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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.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Negotiation
  • Reading Comprehension

How to get there

Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree

Also called

  • Materials Manager
  • Procurement Manager
  • Purchasing Director
  • Purchasing Manager
  • Category Purchasing Manager
  • Commodity Manager

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