Procurement Professional is the official publication of CIPS Australasia

2010 NZ procurement employment market outlook

01 Mar 2010

The New Zealand Government procurement policy and practice reforms will continue to influence the employment market for procurement professionals in New Zealand, where there is an increasing focus on professional development and growing demand for talent, particularly in junior and mid-level roles, according to the Robert Walters Global Salary Survey published in February 2010.MCIPS candidates received slightly higher salaries during 2009, reflecting their perceived additional value as employees, according to the survey.

An increased focus on cost savings, maximizing value and managing supplier risk meant the profession's profile grew in New Zealand during the past year. There was demand throughout the year for skilled people, particularly junior and mid level professionals with the skills to support increasingly busy managers.

The Ministry of Economic Development-led reforms and their focus on professional development and upskilling will remain central to procurement in the public sector during 2010, with growing demand for talent to implement them. Candidates with experience in fleet, stationery, IT equipment and multi-functional device procurement will likely be favourably considered.

Such focus across the public sector as the Government works with CIPSA to improve procurement professional development is likely to influence private sector too, where salaries may remain stable as employers work towards boosting staff retention through greater employee engagement in the form of training and professional development.

Procurement's functional workload is expected to increase, and with it, demand for skilled candidates. This remains particularly true at the junior and mid-level, where candidates with the analytical and stakeholder engagement skills to support increasingly busy managers will be sought after.

A full copy of the Robert Walters Global Salary Survey can be downloaded from www.robertwalters.co.nz/salarysurvey.