A procurement manager ensures that a company has the right quantity of products or materials available at the right time. Depending on the size of the company, the manager may manage a team of people who are responsible for different processes within procurement. The procurement manager ensures that policies are followed and that costs are kept within the budget.

Keep in mind that procurement forms part of the greater field of supply chain management. Procurement is the process of securing the goods or services needed by the company. Once the company has the goods or services, other role players in the supply chain department will usually take over to ensure that the products or services reach their intended destinations further down the supply chain.

 

Here are some daily duties that make up the day of a procurement manager:

 

Working on purchase deals

Before concluding a purchase, the procurement manager needs to carry out market analysis to make sure they’re getting the best deals. This way, they acquire goods and services at favourable prices and within budget. This is done through comparing prices from different suppliers, and through looking at market changes and how these affect prices. The next step is to prepare and process the purchase orders according to the set policies and procedures of the company.

 

Ensuring compliance

The procurement manager needs to ensure that the policies and procedures of the company, as well as relevant laws and regulations, are properly implemented and adhered to at all times. This includes evaluating contracts to ensure that they comply with the legal requirements and with the policies of the company.

As part of ensuring compliance, the procurement manager may be responsible for staying up to date with changes in legislation, and for reviewing and updating company policies as required.

 

Evaluating the suppliers

An important aspect of procurement is ensuring that there are suppliers who can serve the needs of the company. This means the procurement manager needs to evaluate the prospective suppliers before signing them on. When evaluating suppliers, the procurement manager needs to be sure that a supplier can deliver goods and services in the agreed quantities in a timely manner, and that they offer good quality service and goods. This is especially important, as delays and poor quality can affect many other areas of the business.

 

Managing and co-ordinating staff

The procurement manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and tasks of the staff in the procurement department. This includes planning out a schedule that will set priorities for tasks and deadlines. Along with this, the procurement manager needs to make sure that tasks are completed according to schedule and that any procurement issues like defective goods, or services that are not delivered, are sorted out. This also includes holding regular meetings with staff and vendors to discuss progress.

 

Also read: Top 4 Careers in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

 

Maintaining updated data

The procurement manager maintains updated records that cover items purchased, cost prices, delivery information, and inventory lists. They also ensure that they have updated information on suppliers and suppliers’ products and prices. This requires good organisational skills and attention to detail. The procurement manager will prepare reports that include budget allocations, planned spend, and actual spend. These reports help to ensure that proper management decisions are taken.

 

A day in the life of a procurement manager is made up of a variety of tasks that range from working with policies and evaluating suppliers to managing staff and data. These are just some of the tasks that ensure that the procurement department is run smoothly. This kind of job requires someone who has great people and communication skills, is well organised, and can pay attention to detail.

 

Click here if you would like to prepare for a career in this field.