Occupation Profile for Purchasing Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services.
Signficant Points
- About 43 percent are employed in wholesale trade or manufacturing establishments.
- Some firms prefer to promote existing employees to these positions, while others recruit and train college graduates.
- Employment is projected to have little or no job growth.
- Opportunities should be best for those with a college degree.
Tasks
- Core — Maintain records of goods ordered and received.
- Core — Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
- Core — Control purchasing department budgets.
- Core — Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
- Core — Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.