Procurement Manager
What's it like to be a Procurement Manager?
A Procurement Manager purchases goods and services for a company. The types of products a Procurement Manager might purchase are office furniture, vehicles and other goods that are required for day-to-day operations of a business. They work closely with external suppliers to build relationships and negotiate prices.
Tasks and duties
- Contacting suppliers to purchase goods.
- Negotiating purchase agreements.
- Planning sourcing strategies and ways of reducing procurement costs.
- Building relationships and establishing partnerships with new suppliers.
- Approving purchase orders and ensuring sufficient supply and delivery of goods and services.
- Preparing procurement reports and communicating results to other team members.
To work as a Procurement Manager, you usually need a formal qualification as well as experience in a procurement or buying role. Experience in your chosen industry may also be beneficial.
Graduate with a degree in business administration, supply chain management or a related field. It may also be beneficial to get a degree more closely related to the specific industry you are interested in. Proficiency in software such as System Analysis Program (SAP) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is advantageous as well.
Gain several years of experience in procurement, purchasing, vendor management or supply chain management.
After becoming an experienced Procurement Manager, you could pursue roles such as Regional Procurement Manager in a multinational corporation or Senior Procurement Manager.