Procurement Officer
On this page
- What's it like to be a Procurement Officer?
- How to become a Procurement Officer
- Latest Procurement Officer jobs
- Top skills and experience for Procurement Officers
What's it like to be a Procurement Officer?
A Procurement Officer performs various functions to ensure the smooth purchase and acquisition of goods and services needed by a company. They handle the end-to-end procurement process from canvassing vendors, negotiating rates, overseeing contracts and arranging payments. Procurement Officers work in warehouses, logistics, supply chain, mining, fashion, and retail.
Tasks and duties
- Canvassing, comparing, and evaluating vendors and suppliers.
- Corresponding and negotiating with vendors for optimal prices.
- Creating and updating vendor and supplier databases.
- Coordinating tasks of the purchasing department.
- Ensuring compliance to deadlines, budgets and quality of goods.
- Aligning purchasing activities with government standards and regulations.
- Reporting budget expenditure and purchasing analysis to management.
How to become a Procurement Officer
A bachelor degree in supply chain, logistics, business administration or a related field is required to work as a Procurement Officer. Negotiation, budgeting and project management are key skills for the role.
Graduate with a bachelor degree in supply chain, logistics, business administration, or another related field.
Complete an internship in the purchasing department at a recognised company.
Gain experience in procurement by taking freelance or temporary jobs with events, charity drives, or starting a small business.
Take a training course in procurement, such as Strategic Procurement Training or Tendering, Procurement and Negotiation Skills.
Get an entry-level job in the purchasing department, such as Procurement Assistant.
Get promoted to higher positions such as Procurement Manager.
