Procurement Manager Resume Example
Working as a procurement manager can provide a rewarding career, involving negotiating with suppliers and monitoring KPIs compliance. If you want to stand out with your procurement manager applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your procurement manager applications.
The aim of this article is to equip you with all the knowledge required to create a resume that positions you to succeed in your procurement manager applications. You'll learn how to show employers you've got the relevant qualities, skills and experience for the job, all presented in a format that employers prefer to see. The article also includes tips for formatting your resume according to your experience and strengths. Read on to learn how to write a perfect procurement manager resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a procurement manager resume
Although the content of a procurement manager resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
If you have no work experience as a procurement manager or have just started in the industry, you could consider using a functional or skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills and education. Draw attention to your soft and transferable skills, as employers will value these highly for entry-level roles. You could also mention any internships, training or volunteer work that helps you showcase skills relevant to the position.
If you have some experience as a procurement manager, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. In your resume work experience section, outline your relevant achievements and showcase the impact you've made in your career to date. Make sure everything you include is relevant to the job description.
As a highly experienced candidate, you'll want your procurement manager resume to showcase your depth of relevant work experience, as well as other achievements. Use a reverse-chronological format and add additional sections to prove you're a strong candidate. Expect your senior resume to be slightly longer than resumes for more junior roles. This is because you 'll want to add details of professional memberships, awards, publications, presentations and other achievements expected of senior professionals.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header
Your procurement manager resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Make sure your email address appears as professional as possible, and doesn't include anything like nicknames, inappropriate language or personal information. If it does, set up a new email account with an address based on your name or initials, and use that for your job applications. Always double-check your contact details are up-to-date before sending your resume.
Johnny Martinez
johnny.martinez@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
linkedin․com/in/johnny–martinez123
Resume Summary
In your resume summary, write a short paragraph that highlights two or three of your key achievements and skills for procurement manager roles. You could also call this section 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. A resume summary covers your career experience to date, while a resume objective focuses more on your ambitions for the future. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for procurement manager roles.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for procurement manager roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for procurement manager jobs below.
Good example:
Results-driven Procurement Manager with a BBA in Supply Chain Management and extensive experience as a Supply Chain Manager. Proven track record in optimizing procurement processes, reducing costs, and enhancing supplier relationships to support organizational goals. Skilled in strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and inventory management. Adept at leveraging data analytics and supply chain technologies to drive efficiency and continuous improvement. Strong leadership abilities, with a focus on fostering team collaboration and achieving operational excellence
Bad example:
Worked in buying and supply stuff, studied business things related to supply. Did some managing of supply chains before. Tried to make buying things cheaper and better for the company. Talked to suppliers and worked on buying strategies. Used numbers and tech to make things run smoother. Led teams and worked with others to make things better
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your procurement manager resume summary
Work Experience
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a procurement manager. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back in time from there. Include your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
Under each job entry, add several bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements. Consult the job description for a list of the key requirements for the role and make sure your work experience section showcases how you meet these requirements.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in a procurement manager resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. Take a look at the examples below for some guidance on what works best for your work experience section.
Good example:
Supply Chain Manager, January 2022 - Present
Acme Sourcing Solutions, Sacramento
- Reduced supply chain costs by 25% through strategic vendor negotiations and process optimizations
- Implemented a new inventory management system, decreasing stockouts by 40% and improving order fulfillment rates by 30%
- Led a cross-functional team to streamline logistics operations, cutting delivery times by 20% while increasing customer satisfaction
Bad example:
Supply Chain Manager, January 2022 - Present
Acme Sourcing Solutions, Sacramento
- Managed various supply chain activities to enhance efficiency and improve overall operations
- Collaborated with team members to achieve departmental goals and objectives
- Played a key role in optimizing procurement processes for better outcomes
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Education
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for procurement manager roles.
If you're applying for procurement manager positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your ERP systems proficiency or supplier relationship management.
For each entry in this section, add the name and level of your qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
Membership or leadership of any societies, clubs or causes while studying can also make a positive impression on hiring managers. Consider adding these to your education section for more insight into how you used your time as a student.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Supply Chain Management, 2017 - 2020
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for procurement manager jobs. These could be cost analysis techniques, analytical problem solving or various other relevant skills. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as a procurement manager.
Listing hard skills on your procurement manager resume
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for procurement manager positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in a procurement manager resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective procurement manager resume hard skills list looks like.
- Contract management expertise
- Supplier relationship management
- ERP systems proficiency
Adding soft skills to your procurement manager resume
Soft skills are the personal skills and qualities that make you a good fit for the job. They include transferable skills and strengths that help you settle into the role, adapt to new challenges and build effective working relationships. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a procurement manager resume.
- Effective communication skills
- Strategic decision making
- Relationship management proficiency
Certifications
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a procurement manager. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a procurement manager. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for a procurement manager resume:
- CPSM - ISM, 2022
- CIPS - MCIPS, 2022
- CPP - APICS, 2022
Jobseeker Tip:
Optional Information
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to a procurement manager resume. Choose optional sections from the list below, if they help to showcase your relevant skills and experience.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Consider listing hobbies and interests to help your resume stand out, or to provide the employer with some insight into your personality and wider interests. They're perfect for candidates who might lack genuine work experience as a procurement manager. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Volunteering
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your procurement manager resume. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
Standard procurement manager resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Only include referees that you've had prior approval from, and notify them to expect contact from the employer.
References are available upon request.
Best action words for your procurement manager resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Managed
- Negotiated
- Sourced
- Analyzed
- Optimized
- Coordinated
- Implemented
- Evaluated
- Streamlined
- Supervised
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Sample resume for procurement manager positions
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example procurement manager resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
•
johnny.martinez@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/johnny–martinez123
Results-driven Procurement Manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Procurement Specialist. Proven expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, and contract management. Adept at optimizing procurement processes, reducing costs, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality materials and services. Strong analytical skills and a track record of driving efficiencies and achieving organizational goals. Proficient in leveraging technology to enhance procurement operations
Procurement Specialist
2020
-2022
Pinnacle Procurement Solutions (Mesa)
- Negotiated contracts achieving a 15% cost reduction, saving the company $500,000 annually
- Streamlined procurement processes, reducing lead times by 30% and improving supplier relationships
- Implemented a new supplier evaluation system, enhancing quality control and supplier performance by 25%
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
2017
-2020
University of Arizona (Tucson, Arizona)
Contract management expertise
Supplier relationship management
ERP systems proficiency
Effective communication skills
Strategic decision making
Relationship management proficiency
CPSM - ISM
CIPS - MCIPS
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for procurement manager resumes
Key tips to help you craft a strong resume
- Use a clear resume format with professional elements, including suitable headings, line spacing, fonts and margins, to make your resume as readable as possible for hiring managers.
- List your relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent job.
- Quantify your accomplishments by providing evidence that shows the impact you've made in your career.
- Include your educational achievements, including any impressive grades. Focus on the most relevant qualifications for the role.
- Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for by consulting the job description and using keywords throughout your document.
Pitfalls to avoid with your resume writing
- Don't use overly decorative formatting and layouts that can detract from the content and make your procurement manager resume harder for scanning by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't crowd your procurement manager resume with too many unnecessary details. Focus on only the most critical skills and achievements.
- Don't use unnecessary jargon to try and impress the reader. It may have the opposite effect.
- Don't add any hobbies or interests unless they directly showcase a skill or experience that's relevant to the job.
- Don't list personal details such as your age, gender or a photo, unless these are necessary for the role. They can lead to hiring bias.
Guide to making your resume ATS-friendly
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly taking responsibility for the management and processing of job applications, helping hiring practices to become more efficient. This can include screening resumes by scanning and ranking each application according to how closely it matches the job description. There are several things you can do when writing your procurement manager resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume layout, such as a reverse-chronological or functional format. This will mean your resume includes all the necessary sections, in the expected order.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Use design elements that help make your resume more readable. These might include white space, clear, professional fonts and subtle color accents to help certain elements stand out.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions about a procurement manager resume
Now that you know how to write a professional procurement manager resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to procurement manager roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
Even if you have no work experience, following a few simple tips for your procurement manager resume can ensure you make a strong impression on employers. Opt for a skill-based resume format instead of a traditional layout. This places your skills and education in a more prominent position on your resume. Optional sections at the end of your resume can play a stronger role if you're lacking relevant work experience. Use certifications and training, hobbies and interests, volunteer roles and internships to show you've got the necessary skills for the job.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for procurement manager jobs. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a short, snappy heading for your resume including the job title and a reference to your experience, your track record or one or two of your key skills.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Junior Procurement Specialist Seeking Growth
- Strategic Procurement and Supply Chain
- Senior Procurement and Supply Chain Specialist
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. If, however, you have relevant work experience in the industry, it's typically best to use a reverse chronological resume format. This highlights your achievements in work, which is probably the most important factor for hiring managers to consider.
Takeaways for your procurement manager resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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