The Times reports that the Cabinet Office list of committees recently published includes the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine. It is made up of 4 Masters of Wine (part time) and one civil servant (part-time); this is no over-manned quango! They are “responsible for providing advice on the maintenance of appropriate standards of wines for use at Government functions”
This got me thinking – what are the best and worst procurement jobs in the world? Being chief wine buyer for a large supermarket or wine merchant would be high on my list, although there's a bit too much travel for me. I would have loved to be an A&R man for a record label – that is sort of buying in the sense of identifying and signing up new bands; but I have known senior procurement people in two huge music companies and their jobs were pretty standard CPO roles – although with some interesting and challenging stakeholder management issues (what do you mean, I can't stay in that hotel / use that studio – I'm a star!)
I suspect my daughter would go for being Selfridges head of shoes buying. I met the Head of Procurement at McLaren Cars a while ago – that would have its attraction for many Petrolheads (which I'm not). Any other thoughts?
And as for worst procurement roles; I'll save that for the future, but I do have one great candidate for that honour. Think Pedigree Chum.....!
Remember once being involved in Whiskey buying for the Houses of Parliament! The evaluation process included a tasting session (with no shortage of volunteers) although unusually I declined as my professional judgement was very likely to be impaired. Buying hotel rooms was also a bit of fun! – Ha the good old days.