| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Procurement and Purchase |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of Procurement |
| Direct reports | Senior Buyer, Buyer, Procurement Executive |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in buying with some team responsibility |
Procurement Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Procurement Manager
Department: Procurement and Purchase
Reports to: Head of Procurement
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Procurement Manager runs the buying operation and the team of buyers. They convert requisitions into orders quickly, deliver savings against target, manage suppliers day to day and keep the process compliant. The role usually reports to the Head of Procurement. A good procurement manager keeps the requisition to order cycle short, holds on time in full delivery high, brings a mix of savings and reliability from the supplier base, and gives the business a buying service it can plan around rather than chase.
Key responsibilities
- Run the requisition to purchase order cycle for the assigned spend and keep it inside the service time.
- Assign work across the buyer team by category and value, and clear the daily requisition queue.
- Negotiate prices and terms for repeat and mid value buys, and take savings where the market allows.
- Manage the approved supplier base for the team, adding, rating and dropping suppliers on performance.
- Track on time in full delivery and chase late orders before they hurt production or projects.
- Deliver the savings target for the team and report the pipeline and realised savings each month.
- Enforce the buying policy so orders are raised before delivery and single quote buys are the exception.
- Resolve price, quality, quantity and payment disputes between suppliers, stores and accounts.
- Improve catalogues and templates so common items are ordered fast against standing prices.
- Coach buyers, set their goals and plan cover so no category is left unattended.
Requirements
- Graduate in engineering, commerce or science
- MBA or a supply chain certification is an advantage
- Working knowledge of GST on purchases
- 6 to 10 years in buying with some team responsibility
KRAs and KPIs for a Procurement Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Cycle time | Average requisition to purchase order time within the service standard each month |
| Savings | Team savings target delivered with a tracked monthly pipeline |
| Delivery | On time in full delivery from suppliers above the agreed threshold |
| Compliance | Orders raised before delivery above the agreed compliance level |
| Query resolution | Price, quality and payment disputes closed within the target time |
| Supplier base | Approved suppliers rated and refreshed on the agreed schedule |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: SAP MM, Oracle ERP, MS Excel, e-procurement portals, Supplier portals.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Procurement, Category Manager, General Manager Purchase
Interview questions for a Procurement Manager
- How do you keep the requisition to order cycle short when volumes spike?
- How do you split work fairly across a team of buyers with different loads?
- What is your approach to negotiating repeat, mid value buys for savings?
- How do you handle a buyer who keeps raising orders after delivery?
- A supplier is chronically late. What steps do you take and in what order?
- How do you build a savings pipeline the head of procurement can rely on?
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What does a Procurement Manager do?
A Procurement Manager runs the buying team and the daily buying process. They convert requisitions into orders on time, negotiate repeat and mid value buys, manage suppliers, deliver savings and enforce policy. They also coach buyers and resolve disputes so the business gets a dependable buying service.
What is the difference between a Procurement Manager and a Purchase Manager?
The two overlap and the titles are often used alike. A Procurement Manager tends to own the wider source to pay process, savings and supplier strategy for the team. A Purchase Manager is usually closer to plant or office purchase transactions, orders, follow up and stores coordination.
What skills does a Procurement Manager need?
The role needs strong negotiation, supplier management and ERP purchasing skills, plus the ability to run a short, compliant requisition to order cycle. Add savings tracking, dispute resolution and team supervision. A good grasp of GST on purchases and category basics rounds out the profile.