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• The Profession
  • What is Public Procurement?
  • How much does government spend?
    
    
• Careers in Public Procurement
  • Why a career in public procurement?
  • What is the earning potential?
  • What are the necessary entry-level skills?
  • Is there much opportunity in the profession?
  • What do government procurement professionals think about their profession?
  • More questions?
     
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• Prospective Member FAQ
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What is Public Procurement?

Simply put, public procurement is the contracting and acquisition of the goods and services required to sustain society and its way of life.

Consider: how do roads become roads? How are parks, schools, libraries, and water treatment facilities established and maintained? How is water and electricity provided to commercial buildings and private residences? How does a community provide for emergency response to natural or man-made catastrophe?

At every level of society and every entity of government there is evidence of the public procurement profession.


How much does government spend each year?

TOTAL SPEND $4.6 Trillion*

• Federal $2.2 Trillion
• State $1.3 Trillion
• Local $1.1 Trillion

*Based on FY2002-03 actual spend using data from U.S. Office of Management and Budget (Federal) and data compiled by U.S. Census Bureau (State & Local). Estimated total government spending FY2007-08 will exceed $5Trillion.

Why a career in public procurement?

• Public Service
  First and foremost, a career in public procurement is truly a career dedicated to serving the best interests of the community. Qualities intrinsic to public procurement professionals include: a dedication to ethical practice; a belief that through best practices, government can make a positive difference in its community; a deep-seated understanding that they are custodians of the public trust, that they champion and protect the taxpayer and the tax dollar.
   
• Influence
  Government procurement officials have the unique ability to determine ‘how’ to best meet the goals of the community as identified through the political process. Whereas the politicians may approve the building of road, the procurement agent determines whether that road must be constructed using recycled materials, whether eco-friendly lighting is installed or solar powered traffic signals employed.
   
• Variety
  Over the course of a procurement career, you may have the opportunity to purchase everything from IT infrastructure and mass transit systems to syringes for injecting giraffes and elephants (really!). That means exposure to business operations and market segments across the gamut of the economic spectrum that you may have otherwise never heard of much less experienced.
   
• Challenge
  To excel in this profession, you will need to develop a broad base of skills and knowledge and constantly hone your abilities. In your role as a government procurement agent you will wear many hats. You will have the opportunity to be a strategic business person, establishing contractual relationships that leverage your buying power; a shrewd negotiator who understands how to achieve win-win solutions for both the agency and the supplier; a lawyer; a money manager; a visionary champion of the public you will serve.
   

What does it pay?
Compensation of public procurement professionals depends heavily on the size and location of the entity you work for, your educational achievements and your work experience. Following are broad compensation ranges across four levels of procurement contracting responsibility*:

Director, Purchasing or Materials Management $65,000 - $120,000+
Manager, Purchasing, Contracts or Warehouse $45,000 - $80,000
Buyer or Contract Specialist $40,000 - $65,000
Assistant Buyer or Entry Level $25,000 - $45,000

* Source: 2007 NIGP Compensation Survey Report. p. 21.
 

What skills and knowledge do I need to begin a successful career in public procurement?
To start, an undergraduate degree in business, public administration, or related courses of study provide an excellent background for those considering public procurement as a career. In addition, your commitment to ethical practice, personal integrity, strong problem solving skills and an eagerness to serve, be challenged and grow professionally is a winning combination that will lead to long term success.


Is there a lot of opportunity for jobs in the public procurement sector?
The short answer: yes. The baby boom generation is ready for retirement and governments at all levels will experience the impact. According to an October 2007 research study by the National Association of State Procurement Officials, the percentage of government workers over 45 years old is 44.6% versus 31.2% in the private sector.

In addition to worker demographic influences, federal, state and local governments are comprised of over 130,000 individual agencies.

• Federal 60,000
• State 4,350
• County 3,043
• City 19,372
• Special Districts 35,257
• School 17,178

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
 

What do government procurement professionals think about their profession?
A few key words hint at what government purchasing pros get from their experience in the profession: challenge, diversity, rewarding, service to the community.

To really understand what it means to be in this profession, take about 7 minutes to view these two videos based on interviews with members of this invaluable profession:

Public Procurement: A Career of Change & Influence (4:20)
Quick Thoughts: A Career in Public Procurement (2:08)

More questions about your career in public procurement?
We welcome the opportunity to share our enthusiasm for the opportunities available through the public procurement profession. E-mail goprocareers@nigp.org or call 800-367-6447 x229