Procurement Manager
On this page
- What's it like to be a Procurement Manager?
- How to become a Procurement Manager
- Latest Procurement Manager jobs
- Top skills and experience for Procurement Managers
- Procurement Manager role reviews
What's it like to be a Procurement Manager?
A Procurement Manager directs the activities of the members of the purchasing team. They ensure the procurement process adheres to company standards and optimises the budget. Under their scope is creating and maintaining relationships with key vendors and suppliers, aligning with key stakeholders on purchasing goals, and strategising the best practices for the department’s procurement process. Leadership, relationship building, and negotiation are key skills for the role. Procurement Managers work in warehouses, logistics, supply chain, mining, fashion, and retail.
Tasks and duties
- Collaborating with key stakeholders to design the company’s purchasing strategy.
- Cultivating relationships with vendors, suppliers, and key stakeholders.
- Entering negotiations with key vendors and suppliers for best-value deals.
- Approving the tasks and expenditures of the purchasing department.
- Analysing budgets and timelines to optimise the purchasing process.
- Conducting risk management for contracts and vendor relations.
- Mitigating conflicts and unforeseen events in the purchasing process.
How to become a Procurement Manager
A bachelor degree in a relevant field, years of industry experience, and management skills are required to work as Procurement Manager. Postgraduate education and leadership experience may be an advantage.
Graduate with a bachelor degree in supply chain, logistics, procurement management or another related field.
Complete an internship in the supply chain or purchasing department of a recognised company.
Take a training course in procurement, such as Supply Chain Management, Strategic Procurement and Vendor Negotiation Skills, or Professional or Procurement and Sourcing.
Gain years of experience starting with an entry-level job in procurement, such as Procurement Assistant, and get promoted to higher roles such as Procurement Officer.
Consider postgraduate education, such as an MBA in Purchasing Management.
Pursue promotion to Head of Procurement or Chief Procurement Officer.
