Emerging Roles in Procurement for Next Year

Business trends can be hard to pin down. What once seemed revolutionary can quickly fade into the background, replaced by the next wave of innovation or shifting priorities. From the rise of digital transformation to the focus on sustainability and diversity, organizations constantly adapt to changing economic conditions, customer expectations, and technological advances by riding the latest trends.

However, as history has shown, not all trends have lasting power. Some capture the spotlight for a brief moment, while others evolve into fundamental practices that redefine industries. Understanding this ebb and flow is crucial for procurement leaders and professionals alike, as it allows them to navigate the complexities of today's marketplace.

Emerging roles in procurement - 2025 and beyond

It also helps procurement leaders make informed decisions about the talent they’ll need in the procurement function. Below, we share the latest insights into procurement skills that will be in more demand (along with some experiencing decreasing demand), in 2025.

AI Sourcing Specialist

There’s growing interest in procurement professionals with AI skills,” says Naseem Malik, Managing Partner of MRA Global Sourcing. “More organizations are beginning to explore how AI can enhance their procurement processes, but it’s not yet a universal requirement.”

According to Malik, the role is evolving, and those with AI knowledge can bring significant value. Procurement specialists are increasingly expected to streamline efficiencies and uncover data insights while helping organizations navigate the often-confusing world of AI solutions.

“These professionals need to not only leverage AI tools but also evaluate the numerous options available, distinguishing the best use cases from the rest. They must identify effective applications while keeping in mind key considerations like training data, potential biases, and overall reliability,” Malik explains.

“Ultimately, combining procurement efficiency with the ability to guide IT teams through AI decision-making will give organizations a competitive edge in an evolving landscape."

Generative AI and prompt engineering know-how

More specifically, procurement professionals will be increasingly expected to have the ability to leverage the capabilities of Generative AI. Tools such as ChatGPT can help with any task, from rapid research and searching for new suppliers, drafting documents such as RFPs, SOWs, and other contracts, cleansing and analyzing spend data, inventory analysis, supplier risk monitoring, predictive analytics, and communication.

Be sure to check out episode 113 of Una’s Sourcing Hero podcast, where Joshua Palacios shares his innovative use of ChatGPT as a negotiation simulator and urges everyone to get started on adding prompt engineering to their skill sets.

As Palacios says: “One of the things that I think is most valuable [for procurement professionals to understand] is prompt engineering. Essentially, prompt engineering is understanding how to communicate effectively with ChatGPT or any kind of AI tool out there. Prompting is key. Prompting is your friend! The more you understand how to communicate with something like ChatGPT, the better the output is going to be.”

Decreasing demand for DEI and ESG roles in procurement

The demand for specialized DEI and ESG roles in procurement is tapering off, reflecting a shift in how organizations are approaching these initiatives,” says Malik. “What were once dedicated, high-priority roles are now being absorbed into broader business priorities like digital transformation, operational efficiency, and profitability. Instead of focusing on standalone roles, companies are embedding DEI and ESG into the overall skill set expected of procurement professionals.”

Malik adds, “This shift doesn’t mean DEI and ESG are now unimportant. They’ve become foundational principles that every procurement professional is expected to understand and apply. As companies integrate these values into their operations, the need for specialists is declining, replaced by a procurement team that’s increasingly equipped to handle these considerations as part of their everyday responsibilities.”

Other emerging roles and skillsets in 2025

We explored the insights in McKinsey’s Toward Procurement 2030 research to uncover other emerging skills and priorities.

Chief Partnership Officer

A new type of CPO, the Chief Partnership Officer focuses not only on partnerships externally with suppliers, but “internally with other functions and business units—with procurement being a knowledge broker, creating value from the collaboration between inside and outside of the company,” according to the report.

Value Creation Strategist

This role focuses on shifting the procurement function from a cost-saving mindset to one that emphasizes value creation across the organization. The strategist collaborates with C-suite executives to align procurement strategies with corporate goals, identifying opportunities for innovation and long-term value.

Predictive Analytics Specialist

Leveraging advanced data analytics and AI, this role focuses on anticipating market changes, managing volatility, and optimizing sourcing decisions. The specialist transforms procurement into a predictive function that responds fast to fluctuations in supply and demand.

According to the CPO of a technology company quoted in the McKinsey report: “Procurement professionals are going to need to be much more digitally fluent, so that they can learn from the data that is available to them. Just figuring out what are the right questions to ask the data is something that more supply chain professionals are becoming adept at, and that’s really going to help people be more surgical in making selections, measuring supplier performance, and building future plans.”

Sustainability Integration Officer

Reflecting the trend where ESG has gone from a hot issue to business-as-usual, this role drives the integration of sustainability into sourcing decisions, focusing on Scope 3 emissions and ensuring that procurement practices align with corporate sustainability goals. The officer promotes transparency and innovation in the supply chain to achieve carbon reduction targets.

To quote McKinsey: “By embedding CO2 reduction into every sourcing decision, fostering expanded value chain transparency, and resetting the supply base through advanced demand-management and technical value-creation levers, procurement can align sustainability ambitions and cost-reduction targets.”

As a procurement professional, are you staying relevant as the industry evolves? Check out our series dedicated to building a career in procurement and fine-tuning the skills that will never go out of style.