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, procurement professionals at “leading” level need a mix of technical and soft skills to thrive, enjoy high bonus entitlement, and can earn more if they hold the MCIPS designation.
What is a “leading” level professional?
“Leading” level professionals are individuals who lead a team in procurement or a significant operation. Those who contribute to strategic plans for the organisation and develop plans and objectives for their own operation. Generally, they’d hold senior manager and team leader roles and apply critical thinking to address and resolve complex issues and developments.
Here are some typical roles at “leading” level:
- Commercial Manager
- ESG/sustainability Manager
- Head of Logistics
- Head of Sourcing
- Operations Manager
- Senior Category Manager
- Strategic Procurement Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
- Supplier Relationship Manager
Seven insights that matter for leading-level procurement professionals
1. You need soft skills and technical skills to get ahead
The skills ranked as most important for leading level procurement professionals are negotiation, supplier relationship management, contract management, communication, and, of course, leadership. The order varies by region – for example, leadership ranks highest in ANZ and Europe. The lesson for leading professionals? You’ll need to show a balance of skills to thrive and compete for the best roles.
2. You’re roughly 75% 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 “leading” level was between 49% and 84%.
3. People change jobs for salary and progression opportunities
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 “leading” level, salary is one of the top reasons for changing jobs, followed by career progression opportunities. Earning potential and the desire for job development are clearly front of mind for professionals at this level.
4. You can earn more in the private sector
Our UK survey findings show that “leading” professionals in the private sector earn approximately 9% more than those in the public sector. With private-sector professionals at “leading” level reporting an average salary of £61,331, and public-sector professionals, £56,007.
5. Having MCIPS enables you to earn more
“Leading” level procurement professionals in the UK with MCIPS earn roughly 20% more than those without MCIPS. The average salary for “leading” level professionals with MCIPS is £63,867 and the average salary for those without is £53,002. 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 negotiation and supplier relationship management.
6. Senior category manager is the best-paying role at your level
“Leading” level roles in the UK pay on average between £51,561 and £64,558. To maximise your earning capacity, you could consider aiming for the role of senior category manager, which is the highest paid position at your level in the UK, with an average salary of £64,558. The role of strategic procurement manager is just behind it, with an average UK salary of £64,363, followed by supplier relationship manager (£61,229).
7. Supplier relationship managers have the highest “leading” level bonus entitlement
As well as being one of the best paid roles at your level in the UK, the position of supplier relationship manager enjoys the greatest chance for a bonus. Of those surveyed at “leading” level in the UK, an impressive 76% report being eligible for a bonus, by comparison to 53% of those working as an operations manager.
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.