Less of the general, more of the niche procurement specialists please
Is the generalist procurement role on the way out? We look at how the category management approach to procurement is creating niche roles for more specific procurement expertise.
As more organisations adopt the category management approach, procurement professionals are carving out a real focus to their career. There are still many corporate procurement roles available, where procuring across the standard corporate procurement area is required however the emphasis, and often where the experience is lacking, is on more specific ‘technical’ categories.
…‘technical’ procurement professionals move easily from the private sector into the public sector.
If you have experience of buying construction, civil engineering and technical IT commodities then you’re in particular demand. Traditionally, organisations such as large central government departments or local authorities didn’t need procurement professionals with experience of buying these commodities, however projects such as the Olympics, and the construction of Crosslink railway in London have created a huge demand for these niche professionals.
This demand has seen these ‘technical’ procurement professionals move easily from the private sector into the public sector. Typically private sector experienced candidates can have trouble moving into the public sector, mainly due to their lack of knowledge of the EU legislation procurement process. However the technical knowledge of buying construction, civil engineering and technical IT products far outweighs this lack of knowledge, and clients are much more open to recruiting these private sector candidates with a view to up-skilling them quickly where required.
These organisations are also keen to recruit those who have had experience of Competitive Dialogue in the tender process, which currently occurs during the procurement of high value ‘technical’ or complex products. And as use of Competitive Dialogue increases, this experience will become more and more valuable.
The category management approach and the incorporation of procurement as a core process rather than an add-on department allows organisations to develop a broader outlook meaning procurement is a more viable career path than it was perhaps ten years ago. More people now pick it as their desired role rather than simply landing in the job.
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