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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
£25,179
£45,500
£102,744

New workers start around £25,179. Normal pay is £45,500 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £102,744.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 71,688 vacancies for this type of job

5.42%

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

  • Supply Chain

  • Procurement Management

  • Strategic Procurement

  • Supplier Relationship Management

  • Contract Management

  • Category Management

  • Finance

  • Project Management

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

  • Management

  • Negotiation

  • Leadership

  • Influencing Skills

  • Operations

  • Detail Oriented

  • Innovation

  • 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

See all

Public Relations

University of the Arts London

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Marketing Management

University College Birmingham

FdA · 2 Years · Full-time · Birmingham · 03/02/2025

Tariff points: 32/56

Marketing (with Foundation Year)

Teesside University, Middlesbrough

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time including foundation year · Middlesbrough · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: 32/64

Fashion Media Promotion

London College of Contemporary Arts

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time including foundation year · London · 05/2025

Tariff points: 64/64

Mass Communications

Edinburgh Napier University

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time · Edinburgh · 09/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

International Business

Nottingham Trent University

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Nottingham · 13/09/2024

Tariff points: 112/120

Creative Advertising

Buckinghamshire New University

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · High Wycombe · 30/09/2024

Tariff points: 88/112

Business Economics

University of Leeds

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Leeds · 25/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Business (HNC)

Cambridge Regional College

HNC · 1 Year · Full-time · Cambridge · 09/2024

Tariff points: 48/48

Creative Advertising

University of Cumbria

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Carlisle · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: 104/120

Retail Marketing

University of Stirling

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time · Stirling · 09/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Business Economics with Foundation Year

Sheffield Hallam University

BA (Hons) · 5 Years · Sandwich including foundation year · Sheffield · 09/2024

Tariff points: 64/64

Financial Economics

Birkbeck, University of London

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Part-time · London · 10/2024

Tariff points: N/A

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