Category management
Managing a category of spend, such as software, cloud, and technology services, through a category strategy that pools demand, shapes requirements, and plans procurements over several years.
Levels
- 1. Awareness
You can:
- explain what a category is and why category plans matter
- 2. Working
You can:
- analyse spend and contracts for a category and keep the contract register up to date
- support the category plan, such as tracking renewals and savings
- 3. Practitioner
You can:
- write and deliver a category strategy with budget holders and technical leads
- plan the pipeline of procurements and contract renewals for the category
- track savings, value, and risks for the category
- 4. Expert
You can:
- set the category management approach for the organisation
- lead categories with the highest spend and risk, and align them with organisational strategy
- work with other organisations on collaborative buying
Closest ESCO skills
Contains ESCO v1.2.1 data (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/). © European Union. Reuse authorised under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
Role levels that expect this skill
| Role level | Role | Band | Expected level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category manager (digital and technology) | Category manager | 8a | Practitioner |
| Senior category manager | Category manager | 8b | Expert |
| Head of category | Category manager | 8c | Expert |
| Head of procurement | Head of procurement | 8c | Practitioner |
| Head of commercial | Head of procurement | 8d | Expert |