Procurement careers are booming. The recent Procurement Salary Guide and Insights 2021 by CIPS/Hays found that 41% of organisations expect to increase the number in their procurement team this year.
If you’re thinking about making the move to procurement, now is the time.
Why choose a career in procurement?
Here are our top reasons:
1 – You can choose from a huge variety of roles
Procurement is needed by almost every organisation across government, the private sector and not-for-profit. The opportunities are endless.
Entry level roles include basic purchasing work, administering contracts, or supporting someone who does those roles. And the more experience you gain, the more doors that open.
Take a look at the range of jobs outlined by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply:
2 – There is a career path from entry-level to CEO
A career in procurement is rarely just a career in procurement – it can lead to progression in other areas too.
The great thing about procurement is that you get a real understanding of the bigger picture in an organisation. You can see the work done across departments, understand business goals, finance, compliance, risk management, and more.
At the same time, you are flexing skills that can be transferred across departments – communication, time management, the ability to negotiate and influence. These are skills that set you up well for a management role, or a role in practically any area.
You are also exposed to key stakeholders early on in your career, offering you the opportunity to shine from the get go and drive your career to Head of Procurement and beyond to Chief Operating Officer or even CEO.
3- Procurement professionals love their jobs
Research shows that people in procurement and contract management roles have high levels of job satisfaction.
The CIPS/Hays report revealed five reasons why people stay with their current employer, and the top reason was that they enjoy the job they have.
Putting job variety and salaries aside, a big factor driving this job satisfaction is that they feel their job is valued. This has increased in the pandemic years, with more than 71% of respondents saying there has been a positive change in business leaders’ perception of the procurement profession, with almost two-thirds (63%) saying they feel the profession is truly valued within their organisation (CIPS/Hays Procurement Salary Guide 2021).
4 – Procurement skills are in demand
Procurement is not going away, and organisations are desperate for qualified, skilled procurement professionals.
Opportunities have significantly increased in recent years, especially since Covid, which means there’s plenty of job security.
The top skills in demand by recruiters according to the CIPS/Hays report are communication, internal stakeholder management, influencing, supplier relationship management, and negotiation – all of which are skills that will help you in roles across an organisation.
5 – Procurement is never boring!
If you like change, adapting to shifting business situations and markets, and working with different people, procurement will offer the versatility you crave.
The landscape of procurement is always shifting. As the economy continues to present a bleak outlook, chief procurement officers are becoming increasingly important members of the boardroom.
Then there’s the people. As well as working with stakeholders within your organisation, you get to interact with lots of different people across suppliers in Australia and even globally, so you can build your networks and travel.
6 – You can earn more
Despite the obvious commercial challenges of the last 12 months, employers are continuing to reward procurement professionals with bonuses and increased salaries.
The average salary for procurement professionals is AUD $140,636, which is well above the median salary in Australia, according to the CIPS/Hays report.
The average salary increase for procurement professionals across Australia and New Zealand was 5.5%, compared to the national average of 1.4% in Australia and 1.6% in New Zealand.
7 – You can make a difference
Consumers want organisations to act sustainably and ethically. According to research by Mastercard, almost two-thirds (62%) of consumers say it is more important now than before the pandemic that companies behave in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way.
This is where procurement can make a real difference. From sourcing sustainable materials to outlawing modern slavery, you could make your mark on some of the most important issues facing the world.
Start your procurement journey today
Procurement represents a fantastic career choice for people looking for a varied and exciting role with great prospects and job satisfaction. Imagine yourself in a new and exciting purchasing or procurement career only six months from now, experiencing great pay for rewarding work.
You’ll be glad you made a smart career transition sooner rather than later.
