Purchasing Managers

equipment information enterprising policy data procurement manager material plan procedure employee

Materials Manager, Procurement Director, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Director

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.
  • Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
  • Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.

Knowledge

Business

  • management
  • accounting and economics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • bringing people together to solve differences

Resource Management

  • managing your time and the time of other people
  • selecting and managing the best workers for a job

Abilities

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • come up with lots of ideas
  • create new and original ideas

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Leadership
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Dependability

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

  • Microsoft Dynamics Hot Technology
  • SAP software Hot Technology In Demand

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Procurement software

  • Ariba Spend Management Suite
  • PurchasingNet eProcurement

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Local Salary Info
Find Jobs
See more details at O*NET OnLine about purchasing managers.