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.

 

 

  • 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.
  • Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
  • Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
  • Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
  • Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
  • Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
  • Control purchasing department budgets.
  • Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
  • Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.
  • Administer online purchasing systems.
  • Maintain records of goods ordered and received.
  • Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.
  • Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products, or substitute materials.
  • Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
  • Arrange for disposal of surplus materials.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 95% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 78% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 67% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 53% responded "Extremely important".
  • Spend Time Sitting — 53% responded "More than half the time".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 53% responded "Very important".
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Work Activities
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Maintain operational records.
  • Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
  • Coordinate with external parties to exchange information.
  • Prepare forms or applications.
  • Prepare operational budgets.
  • Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
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Knowledge

Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
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Skills

Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Fluency of Ideas
  • The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Project management software
  • Microsoft Project Hot Technology
  • Microsoft SharePoint Hot Technology
  • Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Portfolio Project Management
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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