Procurement is another word for purchasing. It is the process of purchasing, buying, or obtaining a product. The purchasing department of an organization is called the Procurement department. Procurement departments are existent in every organization, from the production and manufacturing industry to the construction and retail industry. Let us know “Procurement Job Titles”
Procurement Job Titles
Because companies need professionals to help obtain company equipments and materials, they employ professionals in the field of purchasing to assist them.
Here are some job titles in the Procurement industry:
Procurement Or Purchasing Director/Manager
PROCUREMENT OR PURCHASING DIRECTOR/MANAGER. The procurement or purchasing manager is in charge of running and managing the whole purchasing business. Purchasing managers manage a team of other procurement officers and form an alliance with them. They have the responsibilities of;
Planning strategies and implementing them
Work together with stakeholders to form a well-organized sourcing plan, implement and evaluate an arranged procurement software
Establish and implement purchasing rules and guidelines
Select the suppliers the company/organization will buy products from
Examine the quality of the products, the price, and delivery options
Purchasing managers also train their team members to understand quality products and requirements, they also monitor their contracts with suppliers to ensure that they keep to their end of the bargain. Another responsibility of theirs is keeping a record of all products ordered and received.
Purchasing Clerk Or Agent
They are responsible for managing all the company’s paperwork related to ordered and received products, contracts, and bids. They work directly under the purchasing manager and directors. Their responsibilities Include;
Handling and supervision of orders, customers, and supply inquiries
Create, prepare, and maintain procurement records and statements
They monitor delivery times and report to the purchasing manager about any problem they encounter with the delivery of a product or the product itself
Purchasing clerks measure the cost of every order, determine when supplies are not good to be used and make sure that all products purchased are in line with the company’s policy. Purchasing clerks are also called Procurement assistants, Buyers, Purchasing officers, Purchasing Associate, Warehouse Clerk, Purchasing assistants, Procurement Specialists, and Procurement Technicians.
Purchasing Administrative Assistant
Purchasing administrative assistants take on some part of the clerical work. Their responsibilities include;
Maintenance and preparation of logbooks on sales
They assist the company in choosing new suppliers
They communicate regularly with the suppliers to confirm orders and help in sourcing information about them
Update records of orders and reports
Schedule meetings and respond to calls and messages.
The average salary for purchasing assistants depends on the employee’s experience and educational qualifications. The salary per hour for this role is $15.69 while other salaries may cut across $7.25 to $27.70 for every hour. To qualify for the position of an administrative assistant, you should have at least a high school diploma for an entry-level role, undergo training, and earn certificates. Purchasing administrative assistants should also know basic math, have analytical and negotiation skills, technical and organizational skills, and also be good in written and verbal communication.
Logistics Manager
Logistics managers are responsible for overseeing the distribution, movement, and accommodation of materials within a company. Logistics managers are also known as supply chain managers. Logistics managers make sure that all consumer and customer satisfaction is fulfilled. Their responsibilities include;
They create new methods to streamline purchasing processes and reduce cost
They manage all the logistics processes (warehouse and transportation)
They create, manage and develop budgets and control logistics staff
They perform analysis on data to indicate issues and maybe opportunities
They ensure smooth communication with their customers, manufacturers, and suppliers.
To be a logistics manager, one must possess an excellent attention to details and analytical and logical skills.
Operations Manager
Operation managers are in charge of every business’s operations. Their responsibilities include;
They manage and oversee the inflow and outflow of equipment, materials, and services in a company
They work hand in hand with procurement officers to see that all supplies and orders match up to the company’s standard
Operation managers work together mostly with purchasing assistants to approve contracts and close sale deals
Operations managers ensure that they work with suppliers and see to it that their products are of good quality and that they deliver on time
They negotiate prices with their vendors/suppliers
They create and monitor budgets and expenditures to ensure that the money is not being misused
They review and approve checks and invoices to ensure there is no mistake whatsoever
They develop new strategies to improve the efficiency of purchasing processes
An operations manager is required to have good budgeting skills, negotiation and inventory skills, time management skills, communication, and written and verbal skills. Operations managers are needed in every industry for the same of book and record keeping, budgets and funds management, and ensuring that all purchasing activities of an organization run smoothly.
Buyer Or Purchasing Agent
Buyers or purchasing agents have the duty of researching and evaluating products for organizations to either use in their company or sell. Purchasing agents also specialize in the purchasing of new goods to develop into products that will be sold by their organization. Purchasing managers usually work within a budget. Their responsibilities include;
Choosing and ordering products based on their contract with suppliers
Communicate with the management team to make sure that all orders and their prices are accurate
Assist logistics managers in managing inventory levels for supplies that are frequently used
Create an effective and efficient monitoring system for the delivery of weekly reports
Work together with the inventory management to make sure that every order placed is delivered
Make reports on missing orders
Buyers or purchasing agents are required to have decision-making skills, math skills, analytical skills, and negotiation skills. Buyers can work in the retail industry, the wholesale industry, and the manufacturing industry.
Other titles for this role include procurement official, purchasing specialist, and purchasing administrator.
Skills Required Of Procurement Officers/Professionals
- Analytical skills: A procurement officer must possess analytical skills for efficient and effective work. To possess analytical skills means that you can gather and analyze data and infornation, solve problems and make decisions. This skill is used mainly during decision-making, observation, and data interpretation. A procurement officer should be able to evaluate and analyze different suppliers and be able to choose the best of them. Some examples of analytical skills include research, problem-solving, and data interpretation. Analytical skills involve logical and critical reasoning or thinking, communication and creativity. In general analytical skills involves a person’s ability to work with data.
- Negotiation skills: Procurement officials work hand in hand with suppliers and vendors in their everyday work life, therefore, this skill is highly needed. Negotiation skills assist people in arriving at a logical solution. Procurement officials are required to have this skill to negotiate prices and quality with their suppliers. Negotiation skills help for improved relationships among procurement professionals and their suppliers. For Procurement professionals to be good negotiators, they must be active listeners, and they should also have emotional intelligence. For the negotiation skills of procurement professionals to be successful, they must be confident, 5hru should have adequate knowledge of the product they are bargaining for (if that is the case).
- Math skills: Math skills are a necessary and important part of a procurement professional’s career. To be a successful procurement officer, you need to have basic math knowledge. Basic math skills are addition, subtraction, mulmultiplication, and division. However, there is more advanced math a Procurement professional should acquire. Because procurement professionals are always involved in calculations and brainstorming, they need math to help them in the visual representation of data, analytical thinking, and a whole lot more. They also need these math skills in their process of comparing and evaluating costs. Without basic and good knowledge and understanding of math, Procurement professionals will be prone to many mistakes in their day-to-day job activities.
- Written and Verbal communication skills: Good and healthy communication skills are very essential in every sphere of life, talk more about procurement roles. Communication skills are needed in procurement roles for effective comcommunication and delivery of ideas to team members and staff. Communication is a factor that aids growth in every industry or company. Procurement professionals should possess this skill to aid their communication with suppliers and vendors. Good communication skills in procurement /purchasing departments also birth new ideas that will push the company forward. If communication within procurement isn’t advanced, the abThe ility of the purchasing department to influence the end of the procurement process will be limited.
- Project management skills: This involves the ability of the professionals to manage given tasks. This skill is needed to be able to efficiently manage a project or assignment from the beginning to the end product. This skill is generally about creating, planning, implementing, and managing the assignments or projects of a team within the procurement departments. Every procurement professional should be able to manage and execute projects.
Importance Of The Procurement Department In Industries
The procurement department is highly essential in every industry and organization. The procurement department sees the proper functioning and operation of a business. They help companies purchase items needed for efficient work at a competitive price. Procurement departments manage and control an organization’s funds. Procurement departments implement and develop a strategic purchasing plan, conduct in-depth research on market analysis and implement cost reduction techniques. The procurement department enables smooth and effective operations in a company by seeing to it that they acquire quality products (raw materials) at a low cost, and on time. These raw materials purchased by the procurement team is then converted into products that will be purchased by the companits customers and consumers. The procurement department increases a company’s profitability and economical results.
The most crucial part of an organization is how its goods and services are acquired, at what price, and how they are used, controlled, and budgeted. Without aw materials, manufacturing companies won’t be able to meet their customer’s needs. Procurement professionals are more able to build a budding relationship with suppliers and this relationship will lead to less difficulty in the purchase of raw materials.
Choosing A Career In Procurement
To venture into a career in the Procurement department, one needs a degree (a high school diploma is a minimum degree required), a bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, or any related field. A proper understanding of purchasing policies and systems is also required. One should also consider taking online professional courses to enhance their knowledge, gather proficient computer skills, and research industries. When it is certified that one has proper knowledge of this role, consider applying for jobs.
Conclusion
Now we have learnt “Procurement Job Titles”, The Procurement department is rapidly touching every industry and workplace. Their importance cannot be hidden and can never be over-emphasized. They improve the economical growth of a company and its profitability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
- Who is the highest person in the Procurement department?
A: The purchasing director or manager is the highest-paid person in the Procurement department
- Is a role in Procurement a good career choice?
A: Yes it is, it is becoming a popular career choice.
