Procurement managers oversee a company’s supply of products and services. They negotiate with suppliers and vendors to acquire the most cost-effective deals and reduce procurement expenses and develop procurement strategies to meet company needs and lead to growth. They build strong relationships with suppliers and vendors and manage the procurement team. They approve all orders for goods and services, evaluate risks, handle contract negotiations, and track company metrics to reduce expenses.
Procurement managers should have exceptional negotiation and networking skills and the ability to collaborate with all internal and external stakeholders. They must be proficient in using computers and procurement software. They should be good decision makers and have excellent math skills. Solid leadership is a must, as is the ability to multitask.
Sample job description
Average salary and compensation
The average salary for a procurement manager is $109,500 per year in the United States. Salary ranges will vary depending on education, years of experience, certifications, qualifications, previous accomplishments, and additional skills.
| Location | Salary Low | Salary High |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, Arizona | $108,850 | $147,300 |
| Los Angeles, California | $122,850 | $166,200 |
| Denver, Colorado | $102,350 | $138,500 |
| Washington, DC | $124,700 | $168,700 |
| Miami, Florida | $101,900 | $137,850 |
| Orlando, Florida | $94,000 | $127,150 |
| Tampa, Florida | $94,900 | $128,400 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $99,550 | $134,700 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $114,450 | $154,850 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $123,750 | $167,450 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota | $98,650 | $133,450 |
| New York City, New York | $130,300 | $176,250 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $106,100 | $143,550 |
| Dallas, Texas | $103,300 | $139,750 |
| Houston, Texas | $102,800 | $139,100 |
| Seattle, Washington | $119,100 | $161,150 |
| National Average | $93,050 | $125,900 |
Sample interview questions
- How do you manage supplier and/or vendor relationships?
- Do you have experience using supply chain management software? If so, what platforms have you used in the past?
- Can you describe how risk management works?
- What’s your strategy for keeping accurate records of your supplies?
- How would you determine what our company’s purchasing patterns are?
- What sources do you use to maintain and build your knowledge of relevant marketplaces?
- Can you tell me about your experience lowering expenses and monitoring costs?
- How do you perform market analysis in order to source the most cost-effective supply rates? What tools do you use?
- If a department requests to order equipment that isn’t within budget, how would you handle the situation?
- What are the most important skills for a procurement manager to have?
- How do you evaluate product quality? If you receive a defective product, how do you handle it?
- If sales are down for a particular product, how do you overcome this?
- What is a Qualified Products List (QPL)?
- Have you ever had to cancel a vendor contract? If so, what happened?
- How do you grow your network of industry professionals, like suppliers?
- When choosing suppliers, what are the most crucial criteria to consider?
- If a supplier informs you that there will be a delay in their shipping, how would you deal with it?
- What is your market strategy and how will you shape it?
- What do you know about Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)?
- What negotiation skills and tactics do you possess?
- What are some important procurement metrics?
- How do you build a sourcing strategy?
