Procurement manager job description template: Everything you need to include

Procurement manager job description template

Job Title: Procurement Manager

Location: [City, State/Remote]

Department: [Department Name]

Reports To: [Manager/Supervisor Title]

Job Type: [Full-Time/Part-Time/Contract]

Job Summary

At [Company Name], we [Describe Company Products/Services, Objectives, and/or Culture]. We are looking for an experienced and strategic Procurement Manager to oversee our sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management processes. In this role, you will develop procurement strategies, negotiate contracts, and ensure cost-effective purchasing while maintaining quality and compliance. This position plays a key role in supporting our [Specify Department: e.g., Operations, Manufacturing, etc.] with the aim to optimize procurement activities in line with our business objectives.

If you have strong analytical skills, a keen eye for cost savings, and the ability to build strong supplier relationships, we’d love to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategies that align with business goals.

• Source, evaluate, and manage suppliers and vendors to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and reliability.

• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with suppliers to achieve the best value for the organization.

• Monitor and analyze procurement data to identify cost-saving opportunities and process improvements.

• Ensure compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and ethical sourcing standards.

• Collaborate with internal departments (e.g., finance, operations, logistics) to forecast demand and optimize inventory levels.

• Manage procurement budgets and track expenditures to ensure financial efficiency.

• Stay informed about market trends (including AI), risks, and emerging supply chain challenges to mitigate disruptions.

Required Qualifications

Soft Skills & Work Approach:

• Analytical and data-driven mindset for optimizing procurement strategies.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple suppliers, stakeholders, and priorities efficiently.

• Proactive and adaptable, with a continuous improvement mindset.

Technical & Industry Skills:

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.

• Experience with procurement software and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Coupa).

• Knowledge of supplier evaluation, cost analysis, and risk assessment methodologies.

• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements in procurement.

• Understanding of inventory management, logistics, and supply chain best practices.

Preferred Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.

• X+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain management, or vendor management.

Why Join Us?

• Skill-Based Hiring: We assess candidates based on skills – not just resumes.

• Strategic Impact: You’ll get to lead procurement initiatives that drive cost savings and efficiency.

• Inclusive & Collaborative Culture: We value diversity, transparency, and teamwork.

• Career Growth: You’ll gain opportunities for professional development, training, and leadership advancement.

If you are a results-driven Procurement Manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment, apply today and help us optimize our procurement strategy for success!

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit your [List Required Application Materials] to [email/website link].

Deadline: [Insert Application Deadline]

[Company Name] is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Why this procurement manager job description template works 

Crafting an eye-catching and clear job description is particularly important when you need to hire a procurement manager with a diverse skill set. Here’s why our template works.

Job details and summary

Some procurement managers – for instance, those specializing in system automation – may be looking for part-time (or contract) remote positions, while others – for example, manufacturing procurement managers – may want to be on site full-time. This is why our template includes the job type and other essential details near the top. This way, candidates who aren’t good fits can self-filter. 

We also include a section where you can describe your company, including its products/services. This gives candidates insight into your industry, which is so important since procurement managers work in nearly every industry. Some managers will be great for certain industries but not others. 

Procurement managers also often focus on different things when working with different companies. This is why our template makes it clear that the procurement manager will handle strategy, negotiation, and relationships, as well as cost-savings and efficiency. (You can of course tailor these details.) 

Candidates who can’t see themselves handling things like cost savings are less likely to apply – and if they do apply, they won’t be surprised by the expectation that they should focus on saving costs. 

Key responsibilities 

Candidates drawn in by the job summary will move to the key responsibilities section, where we go into more detail about what the daily routine of a procurement manager looks like. We use a checklist-like format with points that candidates can “cross off” as they read and self-assess their abilities to perform the day-to-day tasks.

By focusing on job-specific tasks like supplier management, risk management, and strategy, this section clearly separates procurement from other more generic roles, like purchasing.

Candidate requirements 

The requirements section starts with soft skills like relationship-building, problem-solving, and decision-making that are needed for managing suppliers and other tasks. These soft skills show candidates the type of person who’ll excel in this role. 

The next set of requirements are technical and industry-specific. These are important, too, but if candidates possess all the necessary soft skills, then skills like specific software proficiency, compliance, and inventory management can be learned later – which is why they come after soft skills. 

We put less emphasis on degrees and experience. In fact, we include them last and list them as “preferred.” This is because procurement manager candidates’ competencies and skills are more important than specific qualifications. 

Want more proof that skills are important to procurement managers? Consider this quote from an article about procurement trends in 2025, written by Marijn Overvest (the founder of an organization that upskills procurement professionals):

“Thanks to the surge of AI tools in business…procurement managers now have more time to focus on negotiation and supplier relationship management (SRM).”

The “why join us?” section

This section brings everything together and shows the applicant why your company is a great place for them to showcase and develop their talent. We highlight that skills are valued above all, and employees are encouraged to grow and succeed. 

We specifically highlight that the successful candidate will be in charge of procurement initiatives to drive cost savings and efficiency. This gives a tangible goal for all applicants to focus on. 

Next steps: Attracting and assessing procurement manager candidates 

Once you have a job description, you can post it where candidates will see it: your company website, social media, and job boards – including popular job boards, niche supply chain and procurement-focused job boards, and skills-based job boards (like ours). 

Once applications roll in, you must screen your applicants to find the right candidate for your company. The best way to do this? Skills testing. 

You can combine up to five different skills tests from TestGorilla’s library – which has 400+ tests to choose from – to create a single assessment. This means you can make an entirely custom assessment to find the perfect procurement manager for your needs. You can even include your own questions.

Here’s a list of some procurement manager tests from our library:

• Purchase Executive (Local Procurement) test

• Purchase Executive (Overseas Procurement) test

• Critical Thinking test

• Leadership & People Management test

• Problem Solving test

• Time Management test

• Communication Skills test

Our system scores and ranks your candidates for you, so it’s easy to find ones with the skills you need and shortlist them for an interview.

Get started with TestGorilla today by requesting a free live demo or signing up for a free account.

FAQs

What are the 3 important skills of a procurement manager?

Successful procurement managers have strong negotiation skills for securing the best prices and contract terms. They also excel in communication since they interact with multiple stakeholders – from internal teams to suppliers. Finally, they possess great analytical skills for identifying cost-saving opportunities, evaluating supplier performance, and forecasting demand. 

What are the tasks of a procurement category manager?

A procurement category manager has a wide range of tasks to complete daily. These include strategic sourcing, market analysis, supplier relationship management, demand management, risk management, performance monitoring, stakeholder collaboration, and cost optimization. 

What are the 3 main types of procurement?

The three types of procurement are:

1. Direct procurement: Procuring raw materials and components to be directly used in production or service delivery (e.g., a car manufacturer buying steel) 

2. Indirect procurement: Buying goods and services that support business operations but aren’t part of the product or service you deliver (e.g., office supplies)

Services procurement: Outsourcing professional services or contracted workers to support business functions (e.g., hiring a legal consultant to draft a contract)