Requirements

Buyer or procurement officer - requirements

As a buyer or procurement officer, sometimes called a procurement manager, you’ll purchase raw materials, goods, equipment or other services for your organisation. Learn more about a career in procurement, find out what it involves and what you can study or do to get into the field.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a buyer or procurement officer?

You can enter this field with a degree in almost any subject, but a degree in the following areas will be especially helpful:

The most suitable subjects to qualify in will depend on your potential employers. Industrial or engineering companies, for example, will usually want you to show good technical knowledge. Entry without a degree is possible but will usually be at a junior level, from which you can work your way up.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a buyer or procurement officer?

You don’t need a postgraduate degree for this type of role, but it can be a good way to stand out to employers and move towards membership with CIPS.

Degrees you could consider at postgraduate level include master’s in:

Procurement and supply chain management
International procurement and supply chain management
Procurement, logistics and supply chain management
Strategic procurement management
Public procurement regulation in the EU and its global context

What skills do you need to be a buyer or procurement officer?

Negotiation and communication skills will be very helpful in this role, along with a strong understanding of your market or industry.

Hard skills usually include:

Purchasing methods
Supply chain management
Writing and managing contracts
Invoicing and billing
Performance and quality monitoring
Finance

Soft skills include:

Communication
Managing yourself and others
Managing processes
Negotiating
Sales and marketing
Eye for detail
Planning

Do you need work experience to be a buyer or procurement officer?

Competition for jobs in this field is typically strong, so having work experience in a relevant industry, business area or in procurement will be very helpful. You might get this experience through industrial or business placements as part of your course, or by getting a junior role as an assistant buyer or purchasing officer.