Do our Procurement TITLES reflect our responsibilities or the maturity of the company?

Do our Procurement TITLES reflect our responsibilities or the maturity of the company?

I’ve worked in different large & international companies, & one thing consistently surprised me: the variation in procurement titles.

I’ve been a procurement manager several times, but each role was drastically different – spend levels varied significantly, team sizes ranged from small to large, & responsibilities encompassed everything from tactical to strategic sourcing.

While the title might seem insignificant, it directly impacts career progression, salary expectations, & even industry recognition. This inconsistency in titles creates confusion.

What if we had a better understanding of procurement titles & their true implications? A clear ROADMAP?

What if the entire function adopted standardized titles that accurately reflect the scope & complexity of each role across different regions?

We would gain:
1. Better benchmark salaries
2. Clear identification of career growth
3. It becomes easier to showcase expertise

How can we address these issues:
1. Developing a common framework for procurement titles and roles, similar to frameworks used in other professions (finance, IT), we’ll get much-needed clarity & consistency.

2. Focus on competencies, instead of solely relying on titles, emphasizing core competencies & demonstrating tangible achievements would provide a more accurate reflection of an individual’s skills & experience.

3. Walk the talk or talk the walk 😅 , you got it! I mean clear and open dialogue within the procurement community to discuss & address the challenges of inconsistent titles is crucial.

I believe this standardization would positively impact our career paths & ultimately elevate procurement’s visibility & influence within the business. Don’t you? Am right, wrong? in the middle:))? I would love to learn from you and hear your opinion!

Should we or should we not have a standardization of roles across industries? (ps: let me know how can I improve the shared doc?)
Thank you always & Happy Friday 💫