What Do Purchasing Managers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.

Other tasks include:

• 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.

We asked Purchasing Managers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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73% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 49% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Purchasing Managers maintain records of goods ordered and received. They direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.

A typical day for a Purchasing Manager will also include:

• Administer online purchasing systems.
• Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
• Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.
• Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
• Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.

We asked some Purchasing Managers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	42% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	83% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	54% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Purchasing Managers also represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers. They may also prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Purchasing Managers Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy. They might also Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.

In addition, they Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.

To some Purchasing Managers, it is also their responsibility to Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Purchasing Manager, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/purchasing-managers.htm

http://www.american-purchasing.com/

http://www.apics.org/

http://www.nigp.org/