Category manager
Category managers plan and manage a category of the organisation's spending, such as software and cloud, technology services, devices, or clinical systems, over several years. They pool demand, understand the supply market, shape requirements with digital and clinical leaders, and plan procurements and renewals so that the organisation gets value for money, avoids lock-in, and keeps its services safe and running.
- UK GDaD PCF role
- None: this reference defines the role
- ESCO occupations
- procurement category specialist (ISCO-08 2422); public procurement specialist (ISCO-08 2422)
- On GitHub
- Role document · Role data
Levels
| Band | Role level | UK GDaD PCF level | Civil Service grades | Job evaluation points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8a | Category manager (digital and technology) | — | — | 553 |
| 8b | Senior category manager | — | — | 595 |
| 8c | Head of category | — | — | 646 |
In a digital health care organisation
- Technology is one of the organisation's largest and fastest-growing areas of spend, and much of it is subscriptions that renew every year.
- Clinical systems are hard to replace, so category plans start early, test the market, and plan for interoperability and data portability to keep future competition possible.
- Cloud and software contracts must meet security, data protection, and data residency requirements for health data.
- Public procurement rules apply, and many categories are bought through public sector frameworks, so category managers choose the right route for each need.
- Category strategies include social value and carbon reduction, such as device reuse and greener data centres.
ESCO occupations and skills
ESCO lists the skills and knowledge that employers usually need (essential) or may need (optional) for each occupation. Use them as a checklist for development conversations.
procurement category specialist
Procurement category specialists are experts in specific markets and contract types and provide advanced knowledge of a particular category of supplies, services or works. They help internal or external clients to increase value for money and end users' satisfaction through their advanced knowledge of the suppliers and their offering.
Essential skills and knowledge (16)
Skills and competences
- adapt to changing situations
- address problems critically
- assess procurement needs
- develop performance orientation in public administration
- draft procurement technical specifications
- implement procurement of innovation
- implement sustainable procurement
- keep up-to-date with regulations
- maintain relationship with suppliers
- manage contracts
- manage procurement planning
- monitor developments in field of expertise
- perform procurement market analysis
Knowledge
Optional skills and knowledge (18)
Skills and competences
- adhere to organisational code of ethics
- adhere to organisational guidelines
- cooperate with colleagues
- develop procurement strategy
- draft tender documentation
- evaluate tender
- implement risk management in procurement
- manage relationships with stakeholders
- use different communication channels
- use e-procurement
Knowledge
public procurement specialist
Public procurement specialists are full-time public procurement practitioners working as part of a procurement team in a large organisation or central purchasing body in all phases of the procurement cycle. They translate needs into contracts and deliver value for money for the organisation and the public.
Essential skills and knowledge (29)
Skills and competences
- address problems critically
- adhere to organisational code of ethics
- adhere to organisational guidelines
- assess procurement needs
- cooperate with colleagues
- develop performance orientation in public administration
- develop procurement strategy
- draft procurement technical specifications
- draft tender documentation
- evaluate tender
- implement procurement of innovation
- implement risk management in procurement
- implement sustainable procurement
- manage relationships with stakeholders
- negotiate buying conditions
- negotiate improvement with suppliers
- negotiate terms with suppliers
- perform contract reporting and evaluation
- perform procurement market analysis
- use communication techniques
- use different communication channels
- use e-procurement
Knowledge
Optional skills and knowledge (18)
Skills and competences
- adapt to changing situations
- apply certification and payment procedures
- apply change management
- create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement
- keep up-to-date with regulations
- maintain relationship with suppliers
- manage a team
- manage contract disputes
- manage contracts
- manage procurement planning
- monitor developments in field of expertise
Knowledge
Contains ESCO v1.2.1 data (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/). © European Union. Reuse authorised under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.