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Purchasing Managers and Directors

Purchasing managers and directors (not retail) plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the purchasing functions of industrial, commercial, government organisations and public agencies to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£28,958
£53,743
£114,001

New workers start around £28,958. Normal pay is £53,743 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £114,001.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 72,053 vacancies for this type of job

4.97%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Stays abreast of and ensures adherence to relevant legislation regarding tendering and procurement procedures.

  • Researches and identifies new products and suppliers.

  • Interviews suppliers’ representatives and visits trade fair.

  • Arranges for quality checks of incoming goods and ensures suppliers deliver on time.

  • Negotiates prices and contracts with suppliers and draws up contract documents.

  • Devises purchasing policies, decides on whether orders should be put out to tender and evaluates suppliers’ bids.

  • Determines what goods, services and equipment need to be sourced.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Procurement

  • Purchasing

  • Procurement Management

  • Supply Chain

  • Procurement Strategy

  • Category Management

  • Supplier Relationship Management

  • Contract Management

  • Supplier Performance Management

  • Finance

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Communication

  • Negotiation

  • Management

  • Leadership

  • Innovation

  • Influencing Skills

  • Operations

  • Detail Oriented

  • Planning

  • Problem Solving

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

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