Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services.

Other names for Purchasing Managers: Buyer, Circuit Rider, Circuit Walker, Commissary Superintendent, Commodity Manager, Contract Administrator, Contract Coordinator, Contract Manager, Contracting Officer, Contracts Specialist, Demand Planner, Director of Materials, Director of Purchasing, Director of Strategic Sourcing, Division Merchandise Manager (DMM), General Merchandise Manager, Import Coordinator, Leasing Manager, Livestock, Grain, Cotton and Other Farm Products Purchasing Director, Material Manager, Materials Coordinator, Materials Manager, Merchandise Director, Merchandise Executive, Merchandise Manager, Merchandise Planner, Merchandising Manager, Procurement Agent, Procurement Manager, Procurement Officer, Procurement Services Manager, Property and Supply Officer, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Analyst, Purchasing Coordinator, Purchasing Director, Purchasing Manager, Purchasing Officer, Purchasing Supervisor, Sourcing Manager, Sourcing Specialist, Supply Chain Manager, Top E-Merchant (Merchandise Manager),

• Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
• Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
• Administer online purchasing systems.
• Arrange for disposal of surplus materials.
• Maintain records of goods ordered and received.
• Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
• Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
• Control purchasing department budgets.
• Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
• Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
• Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.
• Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products or substitute materials.
• Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.
• Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.
• Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
• Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.

• Calculators or accessories
• Desktop computers
• Personal computers

Procurement software

Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software

Project management software

Inventory management software

Office suite software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Financial analysis software

Word processing software

Charting software

Presentation software

Calendar and scheduling software

Spreadsheet software

Data base management system software

Data base reporting software

Data base user interface and query software

Point of sale POS software

Internet browser software

Electronic mail software