Category Specialist

The Category Specialist executes procurement activities, using all available methods to include Request for Proposal or Qualifications, Invitation to Bid, Competitive and Non-Competitive Negotiation, and Informal Purchase, within the assigned portfolio of goods or services.

Key Role and Responsibilities

• Gathers and analyzes contract expenditure data. • Conducts market research and benchmarking for goods or services. • Develops solicitation specifications based on internal and external sources of information. • Possesses and demonstrates strong knowledge of policies, procedures and execution strategy for multiple • solicitation methods including Request for Proposal and Qualifications, Invitation to Bid, Competitive and NonCompetitive Negotiation, and Informal Purchase. • Builds and manages business relationships with agency procurement staff, central procurement teams and key • suppliers to facilitate effective contract management and sourcing outcomes. • Conducts ongoing supplier and contract management to ensure supplier and state compliance with contractual obligations.

Solves common problems associated with procurement activities, including dispute resolution between agencies and suppliers, data analysis and negotiations. • Leads and develops strategy for formal supplier negotiations and supports other procurement staff with similar activities. • Develops tools to calculate, forecast, and report savings as well as manages and leads the evaluation team and process to award recommendation. • Conducts regular business reviews with supplier executives to review and discuss supplier performance, contract activities and negotiate contract enhancements and price decreases. • Represents the central procurement office while speaking at public events with internal and external stakeholders. • Analyses proposed pricing against historical costs, other state contracts, and industry-recognized indices. • Monitors supplier market and industry developments to identify appropriate opportunities to maximize cost savings and quality of procured goods or services. • Provides protest support in research and development of recommendation for resolution, as needed by the Legal department.

Qualification & Experience • Undergraduate degree in Procurement, supply chain, Marketing, engineering or equivalent • 2 – 5 years’ general business experience preferably in supply chain, procurement, marketing, engineering or logistics • Good Performance track record.

Behavioral Competencies • Embodies the organisation's culture and 10 principles • Works with energy and enthusiasm to solve customer problems • Ability to apply knowledge of the business, customers and consumers to bring new ideas to the company • Executes with discipline and a sense of urgency • Communicates with clarity of direction to get things done • Stays focused when faced with change, obstacles and setbacks • Ability to quickly grasp processes and new technologies