Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Purchasing and Supply
PURCHASING AND SUPPLY-CAREER INFORMATION SUMMARY
WHAT IS PURCHISING AND SUPPLY AND WHO IS A PURCHASING AND SUPPLY OFFICER?
Purchasing and supply is a field of study that involves the procurement, storage, and monitoring of goods sold in a retail store, machinery, supplies, or other raw goods.
A person who studied Purchasing and Supply at certificate, diploma or degree level is sometimes called a procurement officer. Procurement officers oversee the activities of the department responsible for purchases.
WHERE DO PURCHASING AND SUPPLY OFFICERS WORK?
Procurement officers can work for any business cooperation like ZESCO LIMITED, RTSA and National Prosecution Authority (NPA). Government departments as well as non-governmental organisations can employ procurement officers to involve them in negotiating with manufacturers/suppliers or wholesalers in the process of buying goods or materials, as well as in working closely with cost analysts and marketing professionals in deciding which products to buy and which ones are not selling well enough.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
For procurement officers who work at National Procurement Authority and other government departments, their day to day job involves undertaking timely storage of goods in order to avoid loss and destruction, maintaining accurately an up-to-date Register of Supplies in order to establish a reliable supplier base. Preparing and undertaking effectively the provision of secretarial services to the companies Tender Committees in order to facilitate decision making. Preparing timely and accurately bidding documents in order to facilitate decision making. Supervising effectively the procurement of goods, services and works in order to ensure their timely availability.
In other private companies and non-governmental organizations the duties include; Developing and implementing systems and processes that ensure full and complete documentation of receipt and distribution of procured goods, maintaining correspondence and constant contact with suppliers to follow up on the execution of contractual terms and conditions as well as handle issues if needed. Monitoring and reporting on supplier performance, noting current and potential issues or inefficiencies and assist with contract/purchase order modifications. Accountable for transparency within the procurement department through ensuring a complete, accurate and up-to-date document trail of all procurement processes, vendor files, procurement and inventory database to assist with control and accountability and Liaising with counterparts at partner organizations to ensure effective and efficient collaboration on all matters related to procurement, including when space and resources are shared among other duties. The procurement officers or purchasing and supply officers perform the same kind of tasks wherever they work, be it in public or private offices.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A PURCHASING AND SUPPLY OFFICER?
The work schedule or shifts of a procurement officer/purchasing and supply officer depends on the organisation one is working for. If one is working for a government department, they typically follow the normal 08hrs to 17hrs work schedule Monday to Friday. If one is working for a private company some mines they work 08hrs to 17hrs while others have some procurement officers who have to work in the night shifts to monitor the procurement process to ensure transparency in the products being delivered in the night.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
In the case of Zambia, the biggest employing sector of purchasing and supply officers is the public sector followed by the private sector. A procurement officer can find a job in any sector be it in mining, agriculture, manufacturing etc. All forms of companies continue to look for procurement officers. The chances are higher that one will find a job just upon graduating.
The job market for purchasing and supply officers/ procurement officers in Zambia is very stable. In everyday job adverts there is a company looking for a procurement officer and as more business entities keep on opening in Zambia the more the demand for procurement officers increases.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
To enjoy being a procurement officer, you need to be a person who is able to demonstrate the ability to achieve goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, good writing skills and you should have emotional maturity, patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. You also need to have good analytical skills with ability to make independent judgment and decisions as well as being proactive, results-oriented and able to find ways of solving or pre-empting problems. In this way you can enjoy being a procurement officer.
At Evelyn Hone College, this course is offered by Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply(ZIPS). Candidates are examined and offered certificates by ZIPS
At Lusaka Business Technical College this course is offered by Zambia institute of purchasing and supply. Candidates are examined and offered certificates by ZIPS.
After graduation you need to get a certificate of operation issued by the Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply as a registered member.
Scroll to the bottom for a list of Institutions that offer Purchasing and Supply
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
When one enrols into university to study purchasing and supply, they will learn subjects like Business needs in procurement and supply, sourcing in procurement and supply, Negotiating and Contracting in procurement and supply, Managing contracts and relationships in procurement and supply, Procurement & Supply Principles, Inventory & Logistics Operations as examples of subjects to be covered among others.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
At all these institutions offering the program they look for five O' Level credits or better including English and Mathematics.
In case of enrolling for a diploma at Lusaka Trades they want Five O Level credits or better including English and Mathematics and a Certificate in ZIPS. The entry conditions ,ay vary from year to year and institution to institution.
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS OF STUDY CAN MAKE SOMEONE A PURCHASING AND SUPPLY OFFICER?
To work as a procurement officer, a qualification in Business Administration, Marketing and Accounting are all considered as alternative qualifications.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
This program is available at certificate, diploma and degree level. Once you study purchasing and supply, depending on the level of qualification you obtained at first, you may decide to upgrade to a diploma, degree and you can pursue a master’s degree in Business Administration or Marketing. A master’s degree gives you an upper hand when it comes to finding new jobs in competitive environments in Zambia. It’s a sign that apart from general skills, you have taken keen interest to master one area of your job more than other people. With a master’s degree one would become a lecturer at a university.
INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER PURCHASING AND SUPPLY
COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-Time, Evening and Distance Learning
Admitting school: School of Business
Intakes: January
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 290816 / +260 212 290815
Email: deansb@cbu.ac.zm
Website: www.cbu.ac.zm/fees
ZAMBIA CENTRE OF ACCOUNTANCY STUDIES UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time, Part-time and Distance Learning
Admitting school: School of Business
Intakes: August
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 232093 / +260 211 222542
Email: information@zcas.edu.zm
Website: www.zcas.ac.zm/zcas-university/fees
MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode: Full-Time
Admitting school: School of Business Studies
Intakes: September
Location: Kabwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 215 228004
Email: academic@mu.ac.zm
Website: www.mu.ac.zm
CAVENDISH UNIVERSITY ZAMBIA
Programme duration: 4 Years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-Time and Distance Learning
Admitting school: School of Business and Information Technology
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 387600 / +260 211 387601
Email: jchikonde@cavendish.co.zm
Website: www.cavendishza.org/admissions/fee-structure
UNIVERSITY OF LUSAKA
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-Time, Part-Time and Distance Learning
Admitting school: School of Business and Management
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 972 832671 / +260 976 075850
E-mail: registraracademic@unilus.ac.zm
Website: www.unilus.ac.zm/fees.php
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-Time and Distance Learning
Admitting school: School of Business Studies
Intakes: September for Full-Time, and April for Distance Learning
Location: Kabwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 975 900402/+260 953 909029
Email: registrar@nkrumah.edu.zm
Website: www.nkrumah.edu.zm
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma) / 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-Time, Part-Time, and Distance Learning
Admitting school:
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 228803
Email: registrar@nipa.ac.zm
Website: www.nipa.ac.zm
EDEN UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-Time, Part-Time, and Distance Learning
Admitting school: School of Law and Business Studies
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 843535/+260 977 794995
Email: edenuniversity@edenuniversity.edu.zm
Website: www.edenuniversity.edu.zm
THE ZAMBIA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-Time, Part-Time and Distance Learning
Admitting school: Faculty of Business Management and Finance
Intakes: January and July for Full-Time and Part-Time, and April, August and December for Distance Learning
Location: Kalulushi
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 730209/+260 974 305033
Email: registrar@zcuniversity.edu.zm
Website: www.zcuniversity.edu.zm/financeandfees.html
LIVINGSTONE INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND ENGINEERING STUDIES
Programme duration: 3 years diploma
Mode of study: Full-time, Part-time and Distance
Admitting school: School of business
Intakes: January
Location: Livingstone
Contacts
Tel: +26 0977576286 or +26 0960949041
E-mail: libes@libescollege.edu.zm
Website: www.libescollege.edu.zm/