Procurement Manager
What's it like to be a Procurement Manager?
Procurement Managers are responsible for buying – or procuring – the supplies that a company needs to be able to operate properly. A wide range of industries need Procurement Managers, including manufacturing, construction, retail, transport and logistics. Procurement Managers must understand the short, medium and long-term needs of a business so that they always have the right supplies available, and they must also be good financial planners so that they can stay within budgets.
Tasks and duties
- Analysing the market, stock levels, new technology, suppliers and internal business data to identify opportunities for improvement and cost savings.
- Preparing and negotiating contracts with suppliers.
- Ensuring adequate stock levels.
- Meeting quality and budget requirements.
- Overseeing procurement administration, such as the recording of purchases, storage, distribution transactions and contract execution.
How to become a Procurement Manager
A combination of industry experience and a formal qualification can help prepare you for a career as a Procurement Manager.
While not essential in all industries, many people who work in procurement have a bachelor degree in commerce, finance, business or a related field. This typically take three years of full-time study at a university.
Get industry experience in your field. You could start off as a Procurement Officer, a position that reports to a Procurement Manager.
Consider industry-specific qualifications. For the infrastructure industry you can complete a New Zealand Certificate in Infrastructure Procurement Procedures, a work-based course, to improve your employability. The broader Diploma in Applied Management (Level 7) offers a strand in procurement and supply chain Management.
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