State and local government procurement teams are facing mounting pressure from a growing workforce crisis. With nearly 1 in 3 public sector workers eligible for retirement, procurement teams are confronting a perfect storm of staff departures, heavy workloads, and persistent hiring gaps. Concurrently, today’s procurement work is more complex and demanding than ever before. To meet the moment, procurement leaders must rethink how they build teams and shape workplace cultures that attract strategic, mission-driven, and innovative procurement professionals.
The Procurement Excellence Network hosted a 60-minute training session focused on confronting these workforce challenges head-on. The following topics were explored:
- The big picture: A presentation of Work for America’s flagship research on the public sector staffing crisis, including data-driven insights and key takeaways for procurement leaders.
- Practical strategies: A deep dive into how procurement teams can revamp job descriptions, better define roles, and quickly and seamlessly attract new talent.
- Promising practices: Spotlight examples from PEN members to revamp recruitment and talent management processes, while also promoting a culture of learning and innovation.
Post-Event Session: Participants also joined an optional 30-minute discussion following the event for open dialogue with peer governments and PPG staff on experiences, best practices, and strategies for hiring and retaining talent.