Procurement officers need good communication skills, attention to detail, and experience in accounting, bookkeeping, or sales. They manage the purchasing process and negotiate with suppliers. A Certified Procurement Professional designation is recommended. Interpersonal and communication skills are important, and a commitment to learning is necessary due to technology-driven changes.
People who like to work independently, are detail oriented and comfortable with numbers might want to become a procurement officer. While procurement officers are expected to have excellent meeting presentation skills, the most important skill in this role is good communication skills. Attention to detail, discipline and focus are essential.
Post-secondary education and related work experience is required in this position. A purchasing officer is responsible for managing the purchasing process for a company or organization and spends most of the day working with internal customers and suppliers. Internal customers provide purchase requisitions detailing the goods or services needed. The officer contacts and negotiates with suppliers to obtain the best possible combination of price, quality and service.
Related work experience includes accounting, bookkeeping, buyer, sales representative or clerk. All of these jobs give you valuable experience working with computers and people. The typical career path to becoming a purchasing officer is to obtain a position as a buyer, which involves working in the purchasing department, processing orders as needed.
Many US companies recommend that anyone wanting to enter this field obtain the Certified Procurement Professional (CPP) designation. Available through the National Purchasing Institute (NPI), this designation is awarded upon completion of a combination of education, experience, and written exams. The program is available to candidates with and without post-secondary training, although candidates with a degree will have fewer courses to complete.
When applying for a job as a purchasing officer, one of the most important items to think about is your area of expertise. Purchasing departments are usually divided in two ways: by merchandise or by customer group. To qualify for a merchandise purchasing director position, you need to have some prior knowledge or training in this field. If the department is organized by a customer group, a firm understanding of that department’s pressures and responsibilities is critical to securing the position.
As part of the process, it’s a good idea to develop your interpersonal and communication skills. Some people take formal business communication classes, while others incorporate these skills into hobbies such as joining a drama club or public speaking group. A lifelong commitment to learning is important if you want to become a procurement officer, as this field is set to undergo a great deal of technology-driven change.
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