Printable version

Purchasing Managers (0113)

Job titles

  • assistant to the director financial operational and material resources (health and social services network)
  • assistant to the director material and operational services (health and social services network)
  • building supplies purchasing manager
  • View all job titles

Nature of work

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.

Fields of interest

  • Crunching numbers
  • Managing, organizing, administrating
  • Working in an office

Main duties

  • Purchasing managers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - 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.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Purchasing Managers (0113)

Employment requirements

  • * A bachelor's degree or college diploma in business administration, commerce or economics is usually required.
  • * Purchasing managers responsible for units purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related degree or diploma. For example, a bachelor's degree or college diploma in engineering may be required for purchasing managers responsible for purchasing industrial products.
  • * The designation Certified Professional Purchaser (C.P.P.) or registration in the educational program of the Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required.
  • * Several years of experience as a purchasing agent or officer are required.

Skill type

  • Management occupations

Skill level

  • Management

Job titles - Classified elsewhere