- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Average salary $77,000 to $121,000
Career profile
Purchasing managers oversee, plan, direct and control the activities of a purchasing department. They develop strategies for sourcing and negotiating new supplier relationships which support a company’s strategic objectives and its profitability. Given the large capital involved in energy projects and operations, purchasing managers deal with budgets in the millions or even billions of dollars.
Purchasing managers also develop and implement a business’ purchasing policies by evaluating existing procedures and identifying opportunities to streamline purchasing activities. They establish vendor networks to meet distribution needs, and optimize lead time, pricing, quality, safety performance and on-time delivery.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste or optimize customer service
- Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers to understand key aspects of their competitive position and financial strength
- Selecting transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution
- Assessing appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move or store materials
- Appraising vendor manufacturing ability through on-site visits and measurements
Education
- A post-secondary diploma or degree in business administration, commerce or economics is typically required, along with several years of experience as a Purchasing Agent or Officer.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Traffic control
- Aerial lift training
Licensing
- The designation Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or registration in the educational program of Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required
Additional Requirements
- Purchasing managers responsible for purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related degree or diploma
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
Your problem solving and communication helps you direct the efforts of your team while liaising with those in a diverse mix of other business functions including finance, legal, engineering, marketing and operations.
- Management of material resources
- Collaborative
- Judgment and decision making
- Negotiation
- Planning and organizing
- Complex problem solving
- Persuasion
- Administration and management
- Management of financial resources
- Transportation
