The CIPS Procurement & Supply Salary Guide, in partnership with Hays, is based on an annual survey of 5,000+ procurement and supply professionals and analyses trends in talent recruitment and retention, including trends by job level.
According to the latest guide, leaders and directors in procurement (those at “influencing” level) need refined leadership skills and want to work in organisations that prioritise procurement.
What is an “influencing” level professional?
“Influencing” level professionals are individuals who manage and build strategic relationships. Those who negotiate complex issues and motivate others to achieve organisational goals. Generally, they’d be described as “leaders” and “directors.” Professionals at this level have a strong organisational impact and must exercise a significant amount of evaluative thinking and judgment in their work.
Here are some typical roles at “influencing” level:
- Chief Procurement Officer
- Commercial Director
- Head of Procurement
- Operations Director
- Procurement Consultant
- Procurement Director
- Supply Chain Director
If this sounds like you, then keep reading for the latest insights tailored to your job level.
Seven insights that matter for influencing-level procurement professionals
1. Leaders need a range of hard and soft skills
Which skills and qualities are regarded as most important for procurement leaders and directors? Not surprisingly, leadership ranks highly across the world. Digging deeper, what our 2024 survey shows is that leaders and directors are focused on “softer” skills such as communication, influencing and curiosity. To operate effectively at this level, procurement leaders also see the need for negotiation skills. In the ANZ region, commercial acumen is rated as especially important; in MENA, many leaders value change management skills highly.
2. You’re roughly 70% likely to get a bonus
Your chances of getting a bonus in procurement increase as you rise up the ladder. In five of the seven regions surveyed last year, the average bonus eligibility for those at “influencing” level was between 55% and 80%.
3. People switch jobs for better pay and an organisation that values procurement
Many procurement and supply professionals are looking to move jobs. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the proportion of people looking to move is as high as 60%.
For those at “influencing” level, salary is one of the top reasons for changing jobs, followed by desire to work for a company where procurement is highly valued.
4. You can earn more in the private sector
Our UK survey findings show that “influencing” professionals in the private sector earn approximately 13% more than those in the public sector. With private-sector professionals at “influencing” level reporting an average salary of £98,797, and public-sector professionals, £86,349.
5. Having MCIPS enables you to earn more
“Influencing” level procurement professionals in the UK with MCIPS earn roughly 8% more than those without MCIPS. The average salary for “influencing” level professionals with MCIPS is £91,546 and the average salary for those without is £84,378. Having MCIPS isn’t just a way to earn more; the designation can also help you develop and fine tune in-demand skills and behaviours, such as leadership and negotiation.
6. Chief procurement officer (CPO) is the best-paying role at your level
“Influencing” level roles in the UK pay on average between £79,196 and £162,628. To maximise your earning capacity, aim for the role of CPO, which is the highest paid position at your level in the UK, with an average salary of £162,628. The second-best paid position is supply chain director (£115,930), followed by procurement director (£113,200).
7. Supply chain directors have the highest “influencing” level bonus entitlement
The position of supply chain director offers the greatest chance for a bonus. Of those surveyed at “influencing” level in the UK, an impressive 80% report being eligible for a bonus, by comparison to 56% of those working as a head of procurement.
Use our salary calculator to benchmark your role better
For a practical sense of what this all means for your role, use our salary calculator to find out what you’re worth and to compare yourself to others in the profession. The salary calculator provides average salaries for procurement and supply roles globally and can be filtered by not only job level, but also region, gender and sector.