Procurement roles in industry and engineering
From operational buyer to procurement manager: every level asks something different of you. Below you can read what the seven roles involve, what they pay and which vacancies are open right now, permanent and interim.
Which level fits where you are now?
Buyers work at different levels: operational, tactical, strategic and management. On top of that, you specialise in what you buy: engineering, services or NPR (non-product related, such as IT and facilities).
Operational buyer
Orders, lead times and stock, often the first procurement role after vocational or higher professional education.
Buyer
Operational purchasing with your own portfolio: orders, prices and lead times.
Tactical buyer
Supplier selection, contracts and category management, usually at higher professional level with a few years of experience.
Strategic buyer
Spend analysis, category plans and savings that run over years, higher professional or university level, with NEVI 1 and 2.
Technical buyer
Purchasing engineering and project components, where a technical background counts for more than a procurement diploma.
Supply chain
Procurement in connection with planning, stock and logistics: you look at the whole chain.
Procurement manager
Leading the procurement department: team, budget and strategy, at board level.
Not sure?
Our recruiters talk to buyers every day and see what the market is asking for.
Open right now
The latest procurement roles, permanent and interim, in industry, machine building, offshore and high tech. View the full list for everything that is open at the moment.
What do you earn in a procurement role?
The amounts below come from the procurement roles currently open with us: not a market average, but what is actually being offered right now.
Tactical Buyer | Food Processing & Packaging
Project buyer Offshore
Strategic Buyer Trade (interior)
Strategic project buyer (engineer-to-order)
Commodity buyer Indirect Spend
Category buyer ‘Indirects’
Strategic Buyer – Modules & Standalone Units
Group Strategic Purchaser
Permanent or temporary contract
Looking for the ideal procurement vacancies?
At xentys you will find professional and management roles in procurement within industry, construction and offshore. Read per role what the work involves.
Assignments of three to twelve months, on an interim or freelance basis.
Management roles: team, strategy and supplier portfolio.
Supplier selection, contracts and category management.
Spend analysis, category plans and long-term savings.
Buying engineering: engineering, machine building and projects.
Operational purchasing: orders, lead times and day-to-day coordination.
Which route suits you?
Not every career step starts with an open vacancy. These are the four ways candidates come to us.
Apply directly
Respond to one of the vacancies above. You will hear from us within one working day.
Open application
Send your CV and we will contact you as soon as something comes up that fits your profile.
Interim and freelance
Assignments on an interim basis, with the freedom and the rates that come with it.
Talk it through
Not sure which level suits you? Put it to one of our recruiters.
Learn more about the profession
Free whitepapers and background on technical procurement, for anyone considering a next step in procurement.
What is procurement?
The definition, the tasks and where the procurement function belongs in an organisation.
What is strategic procurement?
From spend analysis to category plan: how strategic procurement works in practice.
Whitepaper: the Kraljic matrix
Lower the total cost of ownership with the Kraljic matrix. Free to download.
Education and career
What exactly does a procurement role involve?
A buyer makes sure an organisation gets the goods and services it needs, at the right price and on time. The work consists of procurement planning, contract negotiations, supplier management and performance management. Done well, it delivers savings, less risk and better quality.
An in-house buyer or an interim professional?
Internal buyers know the organisation and its needs better. External buyers bring experience from several companies and can start sooner. Which of the two fits depends on the assignment: a structural procurement role asks for something different than a project or a replacement.
Within the field of procurement, a distinction is made between roles such as tactical procurement, strategic procurement and operational procurement.
What are the responsibilities of a buyer?
You search for and assess suppliers, negotiate on prices and terms, and monitor quality and lead times. You also keep an eye on the market, the sector, the company objectives and regulations, and you deal with disruptions such as delays or price changes.
What does the procurement process look like?
It starts with a clear procurement policy and clear agreements with suppliers. This is followed by assessing suppliers on financial stability, quality and performance, and managing contracts and relationships. Regular evaluation keeps the process sharp.
What education do you need for a career in procurement?
There is no single fixed path. Many buyers start after vocational or higher professional education and then build up with NEVI 1 and 2. For technical procurement roles, a technical background often counts for more than a procurement diploma.
The procurement role is a strategic and energetic role with many growth opportunities. Professionals can grow into management positions such as procurement manager or director, or move on to other specialisms within logistics, supply chain or inventory management.
I don't know which level suits me. What now?
Put it to us. Our recruiters talk to buyers every day and see what is in demand in the market. Even without a suitable vacancy, an open application makes sense: we will contact you as soon as something comes up.
Ready for your next procurement role?
View the open vacancies, or send an open application if there is nothing suitable right now. You will hear from us within one working day. Would you like to receive tailored procurement vacancies, or would you rather see a general overview of all vacancies?
xentys has placed over 750 buyers in industry, machine building, offshore and high tech.