Practitioners work with their clients to:

• define requirements
• forecast life cycle costs
• develop and implement procurement strategies

Some practitioners design, build and negotiate sophisticated procurement instruments for government-wide use, while others are more focused on working to meet specific program requirements.

Practitioners interpret policy and provide advice to ensure that policies and their related directives and best practices are understood and remain relevant.

Procurement practitioners are responsible for:

• analyzing market trends and industry capacity
• creating strategies for engaging with industries and procuring assets and services
• assessing risks
• evaluating bids, including financial and due diligence checks
• handling disputes with bidders and contractors
• preparing submissions for spending approvals
• awarding and managing contracts
• overseeing the delivery of goods, services and construction to ensure compliance
• investigating performance issues with contractors
• maintaining accurate procurement records
• collecting and sharing procurement data
• advising business owners and management

Procurement practitioners work in different areas, including:

• management of goods and services: to acquire goods and services needed by a department or agency, including identifying needs, selecting suppliers, negotiating contracts and ensuring timely delivery
• grants and contributions: to secure, allocate and manage external funding for procurement projects while ensuring compliance and accountability
• contract management: to manage procurement contracts by mitigating risks, ensuring performance, controlling costs and maintaining legal compliance
• policy analysis: to analyze and improve procurement policies and processes, ensuring efficiency, compliance, strategic alignment and cost savings

Procurement practitioners are found in all federal departments and agencies, but particularly within Public Services and Procurement Canada, which is a common service provider for other federal departments.

Materiel management practitioners are responsible for managing the Crown’s movable and tangible assets – such as vehicles, equipment, furniture, furnishings – throughout their life cycle.

Materiel management practitioners:

• ensure that assets are used efficiently and effectively to support program delivery
• track and protect their department’s materiel assets, including controlled goods and those with heritage value
• manage surplus materiel at the end of its life cycle to maximize value for the Crown

Materiel management practitioners are responsible for:

• developing life cycle management strategies for materiel
• estimating the total life cycle cost of materiel
• collecting and generating data on materiel holdings promptly
• monitoring the functionality, use and environmental impact of materiel
• checking the physical condition and financial performance of materiel
• implementing measures to prevent loss, damage or unauthorized use
• identifying and managing surplus materiel that is no longer needed

Materiel management practitioners work in different areas including:

• acquisitions: buying goods or services for a department or agency, including identifying needs, choosing suppliers, negotiating deals and making purchases
• controlled goods: managing items regulated due to their potential use in national security or defence, requiring special permits and security measures to prevent misuse
• life cycle management: managing assets like equipment or property from purchase to disposal to ensure that they work well and are cost-effective
• divestment: selling off assets or investments by identifying what to sell, finding buyers, agreeing on a price, getting approvals and completing the sale
• warehousing: storing and managing goods in a warehouse, including tracking inventory, packing orders and shipping orders out
• inventory management: keeping track of and managing materials and stock to make sure there’s enough to meet demand without overspending
• logistics: planning and managing the movement of goods and information from the source to the customer to meet their needs
• transportation: moving goods or people from one place to another, choosing the best transportation method and coordinating the process
• fleet management: overseeing a company’s vehicles, including buying, maintaining, tracking and selling them, to keep operations efficient and cost-effective

Materiel management practitioners are found in all federal departments. The top five departments with the largest materiel asset holdings are:

• National Defence
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Canadian Space Agency
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Shared Services Canada

Real property practitioners help plan and decide how land and buildings can best support government programs while meeting the goals of their department and serving the public interest.

Practitioners manage these assets to keep them efficient and productive throughout their lifespan. These practitioners also understand technical information related to real estate transactions, building and fire codes, accessibility standards, cultural and environmental needs, creating and monitoring real property policies and analyzing real property issues and opportunities.

Real property practitioners are responsible for:

• assessing the federal government’s property needs and current inventory
• working with Indigenous groups
• managing federal land, buildings, infrastructure and space from planning and acquisition to disposal
• addressing contaminated sites, environmental issues, heritage buildings and national historic sites
• implementing fire protection measures and ensuring barrier-free access to federal properties
• preparing strategic investment plans and strategies for acquisition and disposal
• advising clients and stakeholders on laws, policies, guidelines and best practices in real property management
• ensuring that property assets are used efficiently to support program delivery

Real property practitioners work in different areas, including:

• property and facility management: taking care of buildings and land, ensuring that they are maintained, safe and used efficiently
• heating plant management: operating and maintaining systems that provide heat to buildings, such as boilers and furnaces
• environmental services: managing tasks related to protecting the environment, such as handling waste, controlling pollution and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations
• portfolio, program and policy management: overseeing groups of projects or assets, managing programs and developing policies to ensure that they align with goals and strategies
• architecture and engineering: designing and planning buildings and infrastructure, and ensuring that they are built to required standards
• geomatic services: using geographic information systems (gis) and other tools to map, analyze and manage land and property data
• project management: planning, organizing and overseeing projects to ensure that they are completed on time and within budget, and meet objectives
• general labour and trades: performing manual work and skilled trades, such as carpentry, plumbing or electrical work, to maintain and repair buildings and facilities
• real property services: providing various services related to managing, maintaining and using government-owned land and buildings
• accommodation management: managing the allocation and use of space in buildings and ensuring that it meets the needs of the department or agency
• fire protection: implementing measures to prevent and respond to fires, ensuring that buildings are safe for occupants
• real property support: offering assistance and services to help manage and maintain land and buildings effectively

Real property practitioners are found in custodian departments (a department whose minister is responsible for administering real property for that department’s purposes). The custodian department responsible for the most real property holdings is Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Project and programme management practitioners are responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, controlling and closing projects effectively. They work closely with experts in risk management, finance, change management, human resources, communications, scheduling and procurement. Their job is to keep projects on track, reduce risk, maximize benefits and minimize costs.

Project and programme management practitioners are responsible for:

• planning, budgeting, overseeing and documenting all parts of a project
• communicating with partners or key parties involved
• preparing reports and working closely with management
• ensuring that each project stays on track and meets its goals
• managing risks and addressing any issues that arise

Project and programme management practitioners work in different areas, including:

• coordination of project planning and project life cycle: ensuring that all phases of the project are aligned and progress smoothly
• technical support: offering expertise to solve technical problems and meet project standards
• scheduling: setting up and managing the project timeline to make sure tasks and milestones are completed on time
• administrative support: helping with project activities by handling documentation, meetings and communication
• change management: guiding and supporting people and departments and agencies through transitions to new methods or processes

Project managers and programme managers are found in all federal departments.