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ESCO occupation

standalone public buyer

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Standalone public buyers manage the procurement process and cover all of the procurement needs for a small contracting authority. They are involved in each stage of the procurement process and collaborate with professionals from other departments of the organisation to find the kinds of specialised knowledge that may not be available.

3323.4 ISCO 3323 ESCO source
Competences
44
Groups
4
Essential
28
Optional
16

Competences and skills

44 ESCO relations
Essential knowledge 7 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

2 competences
e-procurement

The functioning and methods used to manage electronic purchases.

digital
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procurement lifecycle

The procurement lifecycle includes the various phases from planning and pre-publication to post-award and contract management.

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Cross-sector

5 competences
communication principles

The set of commonly shared principles in regards with communication such as active listening, establish rapport, adjusting the register, and respecting the intervention of others.

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morality

The principles and beliefs derived from a code of conduct, accepted by a large group of people, that make the distinction between what is right and wrong behaviour.

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organisational structure

Framework of the different departments within the organisation, as well its people, their roles and responsibilities.

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procurement legislation

The procurement legislation at national and European level, as well as adjacent areas of law and their implications for public procurement.

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project management principles

Different elements and phases of project management.

Scope note
The different phases of project management include the development of the overall planning, planning of resources for projects, implementation, execution, performance control, project end and the evaluation of outcome.
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Essential skills and competences 21 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

8 competences
adhere to organisational code of ethics

Adhere to organisational European and regional specific standards and code of ethics, understanding the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and apply this awareness.

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apply certification and payment procedures

Apply the verification principles and the financial control framework which ensure that the relevant supplies, services or works are delivered in compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract and all applicable financial and accounting rules in order to proceed to the payment.

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develop performance orientation in public administration

Focus efforts and prioritise work to deliver value for money, in line with public service guidelines and policies, in order to achieve cost savings and strategic and sustainable goals, proactively identify inefficiencies, overcome obstacles and adapt their approach to consistently deliver sustainable and high-performance procurement outcomes.

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develop procurement strategy

Design the procurement strategy and define the most appropriate and impactful procedure in order to reach the organisation's objectives and ensure genuine competition. Define element such as features, scope and duration of the procedure, division into lots, techniques and instruments for electronic submission and types of contract and contract performance clauses.

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draft procurement technical specifications

Draft technical specifications that enable potential bidders to submit realistic offers that directly address the underlying need of the organisation. This includes setting objectives and minimum requirements for the subject matter, and define the exclusion, selection and award criteria which will be used to identify the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), in line with the organisation policy and EU and national regulations.

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evaluate tender

Ensure that tenders are assessed in an objective and legally compliant way and against exclusion, selection and award criteria defined in the call for tender. This includes identifying the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT).

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implement risk management in procurement

Identify the different types of risks in public procurement processes and apply mitigation measure and internal control and audit processes. Adopt a proactive approach to protect the interests of the organisation and the public good.

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perform procurement market analysis

Collect information on key market drivers and on the potential bidders in order to provide an in-depth view of which supplies and services can or cannot be provided by the market and under what conditions. Apply different market engagement techniques such as questionnaires and technical dialogue to understand the characteristics of the supplier market as well as market conditions and trends and to identify potential bidders.

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Cross-sector

13 competences
adapt to changing situations

Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people's needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.

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address problems critically

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.

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adhere to organisational guidelines

Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

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draft tender documentation

Draft tender documentation which defines the exclusion, selection and award criteria and explains the administrative requirements of the procedure, justifies the estimated value of the contract, and specifies the terms and conditions under which tenders are to be submitted, evaluated and awarded, in line with the organisation policy and with European and national regulations.

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keep up-to-date with regulations

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current regulations and apply this knowledge in specific sectors.

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manage contracts

Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes in line with any legal limitations.

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monitor developments in field of expertise

Keep up with new research, regulations, and other significant changes, labour market related or otherwise, occurring within the field of specialisation.

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negotiate buying conditions

Negotiate terms such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms with vendors and suppliers in order to ensure the most beneficial buying conditions.

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negotiate supplier arrangements

Reach an agreement with the supplier upon technical, quantity, quality, price, conditions, storage, packaging, send-back and other requirements related to the purchasing and delivering process.

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negotiate terms with suppliers

Identify and work with suppliers to ensure quality of supply and best price has been negotiated.

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perform contract reporting and evaluation

Perform ex-post assessment of the deliverables and outcomes of a procurement process to assess the strengths and weaknesses and draw lessons for future calls for tender. Collecting relevant data in line with organisational and national reporting obligations.

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use communication techniques

Apply techniques of communication which allow interlocutors to better understand each other and communicate accurately in the transmission of messages.

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use different communication channels

Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

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Optional knowledge 6 competences

Occupation specific

1 competence
team building

Principle usually combined with a type of event that stimulates team effort, usually to complete certain assignments or to perform a recreational activity. This can apply to various kinds of teams, often to a team of colleagues socialising outside of the workplace.

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Sector-specific

2 competences
category specific expertise

The features and specificities relevant to one or more categories of supplies, services or works, including suppliers, technical parameters and market conditions.

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supplier management

The methods and techniques to ensure that external services and configuration items, which are necessary for the service delivery, are available as requested and as agreed at the service level.

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Cross-sector

3 competences
international business

The processes related to production or distribution of goods and services across borders.

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leadership principles

Set of traits and values which guide the actions of a leader with her/his employees and the company and provide direction throughout her/his career. These principles are also an important tool for self-evaluation to identify strengths and weaknesses, and seek self-improvement.

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teamwork principles

The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.

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Optional skills and competences 10 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

5 competences
assess procurement needs

Determine the underlying needs of the organisation and of the end-users regarding the subject matter of the procurement, including the possible impacts in terms of value for money or environmental impacts. Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to identify their needs and translate identified needs into procurement planning of supplies and services in line with the organisation’s budget plan.

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implement procurement of innovation

Develop innovation procurement strategies to drive innovation from the demand side, considering forward-looking and alternative solutions that involve either buying the process of innovation or buying the outcomes of innovation created by others. Take into account the innovation objectives of the organisation and related national policies, as well as the available tools and techniques for incorporating these into the procurement process.

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implement sustainable procurement

Incorporate strategic public policy goals into procurement procedures, such as green public procurement (GPP) and socially responsible public procurement (SRPP). Contribute to reducing the environmental impact of procurement, to achieving social goals and to improving value for money for the organisation and for society at large.

green
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maintain relationship with suppliers

Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.

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manage procurement planning

Develop and implement procurement planning that translate the policy choices of the organisation into where and how public procurement should be used to cost-effectively purchase the required supplies, services or works in line with the desired policy impact.

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Cross-sector

5 competences
cooperate with colleagues

Cooperate with colleagues in order to ensure that operations run effectively.

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create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement

Work with management practices such as continuous improvement, preventive maintenance. Pay attention to problem solving and teamwork principles. Empower teams to identify opportunities and then drive the process to improve the results.

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manage a team

Ensure clear and effective channels of communication across all departments within the organisation and support functions, both internally and externally ensuring that the team is aware of the standards and objectives of the department/business unit. Implement the disciplinary and grievance procedures as required ensuring that a fair and consistent approach to managing performance is consistently achieved. Assist in the recruitment process and manage, train and motivate employees to achieve/exceed their potential using effective performance management techniques. Encourage and develop a team ethic amongst all employees.

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manage contract disputes

Monitor issues that arise between the parties involved in a contract and provide solutions in order to avoid lawsuits.

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manage relationships with stakeholders

Create and maintain solid internal and external relations with stakeholders at operational level based on mutual trust and credibility in order to achieve organisational goals. Ensure organisational strategies incorporate strong stakeholder management and identify and prioritise strategic stakeholder relationships.

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