Table 1Transition record

procurement department managertoprocurement category specialist

A procurement department manager already meets 82% of what the procurement category specialist role asks for. The move turns on 3 required skills not yet in the profile.

From procurement department manager

82%

Overlap1

To procurement category specialist

28 Skills carried over

3 Required, not held

21.9 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 21.9

This move: 21.9 of 100 · adjacent

1 Share of the procurement category specialist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the procurement department manager profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 28 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A procurement category specialist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a procurement department manager background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held develop procurement strategy management skills
already held evaluate tender information skills
already held develop performance orientation in public administration management skills
already held implement risk management in procurement information skills
already held manage procurement planning management skills
already held assess procurement needs communication, collaboration and creativity

All 28 carried skills, including the 13 the procurement category specialist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 6 missing skills fall into 4 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held draft procurement technical specifications required

optional, not held use different communication channels optional

02 information skills 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held perform procurement market analysis required

optional, not held draft tender documentation optional

03 business, administration and law 1 required

required, not held category specific expertise required

04 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 supplementary

optional, not held quantity surveying optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a procurement category specialist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 28 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held adapt to changing situations skill
already held address problems critically skill
already held assess procurement needs skill
already held develop performance orientation in public administration skill
already held implement procurement of innovation skill
already held implement sustainable procurement skill
already held keep up-to-date with regulations skill
already held maintain relationship with suppliers skill
already held manage contracts skill
already held manage procurement planning skill
already held monitor developments in field of expertise skill
already held procurement lifecycle knowledge
already held supplier management knowledge
already held adhere to organisational code of ethics skill
already held adhere to organisational guidelines skill
already held communication principles knowledge
already held cooperate with colleagues skill
already held develop procurement strategy skill
already held e-procurement knowledge
already held evaluate tender skill
already held implement risk management in procurement skill
already held international business knowledge
already held manage relationships with stakeholders skill
already held morality knowledge
already held organisational structure knowledge
already held procurement legislation knowledge
already held teamwork principles knowledge
already held use e-procurement skill

3 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held quantity surveying optional
optional, not held draft tender documentation optional
optional, not held use different communication channels optional

21 held skills the procurement category specialist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role analyse business processes skill
not needed by the target role analyse legal enforceability skill
not needed by the target role apply certification and payment procedures skill
not needed by the target role apply change management skill
not needed by the target role continuous improvement philosophies knowledge
not needed by the target role control financial resources skill
not needed by the target role develop organisational policies skill
not needed by the target role gather feedback from employees skill
not needed by the target role government policy knowledge
not needed by the target role leadership principles knowledge
not needed by the target role manage a team skill
not needed by the target role manage budgets skill
not needed by the target role manage contract disputes skill
not needed by the target role management department processes knowledge
not needed by the target role negotiate buying conditions skill
not needed by the target role negotiate improvement with suppliers skill
not needed by the target role negotiate supplier arrangements skill
not needed by the target role perform contract reporting and evaluation skill
not needed by the target role project management knowledge
not needed by the target role train employees skill
not needed by the target role use communication techniques skill

2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held category specific expertise required
optional, not held quantity surveying optional

Index

Other moves recorded from procurement department manager

Full index of moves from procurement department manager

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.