monitor and communicate broader procurement policy developments and implications.
• Engage with the Office of Government Procurement and monitor BuyerZone.
• Advise staff on relevant Office of Government Procurement frameworks and arrangements and promote the use of centralised frameworks where possible.
• Maintain the Contracts Register and procurement files on a regular basis.
• Monitor contract expiry dates and contractual spend against maximum values.
• Support effective contract management across sections.
• Act as the organisation’s Green Procurement Specialist and promote Green Public Procurement initiatives.
• Lead and support regular procurement training and awareness sessions for staff.
• Contribute to updating procurement procedures and templates.
• Monitor, implement, and improve internal controls.
• Provide professional advice and assistance to staff on procurement and the application of relevant policies, guidelines, and legislation.
• Manage tender competitions to ensure transparency, integrity, openness, fairness, and accountability.
• Prepare procurement updates for inclusion in committee papers.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of the Corporate Procurement Plan.
• Assist in the preparation of memoranda requesting board, committee, or Chief Executive Officer approval of contracts.
• Carry out regular reviews to ensure contract compliance.
• Respond promptly to queries from internal and external auditors, parent Department, and others.
• Carry out other duties appropriate to the grade.

Requirements

• Minimum of a National Framework of Qualifications Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor’s degree or higher in a finance-relevant discipline.
• Minimum of three years’ relevant work experience, with at least one year in a public sector environment.
• Solid knowledge of Irish public procurement regulations and practices.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills, including contracts registers, evaluation spreadsheets, tracking tools, and data analysis.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to advise and engage effectively with internal stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to work on own initiative, as part of a team, and as a leader.
• Experience managing workloads.
• Knowledge of practices and procedures in the public sector.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build and maintain positive and effective relationships.
• Ability to work well under pressure on multiple tasks and to achieve deadlines.
• Ability to pay attention to detail and accuracy and ensure work is completed to a high standard.
• Knowledge of corporate governance and the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

Desirable

• Recognised procurement qualification or evidence of working towards one. Where a candidate does not hold such a qualification, they may be required to undertake and complete an appropriate procurement qualification within an agreed timeframe.
• Experience in a regulated public body.
• Experience of working in a finance team.
• Understanding of finance or a financial background.
• Knowledge of Green Public Procurement principles.

For further details on the competency framework requirements at Senior Executive Officer grade, please see the link below: Higher Executive Officer Capability Framework.pdf

Terms of Post

1. Pay The Senior Executive Officer standard salary scale for this position is as follows (rates effective from 1 February 2026):

Personal Pension Contribution scale: €59,435, €61,173, €62,908, €64,640, €66,380, €68,111, €69,849, €72,353, €75,788.

This scale applies to officers who are existing civil or public servants appointed on or after 6 April 1995, or who are new entrants to the civil or public service and are making a compulsory personal pension contribution.

Different pay and conditions may apply if, prior to appointment, the appointee is an existing civil or public servant appointed before 6 April 1995.

Increments may be awarded subject to satisfactory service and to changes in the terms and conditions relating to salary increments in the Civil or Public Service generally.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

The appointment will be made on the salary scale at a point in line with current Government pay policy. New entrants to the Civil or Public Sector, as defined in Circular 18/2010, will commence on the first point of the salary scale. Different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

2. Annual Leave Annual leave will be 29 working days, rising to 30 working days after five years. This leave is exclusive of public holidays.

3. Hours of Attendance Working hours will be in accordance with standard arrangements for the Higher Education Authority and will equate to 35 hours, net of rest breaks, per week.

No additional payment will be made for extra attendance, as the rate of remuneration covers any exceptional additional attendance that may arise.

The Higher Education Authority offers flexible working arrangements and a flexi leave scheme. Staff may work additional time which can be taken as time off.

4. Location This position is currently based at 3 Shelbourne Buildings, Shelbourne Road, Dublin. A hybrid policy is in place to facilitate blended working.

5. Tenure The appointment to the post is subject to a probationary period of up to 11 months.

6. Duties The appointee will be expected to perform all duties and obligations appropriate to this position, which may be revised from time to time.

7. Outside Employment The position is whole-time, and the appointee must avoid involvement in outside employment or business interests that conflict, or may potentially conflict, with the business of the Higher Education Authority. Clarification must be sought from management where any doubt arises.

8. Sick Leave Sick leave with full pay may be granted at the discretion of the Higher Education Authority in accordance with established public service procedures and conditions.

9. Retirement and Superannuation

The appointee will be offered public service pension terms and retirement age conditions in accordance with pension arrangements in the Higher Education Authority, depending on status:

a) In general, an individual with no prior pensionable public service history in the 26 weeks prior to appointment will be a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which commenced on 1 January 2013 under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

b) An individual on secondment will remain a member of the pension scheme of their original employer, with pensionable remuneration based on their substantive grade.

c) An individual who was a member of a pre-existing public service pension scheme and does not qualify for membership of the Single Scheme will be a member of the Higher Education Authority Staff Superannuation Scheme and associated Spouses and Children’s Scheme.