Confirm Time // Hays Procurement Forecast

Confirm Time:
1. National Foods, w/ General Manager Logistics & Planning: Rabu, 03.Juni.08, 4PM.- bukan interview. Ngobrol2 informal, to put my foot on the door if future opportunities arise.

2. Philip Morris International, w/ Operations Director, Kamis, 04.Juni.08, 9AM - untuk bagian Category Specialist, Indirect Materials & Services.

http://www.hays.com.au/forecast/procurement.aspx

Hays Procurement - April 2008

Hotspots

There is a huge demand for procurement specialists, buyers, and category managers with specific skills in indirect procurement, as opposed to direct procurement roles for which the available candidate pool is much more sustainable.

Also in demand are strategic sourcing, analytical, and low level purchasing (incorporating negotiation) skills, with a general decrease across the market of mid-level direct and indirect candidates.

Strategic sourcing managers are required due to the general expansion of procurement teams and movement in the market both internally and externally. There is a strong demand for category managers within indirect spend, and demand planners in FMCG, while contract administrators and contract managers are required.

The procurement function is becoming more important to businesses as many are restructuring and seeking a reduction on their spend without compromising their customer/stakeholder satisfaction and quality. This is ensuring the need for high quality procurement professionals remains high.

The coming quarter

Permanent requirements are growing with the manufacturing/distribution sector a key driver of vacancy activity. Temporary activity is driven predominantly by public sector project-based procurement requirements.

Project related roles are increasing as are greenfield opportunities. This affects the temporary market, with a noticeable increase in long-term contract roles.

Executive recruitment

The last several months have witnessed a shift, with several vacancies available at the $130,000 to $165,000 level, both temporary and permanent, which were not previously available. Executive recruitment will only increase due to high demands for specialist roles and recognition of the power of procurement.

There has also been an increase in senior and executive candidates from a direct (goods, products, raw materials) background.

Salaries

While there have been large increases over the past year, salary movements have recently settled, and they are expected to even out in some areas such as Sydney, as employers recognise that there is a limit to how much they can compete purely on dollars. In other states however, such as Victoria, companies need to offer higher salaries as suitable candidates are demanding more and the procurement market remains candidate-driven. This has been evident through recent salary negotiation processes. As the procurement function becomes more recognised as a profession, with recognition obtainable from CIPSA, salary pressure will only continue to make its presence felt.

Candidate trends

As procurement becomes a more critical function within organisations, active and passive candidates are becoming increasingly aware of their market worth and are prepared to change roles accordingly.