Procurement Officer

A Procurement Officer is responsible for sourcing what an organisation needs to operate, whether that is raw materials, equipment, software, or services. The core of the role is finding suitable suppliers, comparing quotes and proposals, negotiating terms, and making sure purchases represent good value. Procurement Officers also monitor supplier performance, manage contracts, and keep purchasing records in order. In larger organisations, the role may sit within a dedicated procurement or supply chain team. In smaller ones, a single officer may handle the full cycle from initial request through to payment.

A typical day could include reviewing purchase requests from internal teams, contacting suppliers for updated pricing, and checking that deliveries match what was ordered. There is usually time spent on contract administration, updating procurement systems, and preparing reports for managers. Meetings with suppliers or internal stakeholders are common. During tender periods, the workload increases significantly, with time spent drafting specifications, evaluating bids, and documenting decisions. Email and spreadsheet work takes up a large portion of most days.

Most employers look for a Diploma or Bachelor degree in a relevant field such as business, supply chain management, commerce, or logistics (JSA Occupation Profile). Qualifications in procurement specifically, such as those offered through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), may strengthen an application. People changing careers from roles in finance, administration, project management, or logistics often find their existing skills transfer well. You can search for relevant courses at yourcareer.gov.au or check fee-free options at dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe.

The real challenge in procurement is managing competing pressures at the same time. Stakeholders want things quickly, finance teams want costs kept low, and suppliers have their own constraints and timelines. Getting those three things to align takes persistent negotiation and clear communication. For career changers, the technical side of contract law and tender processes can take time to learn, and mistakes in procurement can have significant financial or legal consequences for an organisation. Building credibility with experienced colleagues and suppliers takes time, and the role requires a level of commercial judgement that is hard to develop quickly.

In practice, procurement roles tend to concentrate in cities where large public sector agencies, defence contractors, mining companies, and corporate head offices are based.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 5911, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• ERP and Inventory Systemscore
• Invoice Matching and Reconciliationcore
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiencycore
• Negotiationcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Purchase Order Processingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Supplier Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Goods Receipt Processing
• Inventory Tracking
• Microsoft Excel Data Management
• Problem Solving
• Process Improvement Identification
• Report Writing
• Time Management and Prioritisation
• Verbal Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 10 October 2026