Procurement has evolved well beyond its traditional reputation as a cost-cutting function. Today, it sits at the heart of organisational strategy, influencing everything from supply chain resilience and risk management to sustainable growth. For CPOs, procurement directors, and hiring managers, this shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The organisations that invest deliberately in their procurement talent, at every level of the team, are the ones best positioned to unlock lasting value. In this article, we explore why strengthening your procurement function through strategic hiring and people development should be a top priority.
Why Procurement Talent Is a Strategic Priority
The case for investing in your procurement team has never been stronger. According to Deloitte’s 2025 Global CPO Survey, risk management and talent development remain top priorities for procurement leaders navigating rising costs, regulatory demands, and supply chain disruption. The same survey found that the talent gap was cited by 34% of CPOs as a key barrier preventing value delivery.
Meanwhile, McKinsey’s research into procurement-led transformations reveals that procurement typically accounts for more than 20% of the total financial impact in a transformation programme. Their analysis also found that procurement transformations with proactive capability-building efforts across teams consistently outperform those that simply try to squeeze more from the same people.
These findings reinforce a clear message: the right procurement talent does not just support your strategy. It actively drives it.
Building Procurement Capability at Every Level
One of the most impactful decisions you can make as a procurement leader is to invest across every tier of your procurement team structure. From entry-level buyers and analysts to senior category managers and procurement directors, each role plays a distinct part in delivering your function’s objectives.
At the operational level, skilled professionals ensure that day-to-day purchasing runs smoothly, supplier relationships are managed effectively, and compliance standards are upheld. At the tactical and strategic levels, experienced procurement leaders drive category strategies, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and shape the function’s long-term direction. When strategic procurement is led by capable, well-supported people, the entire organisation benefits.
Investing in procurement capability at all levels creates a team that can respond to challenges with agility and confidence. It also builds a natural pipeline of internal talent, reducing your reliance on reactive recruitment and fostering a culture of continuous improvement that strengthens overall procurement function maturity.
What Matters Most When Hiring Procurement Talent
Understanding what to look for when recruiting is just as important as knowing why you should invest. The 2025 CIPS Procurement and Supply Salary Guide highlights that 59% of hiring managers struggled to find the right procurement talent in the past 12 months. The top barriers include a lack of sector-specific skills and experience, as well as a shortage of technical skills or formal procurement training.
This underlines the importance of taking a considered approach to procurement recruitment. When assessing candidates, it is worth looking beyond technical competence alone. The CIPS research identifies communication skills as the single most important skill globally across the profession, with relationship management and influencing skills especially valued at senior levels.
Here are some of the key procurement skills to prioritise when building your team:
- Strategic thinking and commercial awareness to align procurement activity with broader business goals
- Strong communication and stakeholder management to influence effectively across functions
- Analytical and data capabilities for informed decision making and spend analysis
- Adaptability and digital literacy as AI and automation continue to reshape procurement processes
- Cultural fit and values alignment to support long-term engagement and retention
Getting the balance right between technical expertise and cultural alignment is essential. The strongest hires bring both the procurement skills and the interpersonal qualities needed to thrive within your specific team and organisation.
Supporting Procurement Transformation Through People
For organisations undergoing procurement transformation, the people element is often the most critical factor in determining success. McKinsey’s analysis shows that with dedicated training, a well-run transformation finishes more than half of its procurement projects on time or early. Without dedicated upskilling programmes, that figure drops to just one-third.
This tells us that transformation is not purely about systems and processes. It is about ensuring your procurement workforce has the skills, confidence, and procurement leadership to deliver change effectively. Whether you are implementing new technology, restructuring categories, or evolving your operating model, the success of these initiatives depends on having the right people in the right roles.
Investing in procurement leadership is particularly important during periods of change. Senior leaders set the tone, build stakeholder buy-in, and create the conditions for their teams to perform at their best. By strengthening leadership capability within your procurement function, you lay the foundation for a transformation that delivers sustainable, long-term results.
Making Your Investment Count
Investing in your procurement function is not about suggesting that your current team falls short. It is about recognising the increasing complexity and strategic importance of the procurement landscape and ensuring your people are equipped to meet it head-on. Whether you are filling a critical vacancy, developing emerging talent, or bringing in experienced leadership to guide a transformation, every investment in your procurement team compounds over time.
If you are looking to strengthen your procurement team, working with a specialist recruitment partner can make a significant difference. At Talent Drive, we focus exclusively on procurement and supply chain recruitment, helping organisations find professionals who are the right technical and cultural fit. From operational roles through to senior leadership positions, we support hiring across every level of the procurement team structure.
Explore our current procurement and supply chain vacancies, download our salary guide for the latest market insights, or get in touch with our team to discuss your recruitment needs.
