Spotlights
Procurement Specialist, Procurement Analyst, Sourcing Analyst, Supply Chain Analyst, Purchasing Analyst, Vendor Analyst, Contract Analyst, Procurement Coordinator, Strategic Sourcing Analyst, Procurement Operations Analyst, Supplier Analyst, Materials Manager, Materials/Supply Management Specialist, Purchasing Agent
Everyone loves shopping — even businesses! Companies of all types require a wide range of products and services to keep things moving. But they need to choose carefully and get the best deals they can find because costs add up quickly. That’s why many companies hire dedicated workers whose focus is on finding suitable options before buying anything. Procurement Analysts determine the needs of their employers, then do thorough research and evaluation of products and services that Business-to-Business (B2B) suppliers and vendors are selling.
They may pay visits to factories or distribution centers to learn specifics about how the suppliers and vendors operate and to gain insights into those companies before deciding to do business with them. Naturally, price discussions and speed of delivery factors also come into the equation. Once an analyst has a comprehensive picture, they draft and share reports for decision-making by management or other members of the procurement and purchasing team. After suppliers or vendors are selected, analysts may help draw up the contracts and close the deals.
At the end of the day, it’s the job of a Procurement Analyst to find strong business partners and maintain good long-term relationships that are profitable for all parties.
- Helping their employers find high-quality products and services within their budget
- Providing insights and options that can save companies money
- Building and strengthening long-term relations with other businesses, which can be good for local economies
Working Schedule
- Procurement Analysts usually work full-time jobs, with some overtime possible depending on the needs of the employer. Shopping trends and holidays may affect how busy a company is, which in turn impacts how busy its analysts and purchasing managers will be!
Typical Duties
- Forecast the employer’s upcoming procurement needs; make plans for meeting needs and goals
- Create and post Requests for Quotes, Requests for Proposals, and Requests for Information
- Review submissions and catalogs
- Attend trade shows and events to stay on top of new products and services on the market
- Draw up lists of potential suppliers and vendors (suppliers are those who sell directly; vendors are third-party sellers)
- Maintain technical proficiency and understanding of pertinent products or services being considered
- Conduct impartial evaluations of supplier and vendor offerings and risks of doing business
- Compare bids, quotes, prices, distinctions, advantages, and disadvantages between potential suppliers and vendors
- Arrange meetings with prospective partners; schedule interviews and site visits
- Conduct visits and tours of factories and distribution centers to evaluate the suitability, reliability, and efficiency of potential partners
- Test products and services for quality
- Ensure supplier/vendor practices align with the employer’s brand values
- Generate cost reports to help managers make informed purchase decisions
- Make impartial, objective, and discrete decisions regarding which suppliers and vendors to buy from
- Negotiate fair prices with suppliers and vendors; come to agreeable terms then draw up contracts for review and signature
- Ensure compliance with applicable guidelines and laws
- Work with legal teams, manufacturing points of contact, and supply chain managers
- Use Contract Lifecycle Management Systems to keep records safe and organized
- Conduct supplier/vendor assessments to gauge performance
- Review contracts when it is time for renewal
Additional Responsibilities
- Look for ways to reduce costs and streamline deal-making
- Study sales records and track price trends
- Review invoices/purchase orders for errors
- Analyze trends and potential supply chain risks; devise backup plans
- Utilize strategic sourcing principles
- Liaison between the company and its suppliers and vendors; build rapport and manage long-term relationships
- Perform inventory management to ensure items are stocked as needed
Soft Skills
- Active listening
- Analytical thinking
- Collaboration
- Decisiveness
- Detail-oriented
- Frugality
- Impartiality
- Independence
- Integrity
- Intuition
- Leadership
- Objectivity
- Patience
- Persistence
- Persuasiveness
- Problem-solving skills
- Strong communication skills
- Teamwork
Technical Skills
- Budgeting and financial analysis software
- Customer relationship management
- Database reporting tools
- Enterprise Resource Planning tools such as SAP and JDE
- Financial acumen
- Inventory management software
- Legal contract language
- Materials requirements planning/logistics and supply chain software — Infor Lawson Supply Chain Management
- Procurement software (aka RFQ or purchasing management software)
- Project management programs like Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Portfolio Project Management
- Spreadsheets
- Understanding the technologies related to products or services being procured
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Government agencies
- Private companies
- Retail trade
Many companies grant their Procurement Analysts a lot of trust and independence, relying on them to look after the best interests of their employer. Analysts must do diligent research to ensure they find the best potential partners to do business with. Switching suppliers and vendors can be a major hassle, so it’s always important to try and get it right the first time, then build upon those relationships.
That said, when problems arise, analysts have to stay objective and consider what’s right for their employer’s long-term needs. They must maintain ties that are mutually beneficial, but break off and move on if a supplier or vendor relationship isn’t working out.
Issues that often come up include sellers not upholding their end of a contract and products or services no longer being cost-effective to purchase. The longer a company and supplier/vendor have been doing business together, the harder it is to make the call and end things. When the time comes to end a contract, analysts need to know how to handle it professionally without burning bridges.
Procurement processes may not evolve quickly, but they do change over time. One of the big trends impacting the field is the increasing reliance on digitalization and automation, both of which are helping improve efficiency and cut costs. Similarly, companies are focused more than ever on staying flexible, agile, and resilient in the face of unexpected events. Procurement Analysts will rely more and more on data and analytics to make or advise decisions. Meanwhile, as supply shortages and transportation disruptions continue to create challenges, companies are doing all they can to strengthen supplier relations while adding diversity to mitigate risk.
Procurement Analysts must research and analyze data and statistics, which means they are pretty organized, methodical, and patient. These traits may have been developed during certain childhood activities or they were simply inherent personal qualities. In their youth, analysts might have been very curious about things and enjoyed reading, playing games, solving puzzles, or watching how-to videos. They also usually show strong interpersonal skills and might have grown up in larger families or participated in school activities where they helped plan and organize events.
- Most Procurement Analysts need a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or something similar
- Employers usually want to see at least two years of related work experience
- Related jobs include procurement specialist, junior analyst, supply chain specialist, or junior logistics analyst
- Students must develop strong English, writing, and other communication skills, as well as take plenty of math, accounting, supply chain and logistics, and procurement courses
- Applicable software to learn includes programs and tools for:
- Budgeting and financial analysis
- Customer relationship management
- Database reporting
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Inventory management
- Legal contracts
- Materials requirements planning
- Procurement
- Project management
- In addition, Procurement Analysts must be familiar with technologies related to products or services being procured, which vary by industry
- Certification options include:
- American Production and Inventory Control Society - Certified Supply Chain Professional
- American Purchasing Society - Certified Purchasing Professional
- American Society of Transportation & Logistics - Supply Chain Management Certification
- Institute for Supply Management - Certified Professional in Supply Management
- International Board for Certification Services and Management - Certified Product Safety Manager
- National Contract Management Association -
- Project Management Institute - Project Management Professional
- Consider the cost of tuition, discounts, and local scholarship opportunities (in addition to federal aid)
- Think about your schedule and flexibility when deciding whether to enroll in an on-campus, online, or hybrid program. Ideally, you’ll want as much hands-on practice as you can get
- Check out the program’s faculty awards and accomplishments to see what they’ve worked on
- Look closely at the facilities they teach in and the equipment and software they let students train on
- Review job placement stats and details about the program’s alumni network
- Stock up on STEM courses as well as English, communication, business, marketing, and law
- Volunteer for school activities where you can learn how to work effectively as a team, practice your soft skills, and manage projects
- Apply for business internships to get practical work experience
- Study books, articles, and video tutorials related to supply chains, logistics, and procurement (see our list of Resources > Websites)
- Join professional organizations to learn about trends and grow your network
![Roadmap](/sites/foothill.gladeo.org/files/2022-09/Procurement%20Analyst%20Gladeo%20Roadmap%20-%20Untitled%20Page.jpeg)
- Chances are you’ll have to apply for entry-level jobs and work your way up to Assistant Director roles
- Many Procurement Analysts start as procurement specialists, junior analysts, supply chain specialists, or junior logistics analysts
- Rack as up as much experience as you can before applying
- Study job ads carefully to ensure you meet all the listed qualifications
- Join organizations like the National Association of State Procurement Officials to learn and network
- Let your network know you are looking for jobs or internships! Per CNBC, “Research shows that 70% of all jobs are not published publicly on jobs sites and as much as 80% of jobs are filled through personal and professional connections”
- Move to where the most relevant jobs are! Per BLS, the states with the highest employment for in the related field of purchasing management are California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts
- The highest concentration of jobs is in Washington D.C., Connecticut, Massachusetts, Arkansas, and New Hampshire
- Hop on Quora and start asking job advice questions and requesting answers from working directors
- Check out procurement forums as well as job portals such as Indeed, Simply Hired, and Glassdoor
- Ask your professors, supervisors, and peers if they’ll serve as personal references
- Talk with your school’s career center for help with resumes, mock interviews, and job searches
- Review Procurement Analyst resume templates to get ideas for formatting and phrasing
- Study Procurement Analyst interview questions to prepare for those crucial interviews
- Always dress appropriately for job interview success!
- Help your employer find and negotiate great, cost-saving deals on high-quality products and services
- Build strong, mutually beneficial relationships between your employer, vendors, and suppliers
- Do diligent research to ensure suppliers and vendors are able to deliver on their promises, including meeting output goals and timeframes
- Treat everyone with respect and build your reputation as a professional with integrity
- Be transparent in your dealings and comply with all applicable ethical and legal requirements
- Complete additional education and certifications that can improve your job skills and qualify you for higher levels of authority
- Watch and learn from more senior analysts. Ask questions and take notes of best practices
- Keep growing your professional network in the local community and via increased engagement with professional organizations
- Try to win awards and recognitions that’ll look good on your resume
- Have frank discussions with your supervisor. If your employer doesn’t have opportunities for advancement, consider whether you want to stay or move on
Websites
- American Production and Inventory Control Society
- American Purchasing Society
- American Society of Transportation & Logistics
- Association for Supply Chain Management
- Institute for Supply Management
- International Board for Certification Services and Management
- National Association of State Procurement Officials
- National Contract Management Association
- National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP), Institute for Public Procurement
- Next Level Purchasing Association
- Project Management Institute
- Universal Public Procurement Certification Council
Books
- Procurement Methods: Effective Techniques: Reference Guide for Procurement Professionals, by Lourdes Coss
- Procurement Principles and Management in the Digital Age, by Peter Baily, David Farmer, et al.
- Procurement Project Management Success: Achieving a Higher Level of Effectiveness, by Diana Lindstrom
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following related occupations to think about!
- Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Financial Managers
- Food Service Managers
- Lodging Managers
- Logisticians
- Procurement Clerks
- Purchasing Agents
- Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives
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