Job Role Description

Accounting > Purchasing Manager

Salary National Average

Low Medium High
67310.0000 89360.0000 132890.0000

Change from Previous Year:

+7%

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Candidate Supply: 3,011 Job Openings: 48,867

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Short Description:

Plans, directs, or coordinates the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services, including wholesale or retail trade, merchandising managers, and procurement managers.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.
  • 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.
  • Maintains records of goods ordered and received.
  • Participate in developing 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.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Coordination: Adjusting actions concerning others' actions.
  • Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Database User Interface and Query Software: Corel Paradox; Database software; Microsoft Access; Oracle DBMS
  • Electronic Mail Software: IBM Lotus Notes; Microsoft Outlook
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP Software — Bowen & Groves M1 ERP; Epicor Vantage ERP; Lawson M3 Supply Chain Management software; Oracle PeopleSoft
  • Procurement Software: Ariba Spend Management Suite; Bottomline Technologies Bottomline Sprinter Purchasing Manager; Purchasing software; PurchasingNet eProcurement
  • Project Management Software: Microsoft Project; Primavera Systems SureTrak Project Manager
  • Spreadsheet Software: Microsoft Excel
  • Word Processing Software: Microsoft Word
  • Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Job Zones

  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. 
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. 
  • Specific Vocational Preparation in years: 2-4 years of preparation (7.0 to < 8.0)

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