Job description Category Purchasing Manager in the Southern Region

Find out what work is like for a category purchasing manager in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Purchasing managers (NOC 10012).

Purchasing managers

Description

Purchasing managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a purchasing department and develop and implement the purchasing policies of a business or institution. They are employed throughout the public and private sectors.

Work week duration

Purchasing managers usually work more than 40 hours per week.
More than 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Purchasing managers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the purchasing activities of an establishment
  • Develop purchasing policies and procedures and control purchasing department budget
  • Identify vendors of materials, equipment or supplies
  • Evaluate cost and quality of goods or services
  • Negotiate or oversee the negotiation of purchase contracts
  • Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products or substitute materials
  • Review and process claims against suppliers
  • Interview, hire and oversee training of staff.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Purchasing managers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Establishements throughout the private and public sector

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 10012), and a list of similar occupations:

  • contract manager
  • food purchasing manager
  • material manager
  • procurement director
  • purchasing contracts manager
  • purchasing director
  • supply chain logistics manager

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Purchasing managers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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