Office Of Government Procurement (OGP)

sazieb

Has anyone from the Dublin panel been called?

KM24

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has been offered a position?

Rita57

Is this a unusually long recruitment process or is the the norm for this area, has anyone any experience?

AJMG

I got called to submit docs and complete Garda Clearance late last week for Sligo.. I was #2 on panel

Rita57

Oh ok that’s good well done. At Least there Is progress after all on the campaign. I was the wrong side of #50!

Gillok

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121767908#Comment_121767908

Hi, do you mind me asking is this re the HEO role? I too was contacted last week but was asked to confirm my choice of location after already confirming my choice of location at the time of applying, just found it odd.

AJMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769824#Comment_121769824

No, I was asked to complete Garda Vetting in relation to OGP category specialist role. I wasn’t asked to confirm location, it just stated Sligo at the top of the mail. Have you been contacted about HEO role?

KM24

Was told that the panel wasn't released for location preferences but have received OOM. A bit confusing when other people have been given OOM in relation to their location! Any one else the same?

Bug23

I had an OOM for my chosen location in my results message last December. I also know my overall OOM (nationally) although I’ve only selected one location. Like AJMG, when PAS emailed to get the ball rolling on pre-employment checks it had a location in the title.

Elzbellz

Hi, I did not get called for interview for category specialist because I am on the reserve panel as I was placed after the top 50, can anyone tell me what number of candidates have the OGP reached and called to interview at this stage?

Rita57

I am interested to know this too. I was number 51😫

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121832684#Comment_121832684

KM24

Hi All,

Has anyone from the October competition been offered a position?

sazieb

My Garda clearance went through and they have contacted my references so hopefully soon.

RuzenaStone

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121887118#Comment_121887118

Good luck!

MaryKaye79

top ten in Dublin for CS, havent been called, anyone called yet?

how many days in the office? dress code? can we build up flexi time at home? much training?

thanks, getting anxious about changing jobs now

MaryKaye79

anyone called for CS around the country love to hear some information on the role thanks

Whakairo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121965954#Comment_121965954

congrats MaryKaye, I’m just outside the top 10 for Dublin so no call yet. Would really appreciate an update when you get the call. Best of luck!

Mich2023

Hi there, I got called for Cork last week, I am also a bit nervous about changing jobs and taking pay cut as I am keen to move to public sector from private but just hoping this job will be ok, anyone any idea about the job or team or what the culture is like. I am really hoping there is a good team culture and the job a bit challenging albeit not too stressful!!

Rabaen

Just for anyone's curiosity, officially the OGP operates under DPER policy for working from home. As such it is meant to be 3 days office and 2 days wfh. You can build up flexi while wfh.

Smart casual is the norm in the office, I wear chinos/jeans, polo shirt/shirt/jumper (not all at once, that would be weird), it gets more formal the higher the grade. I'm based in the Dublin office so can't really say what the various regional offices are like.

The only thing I found odd about OGP when I started was that it was very top heavy, there are very few Clerical Officers in the OGP as a proportion of staff. When I started I was sitting with my HEO, AP and PO all around me, no CO's in my entire section of 20 people, which was different to where I came from and I'm not sure I ever even met my previous PO there. I was promoted into OGP as EO 5 yrs ago and got HEO internally end of last year. A lot of staff leave on promotion, so I guess that's a good thing even if it means there is fairly high turnover. If I was giving advice for anyone coming in I'd say try to get some kind of Leadership training incorporated into your PMDS, if you don't have staff reporting to you (due to there being no junior staff at all) it could be problematic going for your next step up in a few years.

Mich2023

Thank you Rabaen, is the job challenging enough and is there ability to move to different positions in the department or are you restricted as it is so specialised?

Rabaen

I'd say the work is middle of the road, busy sometimes, not so much others, depends on the section. I don't think there is anyone swamped with work/stressed about it. Whether work is challenging is a bit subjective, but I enjoy what I do, if that helps. I'm always learning something new.

You can move to other roles within the OGP, subject to meeting the criteria of course. I will say though that the OGP is small, around 250 people across the entire country, maybe 150ish in Dublin. Also the OGP is not a department in its own right and I don't think it ever will be. OGP is a Division under DPER, the top of OGP are ASecs that report to the SecGen in DPER. To date OGP staff cannot apply for internal DPER roles, I'm not sure if that will change. That would be great for OGP staff (more promotion opportunities), maybe not so great for OGP itself (more turnover).

I haven't really thought about it too much but I guess you could say that there aren't a lot of internal opportunities in the OGP compared to a larger department but it seems that the work in the OGP sets you up well going for external roles. That's just based off the turnover, like I said before, the majority of which is on promotion.

Mich2023

Thanks Rabaen, That is really helpful, I am surprised that you cannot apply for internal roles, when you mention external, I assume you mean within civil service but not in the DPER?

MaryKaye79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122064724#Comment_122064724

thanks Rabaen very useful information

is it easy to get SWY any limits on amount due to small staff numbers

Are they strict on 3 days in office

do they give you laptop or desktop. Thanks

RuzenaStone

Anybody, heard anything further or progressed in next stages?

Whakairo

Hi Ruzena. I was contacted for pre employment clearance in late April. I'm not currently a CS so perhaps it took a little more time than usual. My current employer took almosr 2 weeks to fill in the PAS form requested. I also had a period of prolonged leave recently that PAS needed to query. I received a letter of appointment on Wednesday morning and a phone call from HR in the OGP on Thursday with a date of appointment of mid August. I need to work a month's notice at my current company so this allows a few weeks between, which is great. Thanks everyone for keeping the thread going on this. Its been really helpful through the process.

MaryKaye79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122286783#Comment_122286783

well done Whakairo, that’s great news

can I ask what county. Thanks

Whakairo

Thanks MaryKaye, I'm delighted. I was called for Dublin. I was just outside the top 10 in the oom. I'd gotten a higher oom for my 2nd choice, Trim, but thankfully Dublin came up - less of a commute. Best of luck to everyone waiting still.

MaryKaye79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122287519#Comment_122287519

best of luck in the new job

I’m the opposite, turned down Dublin asked if I could wait for 2nd choice

glad to see movement on panels

Whakairo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122287614#Comment_122287614

Thanks a mill. Fingers crossed you get the call soon

RuzenaStone

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122286783#Comment_122286783

Amazing Whakairo, Well done! I'm in the mid teens oom for Dublin so this is really positive to hear. I'm still applying for other jobs but would be delighted if this came up soon.