How To Become a Procurement Specialist?

Table of Contents

• What is a Procurement Specialist?
• What Does a Procurement Specialist Do?
• Procurement Specialist Skills
• Procurement Specialist Duties and Responsibility
• How Much Does a Procurement Specialist Make?
• Why do Businesses Need a Procurement Specialist?
• How to Become a Procurement Specialist?
• Conclusion

What is a Procurement Specialist?

A Procurement Specialist is a person or individual who purchases the product, services, or material on behalf of the organization to have a smooth running process. The key responsibilities of a procurement specialist include negotiating the purchase agreement,  reaching out to suppliers, and making sure that the product, services, or material meets the specific business-standard.

What Does a Procurement Specialist Do?

The procurement specialist can also be referred to as the Purchasing Manager. The main work of the specialist is to source the product or services, negotiate in proper terms within the budget, manage contracts, and maintain the relationship with suppliers. 

Procurement Specialist Skills

Procurement specialists are great negotiators and analytical thinkers. Their job is to make sure that their business is getting the best value for money. To achieve this they need necessary procurement skills that enable them to make accurate decisions and recognize opportunities for organizational success.

Below are a few key skills needed for procurement:

• Negotiation: It is one of the important skills needed in procurement as it helps you to manage conflicts by finding a solution that will benefit both parties without damaging their business relationship.
• Communication: Communication is the key to establishing a smooth-running procurement process. Clear communication helps the organization to effectively manage different procurement activities and handle problems easily.
• Problem Solving: This skill helps to understand the difficulty or problem faced and tries to give an effective solution to it so that the business can run smoothly.
• Analytical Skills: Analytical skills help to identify risks, and decide pricing for a particular product or service to make informed decisions.
• Decision-Making Skills: Making informed decisions is very important for procurement specialists as it helps them to choose the most appropriate option for their organization. They make decisions related to different aspects like, how much price should be set, shall we continue with the old supplier or reach out to a new one, etc.

Procurement Specialist Duties and Responsibility

Generally speaking, the procurement specialist acts as a mediator between the company and the supplier. The specialist mostly does tasks like making calls, sending emails to suppliers, entering data, researching new suppliers, and negotiating purchase agreements. Apart from this, the procurement specialist may perform the necessary duties:

• Research suppliers of goods and services
• Collect quotations, offers, and terms and conditions for the purchase
• Carry out the management-approved purchase of products or services
• Evaluate and negotiate vendor contracts
• Keep track of stock and issue purchase orders as required.
• Make recommendations for new goods, services, or resources according to market trends.

How Much Does a Procurement Specialist Make?

The average salary of a procurement specialist is around $50,000- $60,000 per year, but it may vary depending on the geographical region or the size of the organization. In general, an entry-level person working in a startup or a small enterprise in a rural area can earn $15,080 on the other hand an experienced specialist working in a larger organization may earn up to $11960. 

Why do Businesses Need a Procurement Specialist?

A procurement specialist is needed to make accurate decisions and calculative measures for the smooth running of business. To understand it in a better manner there are a few points listed below:

• They are the Expert:

The procurement specialist is a person who has a lot of experience in making the business process smooth. Also, they are well-versed in the following:

• How to carry out the procurement process
• Maintaining relationships with supplier
• Escaping frauds
• Maintain the efficiency of the project
• Keeping the process cost-effective
• Working to meet the goals of the organization
   

• They Have In-Depth Knowledge:

The procurement specialist takes care of the entire Procurement Process. The specialist also has the power to share their knowledge to benefit the company. The professional has an understanding of the following:

• The right quality of supply material
• How to call suitable suppliers for a quotation
• Where and how to increase the process's efficiency
• How to make sure the specification is written correctly
• How to make sure the money is being spent where appropriately
   

• They Provide Training:

The individual with the ability to train the entire procurement staff is the procurement specialist. The specialist can benefit the organization through training in the following ways:

• Reinforcing better strategy to process the inventory
• Assisting the procurement staff in becoming more productive
• Teaching and using the right negotiation techniques
• Teaching and carrying out the appropriate process to select the right supplier
• Guiding with the essential supply inspection process
   

How to Get a Procurement Specialist Certificate?

Now you have understood who is a procurement specialist and what are their duties, it's time to go further and understand how you can become a procurement specialist. There are several ways to do so, but the most appropriate and convenient way is to enroll in an online course.

The reason to choose an online course is that it offers flexibility, is affordable, and the certification you receive is globally accepted. Also, it helps to upskill on your terms without disturbing your full-time commitments or hectic schedule. With UniAthena’s Procurement Management courses boost your career, earn a procurement specialist certificate, and stay ahead in this competitive world.

Conclusion

Procurement specialist plays a very important role in the organization. They make sure that the product purchased is of the best quality. With their research and communication skills, they can buy high-quality products and materials from suppliers at a budgeted price. They take care of the product quality, and price and find out the solutions to different problems by avoiding risks. Thus, they play an important role in the organization to streamline the procurement process.

We hope this blog helped to give you a clear idea about procurement specialists. Please let us know what you think by leaving a comment below! Additionally, remember to check out UniAthena's other free learning options.