A procurement specialist is the person within a company or organization who is responsible for acquiring the supplies, equipment, materials, property, and services necessary for the business’ existence. He or she works with the company’s financial department to secure the purchases, negotiate contracts with vendors, and implement cost-reducing methods. This person should be aware of the organization’s budget and strive to match his or her plans with the company’s financial situation. To become a procurement specialist, an individual should have a background in business, marketing or law.
Before a person can get this job, he or she should have experience in some sort of purchasing or procurement role. Many corporations will not hire procurement specialists fresh out of school with no experience. The person should have good communication and negotiation skills. He or she should have a fundamental knowledge of sales and how marketing works, and strong persuasive skills will help the procurement specialist to excel in his or her job.
A background in business and finance is also a good qualification to becoming a procurement specialist. The abilities to manage a budget and grow a business will be valued in a company that is seeking someone to fill this role. A person interested in this career should major in business or finance for an undergraduate degree. Several schools offer great programs that can be found using the Internet and by doing research on procurement programs and courses.
Once a person is qualified to become a procurement specialist, after completing a four-year college program and gaining experience with procurement systems, he or she may look for work using the Internet or by asking at local companies. On the job, the procurement specialist will manage spending, provide pricing leadership, and deal with procurement contracts. People in this job are often paid well, making the field a competitive one, but also one that is in high demand thanks to the broadness of the industry and the many organizations that need such a specialist to help with purchasing procurement.
Many procurement specialists have a targeted area in which they work. Contracting officers promote life-cycle management for an organization and provide new, innovative services to clients. Policy analysts advise departments and officials on how to approach policies. Material management specialists organize the materials and plan the events for government programs. Real property specialists manage the life cycle of property and assets of a company or group.