Procurement Officer's Job Profile
The procurement officer of a company looks after purchasing resources and raw material at the most excellent prices ensuring supreme quality. Good quality of the raw materials will ensure high quality of the finished product. As a procurement officer, a person is required to perform the task of garnering or accumulating resources, which optimally balances three main factors for profitable and efficient product release. These include pricing, quality and availability and thus, the tasks performed by the procurement officer are crucial for the proper functioning of an organization. When it comes to technical work, the procurement officer's responsibilities include looking into the daily procurement and property functions.
In addition, an employee working as a procurement also officer performs a number of clerical and manual duties with specific responsibilities for storage, reception, distribution and movement of supplies and materials. The procurement officer prioritizes plans, supervises, reviews and assigns work to the staff that is accountable for purchase. The role thus includes specialized and technical procurement of services, equipment and supplies.
Skill Sets
A candidate interested in a procurement officer's job must have extensive knowledge of procedures, policies and practices. Alongside that, familiarity in requisitioning, purchasing, stock methods and various types of supplies, materials and parts is essential. The candidate should possess the aptitude to keep records as well as inventories of the stockroom along with an inherent understanding of effectively working with the employees and public. Additionally, the ability to develop accurate arithmetic computations and physical prowess to lift heavy objects is also required.
Academic Requirements
For becoming a procurement officer, interested candidates should have a bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting or a relevant field.
Training
When it comes to training for being a procurement officer, potential candidates should gain enough training in internal auditing, and government or commercial auditing.
Prior Experience
Candidates willing to work as a procurement officer must have at least two years of experience in supply work or procurement. Some companies hire new graduates as well. Thus, having relevant experience in the field is not a requisite.
Career Prospects
Every firm needs to buy materials and supplies for ensuring proper functioning, and the procurement officer looks after such tasks. Since the company can never stop buying materials, the need of a procurement officer will be always demanded.
Salary
The salary of a procurement officer is about $31,568 and may go up to $56,100 annually. It increases as the candidate gains experience.
Any manufacturing organization might require purchasing machinery, raw material and intermediate products for fulfilling the manufacturing process, while an IT firm might require purchasing software for operational requirements. Thus, a procurement officer is required by various industries.
An imperative factor, which decides the success of any business, is its capability to offer quality products within stipulated time to its customers. It enhances the reputation of an organization as well as increases business opportunities for the company and this is only possible when the procurement officer works efficiently.
