Purchasing Supervisor
What's it like to be a Purchasing Supervisor?
Purchasing Supervisors coordinate and manage activities related to procurement by an organisation. These can range from products a company needs, to equipment or services. Procurement Supervisors are primarily responsible for strategically managing the goods a company acquires in relation to its budget and needs. They are also in charge of handling a purchasing team that directly handles these responsibilities.
Tasks and duties
- Managing the organisation's procurement activities.
- Working with other departments to help identify procurement needs and priorities.
- Planning procurement to gain the best value and benefit for the organisation.
- Developing and implementing effective sourcing strategies to meet the organisation's goals.
- Evaluating and selecting suppliers based on criteria such as quality, pricing, and reliability.
- Negotiating contracts, terms, and pricing with suppliers to secure favourable terms and pricing arrangements.
- Managing procurement budgets, tracking expenses, and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
- Overseeing the end-to-end procurement process, from requisition to delivery of goods and services.
- Addressing potential supply chain disruptions or quality issues and ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement.
- Leading and supervising a team of procurement specialists.
- Continuously improving procurement processes to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Purchasing Supervisors source suppliers, requests quotations, and compares and contrasts for the best value and quality. They also negotiate payment terms, contracts, and pricing. They are also in charge of ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement of these goods.
How to become a Purchasing Supervisor
To become a Purchasing Supervisor, a bachelor degree in a relevant field and experience in your chosen industry may be an advantage.
Obtain a bachelor degree in a related field such as supply chain management, business administration, or logistics management. Other business or management-related programmes may also give you a good start.
Apply for entry-level roles in departments related to warehouse management, sales, purchasing, or logistics. This gives you ample experience to learn the right skills, and to qualify for a Supervisor position. Most employers look for candidates with at least 5 years of experience.
While not required, acquiring certification related to supply management or procurement may give you an added advantage.
Skills and experience employers are looking for
