A procurement or purchasing manager is responsible for making sure the health care facility has all the supplies needed for operations. If you are attentive to detail and have an interest in working with suppliers and managers read on to see if this may be a career for you.
What do procurement managers do?
Typical responsibilities of the procurement manager include:
- Purchasing products
- Maintaining inventory reports
- Evaluating products
- Negotiating purchase agreements
- Comparison shopping
- Managing staff
- Collaborating with healthcare departments
The savvy procurement manager will exhibit specific characteristics. These will include:
- Fiscal responsibility
- Excellent organizational skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent negotiation skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Math skills
- Excellent decision making skills
The nature of the work involves assessing facility needs and maintaining accurate inventory. The procurement manager typically works full time within the health care facility. The procurement manager is involved with comparison shopping to ensure they are getting competitive pricing and appropriate equipment and supplies. The procurement manager will work collaboratively with specific departments to maintain department inventory and ensure availability of all supplies needed to complete work. The procurement manager is responsible for drafting contracts between suppliers and the facility. The procurement manager needs to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and follow budgetary guidelines. The procurement manager will manage staff and key personnel involved in handling supplies, purchases, stocking, and distribution.
Education and Training
Specific education for the position of procurement manager will vary from organization to organization. Typically a bachelor’s degree in finance, business or a related field will be the minimum entry requirements into this position. On the job training will be necessary to learn the specific needs of the departments and facility policy. Prior experience as a purchasing agent is beneficial in the role of procurement manager.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports and expected increase in demand of procurement managers to be 4% between 2012 and 2022. This is lower than the national average for all jobs. The median annual income of a procurement manager is reported as $60,550 in 2012 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
