Purchasing manager
Purchasing managers buy equipment, goods and services for their company or organisation.
Typical Salary
£28,000 – £60,000
per year
Working Hours
38–42
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a purchasing manager, you could:
- identify what goods, services and equipment are needed
- draw up tenders and assess bids from potential suppliers
- present any legal or commercial risks to senior leadership teams
- identify savings, negotiate prices and agree contracts with suppliers
- monitor the performance of contracted suppliers
- manage a purchasing team and make sure rules are followed correctly
Skills needed
- business management skills
- customer service skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be flexible and open to change
- analytical thinking skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- maths knowledge
- persuading and negotiating skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
Career progression
As your career develops, you could work towards becoming a Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS). This is internationally recognised and can lead to chartered status.
With experience, you could apply for senior roles like head of department, specialise in a particular industry or become a purchasing consultant.