Senior Category Specialist

Job Information
Job Title: Senior Category Specialist 
Job Requisition ID: 76955
Ministry: Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 17, 2025
Classification: Program Services 5
Salary: $3,263.63 to $4,299.89 bi-weekly ($85,180 - $112,227/year)

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit:

The Procurement Services branch is responsible for the Government of Alberta's (GoA) mandate for efficient, open and transparent procurement. The Branch allows ministries to meet essential and complex program goals, by leading or facilitating cost effective procurement in a fair and equitable manner, in alignment with national & international trade agreements and provincial legislation. 

Procurement Services has responsibilities for GoA corporate procurement, warehousing services, surplus sales, inter-provincial trade, vendor relationship management, corporate card program management, and category management.

Are you ready to "Lead the Way: Elevate your career as the Senior Category Specialist, steering a dynamic portfolio that shapes one-fifth of all GoA procurement. You can become the provincial authority in spend categories such as contingent resources, vehicles, and furniture. Drive innovation, forge strategic procurement paths, and be the singular expert influencing the pulse of market trends.

As the Senior Category Specialist your role will extend beyond procurement; you'll be the pivotal single point of contact to purchasers and vendors, you will not only lead and facilitate procurements for the category, but also plan and coordinate novel approaches to optimize the end-to-end utility of those procurements across the province.
Join us at the forefront of transformative procurement excellence

Roles and responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Demand Planning: Drive cost-effective procurement through specialized business intelligence forecasting in assigned spend categories, proactively assessing market and supply chain impacts to prevent adverse effects on GoA goals.
• Procurement Projects: Support procurement of goods and services within each spend category, ensuring alignment with national/international trade agreements, provincial legislation, and best practices.
• Compliance and Expertise: Utilize extensive knowledge of procurement legislation, trade agreements, and supply chain management to deliver procurement projects effectively.
• Continuous Improvement: Optimize procurement processes through continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to consolidate procurement power across GoA and  Municipalities, Academic institutions, School boards, and Health authorities(MASH) sectors.
• Strategic Influence: Influence program implementation decisions and contribute to policy recommendations supporting innovative procurement approaches.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders, leading the development of strategic alliances and partnerships to ensure long-term procurement feasibility.
• Dispute Resolution: Apply deep knowledge of stakeholders and program needs to resolve disputes and bring closure to complex procurement issues.
• Leadership and Accountability: Lead procurement initiatives, ensuring projects meet the requirements of management and executive leadership across the GoA, while serving as the primary point of contact for purchasers and vendors.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

• Systems Thinking: You will always be considering the entire APS and its workforce, along with the various processes used by different areas, and ensure a consistent approach to reporting is applied.
• Creative Problem Solving: This role is expected to triage each request to get at the root problem in order to maximize business alignment.  Further, a variety of potential solutions is available, so determination of the most appropriate one will also require problem-solving skills.
• Drive for Results: providing information and data that directly impacts decision-making at the people leader and executive levels and providing prompt and accurate information and data issue resolution.  This role is an integral member of a high performing team and contributes to a culture of continuous improvement.
• Agility: Managing multiple deadlines and priorities as part of the program delivery.  The ability to move seamlessly between them is required, including those required urgently by high profile stakeholders.  Sees the need and readily steps into co-workers' tasks to help out when needed.

A four-year degree in a related field plus 6 years progressively responsible related experience; (project management, procurement, and category management) or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: 
Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:  

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education in procurement and/or supply chain management

The following are considered assets.

• Project management certification (e.g; PMP or similar).
• Professional procurement certification (eg; SCMP or similar).
• Experience managing projects. 
• Experience leading categories.

To be considered for this position your application must include a cover letter and resume:

Cover letter:

• Identifies the relevant job opportunity.
• Provides specific information about your experience in procurement or project management and managing stakeholders.
• Clearly describe past initiatives you've led that achieved operational and financial efficiencies.

Resume:

• Includes starting and ending month & year of each role.
• Provides information about each role, using concise bullet points to clarify its relevance to the requirements of this job.

Note - Candidates chosen to move to next steps may undergo a written assessment.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to:

Hours per week: 36.25, usual schedule 8:15am-4:15pm.

Location: Oxbridge Place Building Edmonton.

Final Candidates will be required to do a written assessment.

If a security screening is required:

• Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening
• Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

If temporary assignments or under-fills will be considered;

• Northern Allowance.
• Shift work.
• Travel, etc.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - 
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) -
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - 
• Professional learning and development -
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool –
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service ) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information ).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Cynthia Masemola