Table 1Transition record

supply chain managertopurchaser

A supply chain manager already meets 39% of what the purchaser role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.

From supply chain manager

39%

Overlap1

To purchaser

14 Skills carried over

12 Required, not held

63.9 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 63.9

This move: 63.9 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the purchaser role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the supply chain manager profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 14 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A purchaser role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a supply chain manager background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held track price trends information skills
already held analyse logistic changes information skills
already held analyse logistic needs information skills
already held coordinate purchasing activities communication, collaboration and creativity
already held analyse consumer buying trends information skills
already held analyse supply chain strategies information skills

All 14 carried skills, including the 8 the purchaser role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 23 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 5 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held communicate price changes required
required, not held manage purchasing cycle required
required, not held compare contractors' bids required
required, not held perform procurement processes required
required, not held speak different languages required

optional, not held assess procurement needs optional
optional, not held implement procurement of innovation optional
optional, not held implement sustainable procurement optional

02 business, administration and law 3 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held embargo regulations required
required, not held international import export regulations required
required, not held export control principles required

optional, not held category specific expertise optional
optional, not held procurement lifecycle optional
optional, not held procurement legislation optional

03 management skills 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held issue purchase orders required
required, not held manage tender processes required

optional, not held conduct performance measurement optional
optional, not held identify new business opportunities optional

04 working with computers 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held have computer literacy required

optional, not held use e-procurement optional

05 assisting and caring 1 required

required, not held ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations required

06 information skills 2 supplementary

optional, not held perform procurement market analysis optional
optional, not held report accounts of the professional activity optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a purchaser role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 14 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held assess supplier risks skill
already held coordinate purchasing activities skill
already held identify suppliers skill
already held maintain relationship with customers skill
already held maintain relationship with suppliers skill
already held manage contracts skill
already held supply chain management knowledge
already held track price trends skill
already held analyse consumer buying trends skill
already held analyse logistic changes skill
already held analyse logistic needs skill
already held analyse supply chain strategies skill
already held international business knowledge
already held negotiate sales contracts skill

11 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held assess procurement needs optional
optional, not held category specific expertise optional
optional, not held implement procurement of innovation optional
optional, not held implement sustainable procurement optional
optional, not held perform procurement market analysis optional
optional, not held procurement lifecycle optional
optional, not held report accounts of the professional activity optional
optional, not held use e-procurement optional
optional, not held conduct performance measurement optional
optional, not held identify new business opportunities optional
optional, not held procurement legislation optional

85 held skills the purchaser role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role accurately estimate work hours skill
not needed by the target role advise on risk management skill
not needed by the target role advise on sustainable management policies skill
not needed by the target role analyse business plans skill
not needed by the target role analyse economic trends skill
not needed by the target role analyse market financial trends skill
not needed by the target role analyse supply chain trends skill
not needed by the target role apply change management skill
not needed by the target role apply for government funding skill
not needed by the target role assess financial viability skill
not needed by the target role assist in planning production scheduling skill
not needed by the target role attend trade fairs skill
not needed by the target role business strategy concepts knowledge
not needed by the target role calculate purchasing levels of raw materials skill
not needed by the target role carry out statistical forecasts skill
not needed by the target role carry out tendering skill
not needed by the target role conflict management knowledge
not needed by the target role control financial resources skill
not needed by the target role control trade commercial documentation skill
not needed by the target role corporate social responsibility knowledge
not needed by the target role develop professional network skill
not needed by the target role direct logistical functions skill
not needed by the target role economics knowledge
not needed by the target role ensure cross-department cooperation skill
not needed by the target role ensure equipment availability skill
not needed by the target role estimate costs of required supplies skill
not needed by the target role estimate duration of work skill
not needed by the target role estimate profitability skill
not needed by the target role financial forecasting knowledge
not needed by the target role follow company standards skill
not needed by the target role forecast dividend trends skill
not needed by the target role forecast economic trends skill
not needed by the target role forecast future levels of business skill
not needed by the target role forecast production quantities skill
not needed by the target role forecast products' demand skill
not needed by the target role forecast sales over periods of time skill
not needed by the target role forecast workload skill
not needed by the target role geographical routes knowledge
not needed by the target role human resource management knowledge
not needed by the target role identify key processes of traceability systems skill

45 further entries not listed here

6 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held embargo regulations required
required, not held international import export regulations required
required, not held export control principles required
optional, not held category specific expertise optional
optional, not held procurement lifecycle optional
optional, not held procurement legislation optional

Index

Other moves recorded from supply chain manager

Full index of moves from supply chain manager

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.