Written by Marijn Overvest | Reviewed by Sjoerd Goedhart | Fact Checked by Ruud Emonds | Our editorial policy

How to Become a Procurement Specialist?

Since we’ve already covered how profitable a procurement manager’s salary is, it’s time to talk about how to become one as well. To become a procurement manager or specialist, you’ll need to finish a degree in either logistics, supply chain management, and/or procurement. 

Being a fresh graduate from any of these courses can help you land a job as a procurement specialist, which is an entry-level job in a procurement team. But if you want to get hired as a procurement manager, then that’s a different story.

To become a procurement manager, one of the best ways to do so is to earn your MCIPS. The MCIPS is an internationally recognized award that showcases procurement managers who have excelled in their responsibilities. Around 32% of companies that are interested in hiring only the best procurement managers require their applicants to have MCIPS. 

This only goes to show that the procurement industry remains strong as ever.

As for the soft skills department, candidates should have the following skills:

• Negotiation
• Communication
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Leadership
• Sourcing
• Internal Stakeholder Management

The ability to negotiate remains the strongest skill that is desirable among procurement specialists. That’s because for a procurement process to work, a procurement specialist must have the skills necessary to get the best quality product or service at a good price no matter what the other party throws at you and your team. And the only way to do that is through flawless negotiation skills. 

And with negotiation skills, you can get those and more from our Negotiation Course For Procurement Professionals!

Communication, SRM, and Leadership are also high on the list of abilities needed to become a procurement manager because you will be managing different people with different skills within a procurement team. There is a 26% chance for a procurement team to grow and add more members this year. 

Sourcing and Internal Stakeholder Management are also important skills to master since the procurement manager is always expected to be on the lookout for better quality supplies for the growth of the company.

The Negotiation Tips: How to Get the Right Procurement Specialist Salary

So we’ve come to the most exciting part of the article. 

After you’re done with the interviews and the skills test, you’ve come to the part where you need to negotiate for your salary. Since we know that the procurement specialist’s salary is a profitable one, getting the best rate must be the priority. Also, you can take this opportunity to take your negotiation skills to the test as well!

But why should you negotiate for your salary? The price goes up for high-level procurement jobs. The answer to this is that if you don’t negotiate your asking salary rate, it’d be detrimental to your lifelong earning potential. If the current rate that you’ve accepted is 10% below the current salary rate, it could take over two years to regain your lost earnings.

So when do you negotiate for your salary? Typically, it is always done once you’ve received an offer from the other party or the company. You don’t go around charging in and asking for the procurement agent salary that you’d like; you need to pass the initial interviews and the exams before you can get the chance to do that. 

Also, remember to do counter-offers only once or twice during the negotiation. Putting too many counter-offers will make you come off as greedy and desperate. It will make you look bad in the eyes of the hiring manager or operations manager and they will immediately walk out of the negotiations at once. And when talking about the compensation package, you should avoid revisiting it if you’ve already agreed on it. Doing so shows that you respect the employer’s time.  

So to get the best possible salary rate, you’ll need to do the following:

1. Evaluate what you have to offer – Think of how much value you can offer to your employer by hiring you. Are you situated in a location where the costs of living are high?

Are you a tenured procurement manager or are you just starting from scratch? The same can also be asked for your leadership capabilities; how long have you managed a team of procurement specialists? There’s also your educational level, your skills, licenses, and certifications.

Think of all these things and then evaluate just how much should your asking rate be and it should sound fair and good as to what you can offer to the company.

2. Research the market average – We’ve already covered this part. Know that the average procurement salary rate in North America is at 4.6% and is still growing. This should be part of your pre-interview research. If you do get an offer and you want to negotiate for it, always keep in mind the market average for the said procurement salary.

3. Preparing your talking points – Remember the point of any negotiation. It’s to convince the other party to accept your offer. In the case of negotiating for your salary rate, it is always helpful to put together a series of questions as a framework for your negotiations. Details might include the following:

• Years of industry experience. This is always a popular topic during an interview, especially if you have more experience compared to what is required in the job description.
• Skills and certifications will always come up as questions. Always be ready once asked.
• Average salaries being offered by other companies for the same position might also come up in the discussion.
• A prospective employer will also be interested in the results you’ve achieved in previous roles. If you were once a procurement manager and you are looking to become Director of Procurement in a different company, your interviewer will most likely ask you those questions.

4. Schedule the right time for the discussion – Once you’re done preparing yourself, it’s time to set up a time for the discussion. You can contact the recruiter or the hiring manager for this.

While some companies are okay with the applicant sending an email, it is always encouraged to discuss these things over the phone.

Phone discussions allow a back-and-forth type of conversation and that is how a negotiation should be. Plus, you also show great interest in the role itself should you call the company to set up an appointment. 

Just remember to be free on the exact appointment date. Nothing ruins a negotiator more than being late for the negotiation itself!

5. Rehearse, rehearse – To become successful with your negotiations, you need to build up confidence. And the only way to build confidence is through rehearsing what you’re going to say to the other party. You can always have a script, but it wouldn’t sound too interesting. Also, you’ll be an open book if you’re going to depend on what you’re going to say with the help of a script.

If you want to rehearse, do it with a trusted friend. Let him/her become the interviewer and ask questions that might come out during the interview. You can even create mock negotiations as well if you feel that it’s going to help you become confident during the interview. Whatever you do, just make sure that you’re ready to push the offer that you want.

6. Confidence is the key – Finally, be confident. It sounds incredibly easy to say, but believe me, confidence takes time and practice. And that’s why you need to do the necessary steps mentioned above. Because you can’t be confident during a negotiation if you’re not ready for what the other party is going to throw at you. 

Always anticipate that the other party is going to throw counter-offers at you if you keep hard balling your desired procurement specialist salary rate. Be confident and level-headed and you will get the salary offer that you want.

What is the Average Salary of a Procurement Specialist?

The average salary of a procurement specialist in the USA is $60,500 per year with an additional payment of $4,500 which sums up to $65,000 per year. The additional pay comes from commissions, bonuses, or tips. 

However, in the UK, the average salary of a procurement specialist is £39,000 with an additional cash compensation of £3,425. 

What is the Average Salary of a Procurement Director?

The average salary of a procurement director in the USA is $106,000 with additional pay that comes from commissions and cash bonuses amounting to $39,000 which sums up to a total pay of $145,000. 

In the UK, the average salary of a procurement director is £101,000 with an additional cash compensation of £30,000.

Employment Websites That Can Help You Find Your Dream Job

Finding a job nowadays is easier. All you have to do is open your laptop, type the job you want, and you will see numerous job postings that offer competitive salaries, incentives, and bonuses. 

Additionally, some employers are offering remote jobs, which means you do not have to go to a physical office to work. 

Many employment websites have millions of job listings as well as additional resources such as career coaching, resume tailoring, and tips to help you find a job that suits you well. 

So if you are finding a job, then make sure to visit one of these websites:

• Indeed
• Glassdoor
• Monster
• Flexjobs
• LinkedIn

Conclusion

Despite the prevailing economic uncertainties, the field of procurement stands resilient, offering professionals the promise of robust salaries. The digital transformation in procurement processes, predating the global pandemic, has contributed to the industry’s stability.

As we delve into the benchmarks of procurement salaries, negotiation strategies, and the various roles within the procurement spectrum, it becomes evident that a career in procurement holds substantial financial rewards. The detailed insights into average salaries for different roles and regions, coupled with tips on negotiation and essential skills, empower aspiring procurement specialists and managers.

As the procurement landscape continues to evolve, a well-informed approach to salary negotiation becomes paramount, ensuring that professionals not only secure lucrative positions but also contribute significantly to the growth and success of their organizations.