“ I think leaders in the industry , whether male or female , need to show those young people that not only is supply chain an exciting field with great growth opportunities – it ’ s a tremendously diverse field as well , where women are leading the charge ”
ESG
“ I think leaders in the industry , whether male or female , need to show those young people that not only is supply chain an exciting field with great growth opportunities – it ’ s a tremendously diverse field as well , where women are leading the charge ”
BRONWEN HANN , PRESIDENT AND SENIOR PARTNER , ARGENTUS
haven ’ t done enough to communicate just what makes it such a great career . As I said , this is changing .
“ I think , as industry leaders , we should be finding creative opportunities to tell stories from the world of supply chain – and show people not just the failures but the success stories and all the incredible things great supply chain management makes possible .”
Procurement is experiencing a major shift towards digital transformation , and by leveraging technology , we ’ re able to now focus on other initiatives such as strategic procurement , driving sustainability , diversity , and innovation . How has this , or should this , change how we hire ? “ These changes are really driving the growth of the procurement function , and that ’ s definitely changing the hiring landscape . As procurement delivers more to companies – including innovation , diversity in supplier bases , sustainability , and strategic value – the skills needs are greater .
“ Front-line procurement skills are still important , but they ’ re now table stakes . For example , people should know how to make a purchase order , run an RFP , develop an effective contract , and how to use fairness and transparency in the procurement process . But to deliver all those added benefits you mentioned , individuals need other skills as well . In our conversations with leaders across the field , there ’ s a huge emphasis on soft skills . Written and verbal communication skills , the ability to present insights to stakeholders across the business , but even more importantly , the ability to build real relationships with stakeholders and suppliers and build mutual value are all critical . Companies need people with exceptional emotional intelligence to foster effective , long term relationships and the overall business acumen to identify those ways of adding extra value .
“ In short , this makes it harder to hire . Companies need to be more creative . It ’ s not about checking skills off a checklist . Many of these qualities can ’ t be gleaned from just a resume . It involves really digging into a candidate ’ s approach and what makes them tick when you assess them . It also means being willing to invest in people ’ s skills development after you hire – whether it ’ s through coaching , mentorship opportunities , further formal training , rotating them through different roles or categories in a department , or other methods . It ’ s more difficult , but the opportunities are huge .”
Could you offer some advice to those who are in leadership roles and are looking to attract top procurement talent in a tight market ? “ As a recruiter specialised entirely within supply chain and procurement , we ’ re lucky to
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