Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Materials Manager
- Procurement Manager
- Purchasing Director
- Purchasing Manager
Alternate Job Titles
- Category Purchasing Manager
- Commissary Superintendent
- Commodity Manager
- Contract Manager
- Contracting Manager
- Division Merchandise Manager (DMM)
- General Merchandise Manager
- Materials Director
- Materials Manager
- Merchandise Director
- Merchandise Manager
- Merchandising Manager
- Procurement Director
- Procurement Manager
- Procurement Services Manager
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
- Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
- Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
- Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
- Administer online purchasing systems.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Economics and Accounting
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Negotiation
- Time Management
- Critical Thinking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Fluency of Ideas
- Written Expression
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Leadership Orientation
- Self-Confidence
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Working Conditions
- Support
- Independence
- Recognition
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle Database
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- Desktop computers
- Personal computers
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $85,500 |
| Median | $139,510 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $219,140 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 81,240
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Procurement Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,510
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: Varies
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: Varies
Logistics Analysts
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,880
Logisticians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,880
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.