What Is a Purchasing Manager and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Purchasing managers oversee the purchasing and procurement in their organization or company. Purchasing managers work for companies of all sizes and in a variety of industries. They may manage a purchasing department or work as the sole buyer or agent for their company. As a purchasing manager, your responsibilities include finding new vendors and suppliers and managing those relationships, negotiating prices, confirming the quality of the incoming product, tracking inventory, and projecting purchasing needs.

At most large firms, you need a bachelor’s degree in economics, business, or a related field, and experience as a buyer or procurement officer. There are some purchasing manager jobs that only require a high school diploma and relevant work experience. You will also need experience and knowledge in the particular industry in which you work, including best practices in purchasing and inventory management.

A good purchasing manager has the right blend of product knowledge, sales skills, and management skills to succeed in this career. To be a good purchasing manager, you should be familiar with every aspect of your company’s supply chain. Foster good relationships with suppliers and seek new opportunities to work with vendors that will maximize profitability. Strive to maintain an inventory that meets the needs of your company, but does not create an excessive surplus. You should have a good eye, striving to ensure product quality and train your team to meet your standards.

Job Summary

We have an immediate opening for an experienced Purchasing Manager to oversee our procurement department. In this role, you will be responsible for meeting company goals and expectations in purchasing while staying within your department’s budget. Your job duties include researching to find quality products, negotiating fair contracts, and checking that shipments are delivered on time and are complete. Developing an inventory management strategy is crucial to ensuring a consistent supply of products for the company. Our ideal candidate has at least five years of procurement experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor inventory to determine what products are needed
• Develop purchasing strategies to ensure consistent inventory
• Research a variety of vendors to find the products we need for the best prices
• Determine quantity and timing of deliveries
• Negotiate vendor contracts
• Check deliveries for accuracy
• Establish standard operating procedures for purchasing and monitor the effectiveness of procedures

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, business administration, finance, or a related field
• CPPO, Certified Purchasing Manager, Certified Contract Negotiator, CPPB, or other advanced certification in procurement or contract administration preferred
• 5+ years' experience in the procurement of materials and supplies
• Familiarity with sourcing and vendor management
• Proficient with vendor management software
• Excellent communication and organizational skills