Purchasing Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.
- Overview
- Tasks
- Skills
Median Annual Wage: $106,090
Education: Bachelor's degree (75%); Associate's degree (8%); Post-baccalaureate certificate (8%)
Projected Growth: Little or no change (-2% to 2%)
Related Job Titles: Procurement Manager; Purchasing Manager; Materials Manager; Director of Purchasing; Commodity Manager; Director of Materials; Director of Strategic Sourcing; Procurement Officer; Purchasing Director; Purchasing Supervisor
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Purchasing Managers.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
- Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
- Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
- Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
- Maintain records of goods ordered and received.
- Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products or substitute materials.
- Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.
- Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.
- Control purchasing department budgets.
- Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
- Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
- Administer online purchasing systems.
- Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Purchasing Managers.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Purchasing Managers.
