Head of Procurement
Also known as: Procurement Manager · Purchasing Manager
Directs the procurement department, sets purchasing strategy and supplier contracts and is responsible for cost savings, supply security and compliance with procurement policy.
The head of procurement directs buyers and determines how the organisation deals with suppliers, contracts and purchasing terms across the full range of categories. Unlike a procurement administration clerk, this is about negotiation strategy and supplier risk rather than order processing. Selection often looks at negotiation skill alone, while resisting internal pressure to order quickly outside procurement policy is the biggest source of budget overruns in practice.
Competencies to measure
These are the behavioural and ability constructs in this profile. Each one shows which hrmforce questionnaire measures it.
| Competencies to measure | Target level | hrmforce instrument | Assessment method | Behavioural anchor at target level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directing and steering people Competency (50-framework): Management Knockout | N5 | Big Fifty, Competency Check, 360 Feedback | Assessment centre | Designs the management line for the whole organisation, addresses managers on their style and defines what good steering means here. |
| Managing workload pressure Competency (50-framework): Stress resilience | N4 | Big Fifty, Competency Check, Pulse Survey | Structured interview | Cuts or shifts tasks independently when busy on the basis of importance, records this and discusses consequences with clients. |
| Safety awareness Competency (50-framework): Discipline | N4 | Big Fifty, Competency Check | Situational Judgement Test | Recognises unsafe situations in own process, intervenes and addresses colleagues without bringing the work to a halt. |
Short profile
The ten heaviest skills in this profile. The full profile with every skill, behavioural anchor and assessment method is in the download.
| T | Skill | Target level | Weight | Knockout | Assessment method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Directing and steering people | N5 | 5 | yes | Assessment centre |
| V | Planning and organising | N5 | 5 | yes | Work sample test |
| V | Purchasing and supplier selection | N5 | 5 | yes | Work sample test |
| V | Monitoring progress | N5 | 4 | no | Structured interview |
| V | conflict handling | N4 | 4 | yes | Assessment centre |
| V | giving feedback | N4 | 4 | no | Assessment centre |
| V | holding others to agreements | N4 | 4 | yes | Assessment centre |
| V | Translating direction into goals | N4 | 4 | no | Structured interview |
| V | Delegating | N4 | 4 | no | Assessment centre |
| V | Conducting performance conversations | N4 | 4 | no | Simulation |
See all 26 skills in the full profile
Assessment instruments for this job
Competency Check
Behavioral-Level Competency Assessment
360 Feedback
Multiple assessments based on behavioral anchors
Work sample test
Representative work sample under standardized conditions
Knowledge test (client-specific)
Professional knowledge test, customized for each client
Big Fifty
Personality questionnaire, 150 items, 25 factors
Pulse Survey
Periodic measurement at the team and organizational levels
Development Review
Structured development interview
Conflict Styles
Preferred style in conflict situations
Communication Styles
Preferred communication style
Colour Profile (Jung)
Four color types, linked to Big Fifty factors
Ability Scan
Aptitude Test: Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract Reasoning Skills
Portfolio
Evaluation of prior work against fixed criteria
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