Scottish procurement and commercial competency framework

Planning and Risk Management

Early Engagement and Role of the Intelligent Client (Drives Better Outcomes)

Programme and Project Management [back to list]

Theme:

Programme and Project Management is a core skill that can be used for the effective delivery of simple to complex procurement projects. It helps to ensure that procurements deliver their objectives both on time and on budget. It includes the identification of tasks, resources, activities, mitigation of risks, and stakeholder relationships.

Why it matters:

Project delivery is a key success factor in delivering effective procurements. Using robust, though proportionate, methodology to effectively manage programmes or projects reduces risks and maximises successful outcomes, on time, in budget, and to specification. This helps to create a transparent environment with clear expectations for all.

Level 1 – Foundation:

• Has an awareness of the importance of planning in procurement and contributes to basic analysis to support the planning process.
• Able to recognise project timelines, deliverables, dependencies, and milestones.

Global Standards: APM (1 Aware)

Level 2 – Working Knowledge:

• Has practical experience in procurement related projects using a range of project methods, applying them appropriately and proportionately on small projects, while supporting larger, more complex projects.
• Understands collaborative approaches of project working and is able to identify, manage, and recommend mitigation strategies for project risks.

Global Standards: CIPS: 15 Delivering, APM (2 Practised)

Level 3 – Practitioner:

• Is a competent project manager, able to support complex programmes and projects by organising work into project packages, developing schedules, tasks, and people-based assignments.
• Can anticipate project problems and risks, mitigate them and is able to remove project roadblocks, or resolve them, through negotiation.
• Has managed procurement and/or other projects in a controlled environment and can manage projects in an uncertain environment in line with the Scottish Government’s programme and project management principles.

Global Standards: CIPS: 9 Managing, 12 Managing, 15 Managing, APM (3 Competent)

Level 4 – Expert:

• Capable of interpreting business requirements for major procurement and supply chain programmes and projects, to influence and futureproof them and enhance performance.
• Able to monitor and deliver multiple complex projects in an uncertain environment, handling complex budget issues and senior stakeholder engagement.
• Can support and contribute to managing the organisation’s challenges, including the governance surrounding commercial ‘stop–go’ decisions.

Global Standards: CIPS: 9 Influencing, 12 Leading, 15 Leading, APM (4 Proficient)

Level 5 – Leader:

• Able to develop and lead a culture of programme and project management that is agile, collaborative, and collegiate, with collective responsibilities and accountabilities.
• Can deal with issues that are complex, unexpected, and have significant ambiguity, including through project partnering and strategic alliances across Scottish procurement organisations.

Global Standards: CIPS: 9 Influencing, 12 Influencing, 15 Influencing, APM (5 Expert)

Risk Management [back to list]

Theme:

Risk management is critical to ensuring that organisations and individuals have a full and clear understanding of the risk to successful delivery of objectives. In Scottish public procurement, there is a requirement to ensure that risk is effectively identified, assessed, addressed, reviewed and reported in line with the associated risk framework.

Why it matters:

Risk management is critical across all public procurement organisations nationally. Organisations must manage risk effectively in order to make the most of opportunities, deliver their objectives and protect the interests of their stakeholders. Failure to identify and properly manage risks can lead to significant impacts including legal, financial and reputational damage.

Level 1 – Foundation:

• Aware of different risks associated with contracts and assists in the monitoring of risks.

Global Standards: APM: Risk and issue management (1 Aware)

Level 2 – Working Knowledge:

• Identifies and analyses the commercial implications and approach to different risks associated with contracts.
• Able to ensure that contract risk is managed, mitigated, or avoided, through reducing risks such as bribery and corruption, breaches of standards, and failure to adhere to procurement policy.

Global Standards: CIPS: 10 Delivering, APM: Risk and issue management (2 Practised), CMI: Organisational Performance (1)

Level 3 – Practitioner:

• Develops and implements strategies to mitigate within risk appetite the impact of supply chain risks to finance, legal, reputation and delivery of outcomes.
• Contributes to the development of risk pathways and supports risk mitigation through the adoption of risk frameworks, tools and standards.

Global Standards: CIPS: 8 Managing, 9 Managing, 10 Managing, 13 Managing, APM: Risk and issue management (3 Competent), CMI: Organisational Performance (2)

Level 4 – Expert:

• Recommends risk management strategies and is responsible for mechanisms for risk review, sharing, and mitigation sharing across supply chains.
• Evaluates and maximises potential opportunities arising from the mitigation of risk such as wider market development, cost reduction and supplier engagement.

Global Standards: CIPS: 8 Leading, 13 Leading, APM: Risk and issue management (4 Proficient), CMI: Organisational Performance (3)

Level 5 – Leader:

• Leads the detection of emerging threats and develops mitigation strategies to protect the supply chain by reducing risk and vulnerability.
• Leverages and drives opportunities to ensure business continuity, sustainability, and reputational stability, while addressing value chain risks.
• Engages with senior leadership and external partners across the organisation to align risk management with organisational policy and objectives.

Global Standards: CIPS: 8 Influencing, 10 Influencing, 13 Influencing, APM: Risk and issue management (5 Expert), CMI: Organisational Performance (4)